One of the lads, apparently startled, let off his gun.

The charge struck a tree a few yards off, and the shot glanced.

It did not strike him full.

The face is only slightly peppered and the brain quite uninjured.

But shots pierced the retina of each eye, and the sight is hopelessly gone." "Awful hard luck," said the young man.
"I never can understand a chap not bein' keen on shootin'," said the youth who had not yet spoken.
"Ah, but you would if you had known him," said the soldier.