The Wouldbegoods by E. Nesbit Read Free Book Online Page B

day, except Dora, who had to sit, because her foot was bad, but we let her have the three-edged rapier to wear, and the blunderbuss to hold as well – it has a brass mouth and is like in Mr Caldecott’s pictures.
    He was a beautiful man the officer. Like a Viking. Very tall and fair, with moustaches very long, and bright blue eyes. He said –
    â€˜Good morning.’
    So did we.
    Then he said –
    â€˜You seem to be a military lot.’
    We said we wished we were.
    â€˜And patriotic,’ said he.
    Alice said she should jolly well think so.
    Then he said he had noticed us there for several days, and he had halted the battery because he thought we might like to look at the guns.
    Alas! There are but too few grown-up people so far-seeing and thoughtful as this brave and distinguished officer.
    We said, ‘Oh, yes’, and then we got off the wall, and that good and noble man showed us the string that moves the detonator and the breech-block (when youtake it out and carry it away the gun is in vain to the enemy, even if he takes it); and he let us look down the gun to see the rifling, all clean and shiny – and he showed us the ammunition boxes, but there was nothing in them. He also told us how the gun was unlimbered (this means separating the gun from the ammunition carriage), and how quick it could be done – but he did not make the men do this then, because they were resting. There were six guns. Each had painted on the carriage, in white letters, 15 Pr., which the captain told us meant fifteen-pounder.
    â€˜I should have thought the gun weighed more than fifteen pounds,’ Dora said. ‘It would if it was beef, but I suppose wood and gun are lighter.’
    And the officer explained to her very kindly and patiently that 15 Pr. meant the gun could throw a
shell
weighing fifteen pounds.
    When we had told him how jolly it was to see the soldiers go by so often, he said –
    â€˜You won’t see us many more times. We’re ordered to the front; and we sail on Tuesday week; and the guns will be painted mud-colour, and the men will wear mud-colour too, and so shall I.’
    The men looked very nice, though they were not wearing their busbies, but only Tommy caps, put on all sorts of ways.
    We were very sorry they were going, but Oswald, as well as others, looked with envy on those who would soon be allowed – being grown up, and no nonsense about your education – to go and fight for their Queen and country.
    Then suddenly Alice whispered to Oswald, and he said –
    â€˜All right; but tell him yourself.’
    So Alice said to the captain –
    â€˜Will you stop next time you pass?’
    He said, ‘I’m afraid I can’t promise that.’
    Alice said, ‘You might; there’s a particular reason.’
    He said, ‘What?’ which was a natural remark; not rude, as it is with children. Alice said –
    â€˜We want to give the soldiers a keepsake and will write to ask my father. He is very well off just now. Look here – if we’re not on the wall when you come by, don’t stop; but if we are, please,
please
do!’
    The officer pulled his moustache and looked as if he did not know; but at last he said ‘Yes’, and we were very glad, though but Alice and Oswald knew the dark but pleasant scheme at present fermenting in their youthful nuts.
    The captain talked a lot to us. At last Noel said –
    â€˜I think you are like Diarmid of the Golden Collar. But I should like to see your sword out, and shining in the sun like burnished silver.’
    The captain laughed and grasped the hilt of his good blade. But Oswald said hurriedly –
    â€˜Don’t. Not yet. We shan’t ever have a chance like this. If you’d only show us the pursuing practice! Albert’s uncle knows it; but he only does it on an armchair, because he hasn’t a horse.’
    And that brave and swagger captain did really do it. He