180 THE JONATHAN PAPERS 



them, spellbound, until I heard Jonathan 

 shoot. Then I made a great effort, pulled at 

 my trigger, and rolled backwards from my 

 haycock into the spongy swamp, inches deep 

 with water just there. 



Jonathan called across softly, &quot;Shot both 

 barrels, did n t you?&quot; 



I rose slowly, wishing there were some way 

 of wringing out my entire back. &quot;Of course 

 not!&quot; I gasped indignantly. 



&quot;Think not?&quot; very benevolently from the 

 other cock. &quot; T would n t have kicked like 

 that if you had n t. Look at your gun and 



see.&quot; 



I reseated myself damply upon the hay 

 cock. &quot; I tell you I did n t. Why should I shoot 

 both at once, I d like to know! I never 



Here I stopped, for as I broke open my gun 

 I saw two dented cartridges, and as I pulled 

 them out white smoke rolled from both bar 

 rels. There seemed nothing further to be said, 

 at least by a woman, so I said nothing. Jona 

 than also, though human, said nothing. It is 

 crises like these that test character. I turned 

 my cool back to the east, that the rising sun, 

 if it ever really got thoroughly risen, might 



