This was too much for the coxswain, He seized a man by. the neck and dumped him a little to one side in front of Captain Hal hide, then another, then another and so on till there was a half cir! cle of Southern soldiers standing, as good as gold and very much sur: prised, round the English commander.
"Now", said the coxswain, "you here can speak first, and you next, and then you and so on. And don't be anyone speak, till the one before him has finished."
So the interrogation began, "Why did you fire on a British gunboat?" To which the Southerners replied that they had never heard of or seen a British gunboat. There she is", said Captain Halfhide, "and there's another round the corner. You mustn't fire at her either."
Aut SUNSHINE AND Apotocy.
Then the Southerners were profuse in apology. They were extremely sorry, had no idea they mightn't fire at gunboats, wouldn't dream of doing it again.
So all ended in sunshine and the coxswain told soldiers that, metaphorically, they might get down.
But to make assurance doubly sure, a notice was placarded on the river bank, for the benefit of other Southern troops. It read: "Please do not shoot at the gun-poate.""
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.