Then, if one of them goes off, there won't be any chance of our being hit.

The garrison can't afford to throw away a life at present.

You will, of course, only half cock them; still, it is as well to provide against accidents." Both the girls were pale, but they were quiet and steady.

The Doctor saw they were not likely to break down.
"That is a rum looking weapon you have got there, Bathurst," Wilson said, as, after carrying down the spare guns and placing them ready for firing, they lay down in their positions on the sandbags.

The weapon was a native one, and was a short mace, composed of a bar of iron about fifteen inches long, with a knob of the same metal, studded with spikes.
The bar was covered with leather to break the jar, and had a loop to put the hand through at the end.
"Yes," Bathurst said quietly; "I picked it up at one of the native shops in Cawnpore the last time I was there.