‘This’ll never work, the wood’s too bleedin’ wet.’ Luff continued to strike his tinder box disconsolately.
‘We’ll have to use a cartridge.’ Pegg suggested exactly what was on Luff’s mind.
‘So long as we don’t get caught, we’ve got enough drama as it is.’ Luff knew that they would have to account for each round.
‘We won’t get caught. We’ll be firing them at Russ tomorrow then no bugger will know how many we’ve got.’ Pegg’s logic was impeccable. He reached into his pouch, took out a bundle of ten waxy paper tubes and split one open, sprinkling the gunpowder over the twigs. The pair crouched over the pyre, Luff tinkering away until a spark took, the flash making them both jerk back in surprise. But the billow of white smoke drifted right through the knots of kneeling, blowing men who were
