"
Charley joined in the general laugh at his own expense.
"Yes, papa, if I go on like this, I shall certainly get rid of my
looking-glass."
"You have not lost the rockets, I hope, Terence?" Mr. Hardy asked.
"Sure and I've not, your honor. I put them down behind a big rock
before the little shindy began."
"We will fire them off," Mr. Hardy said. "They will heighten the
impression, and make the Indians more anxious to come to terms,
when they see that we can reach their village. We will not let them
off all at once; but as we have four of each sort, we will send off
a pair every half hour or so, as they may think, if we fire them
all at once and then stop, that we have no more left. We may as
well give them a few shots, too, with our carbines and the rifles
that remain serviceable. They will carry as far as half a mile if
we give them elevation enough, and it is well to impress them as
much as possible."
Mr. Hardy's suggestion was carried out. The first signal rocket
showed the village crowded with Indians, over whose heads the
cracked rocket slowly whizzed. The light of the next rocket did not
disclose a single person, and it was apparent that the place was
deserted. The third rocket happened to strike one of the roofs, and
exploding there, set the thatch on fire.
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