"I tried him by drum-head court-martial then and there, for misconduct in the presence of the enemy. I was the President, Piper the Court. The Court found him guilty and sentenced him to be shot. I confirmed the sentence, and proceeded to carry it out." He rapped the words out clean and clear. Kit felt himself seeing this man with new eyes, the eyes of a great respect. The fellow schoolboy of yesterday had turned into the man of war, stern and terrible. Kit was afraid of him. "There was nothing to wait for," continued the Parson. "So I had him out and made him dig his own grave against the wall. "'It's blanky ard,' said he. "'You're a soldier; and this is war,' I answered. 'I'm going to count two--then fire. Make your peace with your Maker.' "I hadn't got to two, when I heard a hubbub on the privateer, and knew you were either caught or in difficulties. "'This can wait,' I said. 'I'll use you first, and shoot you afterwards!'" The blood stole back to the Parson's face. His eyes lifted, twinkling now. "It's resource that makes the soldier, you know, Kit. I slipped into my old regimentals, gave Knapp his bugle, clapped a shako on Blob's head, and put the two of them behind the shingle-bank to act as a skeleton-force.... And you know the rest." Kit gazed at the square-set figure before him with respectful admiration. "It must have been a close thing, sir." The Parson shrugged. "It would have been a mere bagatelle but for the Gap Gang cutting in on our line of retreat. That added interest, and made a bright little affair of what would otherwise have been a dull retirement." "And how did the Gap Gang come to cut in?" "Oh, that's easily explained.... "At midnight I went out to beat em up--crept along under the cliff past Holy Well. When I got to Cow Gap, there were my friends lying on their backs in a bunch, snoring like so many sows, and the boat beached beneath em. I believe I could have killed the lot then and there, and nobody the wiser; but I wasn't going to soil my hands with the cold blood of those swine. So I just jumped into the boat, and got to work at once--put my heel through her bottom, and was just tearing up a plank, when the noise wakes old Red Beard. "'Who the blank's that?' he growled, sitting up in the moonlight. "'Why,' says I, tearing away, 'the gentleman you're good enough to call the blankety Parson.' "'Then guess we've got you, sir,' says he, and comes down the beach at me at the double. "'Think so?' says I, jumping out to meet him. "'Twenty to one, sir!' says he. 'Chuck it up.' "'Pardon,' says I, 'nineteen to one, I think,' and downs him with my left. O, such a beauty! flop in the mug.