Crouching beneath him he had a disabled native who loaded each rifle in turn; and just by way of encouraging the others he picked off the prominent men outside the stockade with a deadly steadiness.

By way of relieving the tension he indulged in an occasional pleasantry at the expense of the enemy.
"Now," he would say, "there's a man lookin' over that bush with a green feather on his nut.

It's a mistake to wear green feathers; it makes a body so conspicuous." And the wearer of the obnoxious feather would throw up his arms and topple backwards, down the hill.
If Joseph detected anything like cowardice or carelessness he pointed his rifle with a threatening frown towards the culprit, with instant effect.

Presently, however, things began to get more serious.

This was not the sudden assault of a single chief, but an organised attack.
Before long Joseph ceased to smile.