One spark, lighting on a grain of
gunpowder, scattered on the floor, might communicate with the rest,
make it all explode, and spread destruction everywhere. Think in
what fearful peril these reckless men had placed, not only
themselves, but the whole town, and the army. An English officer
chanced to discover them, and what do you think he did?'
'Told all the people to run away.'
'How could he have told every one, soldiers, inhabitants, and all?
where could they have gone? No, he raised no alarm, but he ordered
the Portuguese out of the building, and with the help of an English
sergeant, he carried out, piece by piece, all the wood which they had
set on fire. Now, imagine what that must have been. An explosion
might happen at any moment, yet they had to walk steadily, slowly,
and with the utmost caution, in and out of this place several times,
lest one spark might fly back.'
'Then they were saved?' cried Phyllis, breathlessly; 'and what became
of them afterwards?'
'They were both killed in battle, the officer, I believe, in Badajoz,
and the sergeant sometime afterwards.'
Phyllis gave a deep sigh, and sat silent for some minutes. Next,
Claude began a droll Irish fairy-tale, which he told with spirit and
humour, such as some people would have scorned to exert for the
amusement of a mere child.
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