He approached the gun, and after ascertaining that Colonel Munro’s position remained unaltered, he tried the cords with no gentle hand, muttering, “Ten pounds of gunpowder! The old gun has not spoken for a long time. To-morrow she will say something worth hearing.”
This remark brought a haughty smile to the lips of the gallant colonel. The most fearful death had no terrors for him.
The native then went round the cannon caressing it with his hand, and resting his finger for an instant on the touch-hole. There he stood, leaning on the breach of the gun, apparently losing all recollection of the prisoner, who remained like a culprit beneath the gibbet, waiting till the fatal bolt be withdrawn.
Somewhat affected by the powerful spirit he had been drinking, and utterly indifferent to the awf
