So then Oswald began to see, and he said, "Break away for all you're
worth, it's all right." And Denny said, drawing relief's deepest
breath, "Well, then, Oswald and I have got a pistol--shares--and I had
it last night. And when I couldn't sleep last night because of the
toothache I got up and went out early this morning. And I took the
pistol. And I loaded it just for fun. And down in the wood I heard a
whining like a dog, and I went, and there was the poor fox caught in an
iron trap with teeth. And I went to let it out and it bit me--look,
here's the place--and the pistol went off and the fox died, and I am so
sorry."
"But why didn't you tell the others?"
"They weren't awake when I went to the dentist's."
"But why didn't you tell your uncle if you've been with him all the
morning?"
"It was the oath," H. O. said:
"May I be called a beastly sneak
If this great secret I ever repeat."
White Whiskers actually grinned.
"Well," he said, "I see it was an accident, my boy." Then he turned to
us and said:
"I owe you an apology for doubting your word--all of you. I hope it's
accepted."
We said it was all right and he was to never mind.
But all the same we hated him for it. He tried to make up for his
unbelievingness afterwards by asking Albert's uncle to shoot rabbits;
but we did not really forgive him till the day when he sent the fox's
brush to Alice, mounted in silver, with a note about her plucky conduct
in standing by her brothers.
* * * * *
We got a lecture about not playing with firearms, but no punishment,
because our conduct had not been exactly sinful, Albert's uncle said,
but merely silly.
The pistol and the cartridges were confiscated.
I hope the house will never be attacked by burglars. When it is,
Albert's uncle will only have himself to thank if we are rapidly
overpowered, because it will be his fault that we shall have to meet
them totally unarmed, and be their almost unresisting prey.