How Many are we a Match For ? 



" I think that is rather too moderate, considering our far 

 more than ordinary supply of arms, our valour, and extreme 

 readiness to fight. Life is a lottery, and so is literature, 

 and it's great odds we shouldn't both of us be killed ; and 

 if one of us really was killed, it would make the fortune 

 of our joint work, half of which would have to be posthu- 

 mous. It would give such reality to the incident, to have 

 read in the newspapers about the banditti killing one of the 

 authors named in the title-page." 



" Good Heavens, how shocking ! What do you think 



would say, if she heard you talk in that careless way 



about an event which " 



" She would say I was an unfeeling wretch. But talking 

 about it doesn't m.ake me any more likely to be killed ; and 

 one can't pick this rose, Adventure, without our fingers 

 coming near that thorn, Danger. Of course, it would be 

 very shocking, and all that. But I have no sort of expec- 

 tation of its happening. Moreover, I think you underrate 

 what we could do with all these pistols. We are more than 

 a match for two average Englishmen. For instance ; we 

 overtake these three men on their lazy mules — we shall 

 soon reach them. Ha ! by their dress, they are not 

 Spaniards ! They are two travelling Englishmen, with a 

 Spanish servant. Look ! — by Jove, they have both of them 

 silver spectacles astride of their pug noses. They are 

 clergymen just presented with livings, seeing a little of the 

 world through glasses before they settle. Have at them ! 

 These men shall never show fight ; I warrant you they will 

 have a bag of dollars apiece to give to robbers, as nervous 

 old ladies sometimes carry sugar-plums, to keep children 

 quiet. Have at them, say I ; it is a pity they should carry 

 their money-bags for nothing, and it is as well it shouldn't 

 go out of the family — nation, I mean. Of course, you say 



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