Never
was there such a picture of human inadvertency! a man
approaching step by step to the one that was to hurl him out of
one existence into another with as much ease and indifference as
the ox goeth to the stall. Hideous vision, wilt thou not be gone
from my mental sight! if not, let me bear with thee as I can!
When he came straight opposite to the muzzles of our pieces, Gil-
Martin called out "Eh!" with a short quick sound. The old man,
without starting, turned his face and breast towards us, and
looked into the wood, but looked over our heads.
"Now!" whispered my companion, and fired. But my hand
refused the office, for I was not at that moment sure about
becoming an assassin in the cause of Christ and His Church. I
thought I heard a sweet voice behind me, whispering to me to
beware, and I was going to look round, when my companion
exclaimed: "Coward, we are ruined!"
I had no time for an alternative: Gil-Martin's ball had not taken
effect, which was altogether wonderful, as the old man's breast
was within a few yards of him. "Hilloa!" cried Blanchard, "what
is that for, you dog!" and with that he came forward to look over
the bush.
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