And his voice had something of surprise in it.
'Nay, but my shot are over small; if thou hast a slug or two, I would take them.' 'I have a dozen goose-slugs, No.

2,' said the boy; 'but thou must pay a shilling for them.

My master says I never am to use them, except I see a swan or buzzard, or something fit to cook, come over: I shall get a sound beating for my pains, and to be beat is worth a shilling.' 'If thou art beat, be beat for something more,' says Elzevir the tempter.
'Give me that firelock that thou carriest, and take a guinea.' 'Nay, I know not,' says the boy; 'there are queer tales afloat at Lowermoigne, how that a Posse met the Contraband this morning, and shots were fired, and a gauger got an overdose of lead--maybe of goose slugs No.2.The smugglers got off clear, but they say the hue and cry is up already, and that a head-price will be fixed of twenty pound.

So if I sell you a fowling-piece, maybe I shall do wrong, and have the Government upon me as well as my master.' The surprise in his voice was changed to suspicion, for while he spoke I saw that his eye had fallen on my foot, though I tried to keep it in the shadow; and that he saw the boot clotted with blood, and the kerchief tied round my leg.
''Tis for that very reason,' says Elzevir, 'that I want the firelock.
These smugglers are roaming loose, and a pistol is a poor thing to stop such wicked rascals on a lone hill-side.

Come, come, _thou_ dost not want a piece to guard thee; they will not hurt a boy.' He had the guinea between his finger and thumb, and the gleam of the gold was too strong to be withstood.