Stan Lynn Part 67

"Oh no," replied Uncle Jeff; "only tired and over-excited."

"Not a bit," replied Blunt, "I'm all right, I tell you, and I can see clearly now how that trouble came about the cartridges being wet."

"Indeed!" said Uncle Jeff. "Well, how did it come about?"

"I drowned them with water, of course."

"You did?" said Stan, staring. "Nonsense!"

"Yes, nonsense!" said Uncle Jeff. "You wouldn't have done such a thing as that!"

"If I had been in my senses--no. But I was not. I was wildly excited and delirious from my wound, and there was that idea pressing upon me that one of the stink-pots would roll down blazing from the upper floor and explode the cartridges. It was while I was more sane that I sent Wing to you, Lynn, with that message, but as soon as he had gone the trouble increased. I felt that he would not get there in time, and I got up and went round to the back of the warehouse, picked up one of the buckets of water, and while the men in charge of the casks were on the stairs watching you and the others keeping up the firing, I poured the water into the last case of cartridges, chuckling to myself at my cleverness, and saying that there was no fear now."

"You laughed and said that?" cried Stan sceptically.

"I did. I remember it perfectly now, even to my feeling of satisfaction at having saved the place from all risk of destruction in that way.

Yes, and I can remember lying down again and shutting my eyes because I heard Wing coming. Yes, there it all is, as plain as if I were looking at myself now. I can remember, too, the feeling of rest and content that came, and with it the return of the throbbing pain, till I fainted or fell asleep, to wake with my mind quite blank, knowing nothing whatever of my acts, and being ready to join in accusing poor old Wing.

But there! it was the act of a man quite off his head, doing about as double-edged an act as was ever committed. Queer--eh, Lynn?"

"Queer? Well, I don't know what to call it," said Stan, "but I hope you'll never do such a thing again."

"I promise you I will not so long as I escape being shot through the shoulder," said Blunt, smiling; "but if I am wounded like that I will not answer for the consequences."

Suppose we leave them there.