He thought he was about to be deafened for his whole life, but Langdon handed him pieces of cotton which he quickly stuffed in his ears.

Langdon and St.Clair had already taken the precaution.
Happy Tom had proved himself the most forethoughtful of them all.
And yet Langdon, careless and easy, was aflame with the fire of battle.
It seemed to Harry that he thought little of consequences.
"Listen to it!" he shouted in excited tones to Harry and St.Clair.
"Hark to the thudding of the great guns! It's war, the greatest of all games!" Harry felt an intense excitement also.

These were his people.

He was of their bone and sinew, and he was with them, heart and soul.

He did his part at the guns, and, although his excitement grew, he said nothing.