Joe said he was agreeable, and would take me, if Mrs.Joe approved.

We never should have got leave to go, I am sure, but for Mrs.Joe's curiosity to know all about it and how it ended.

As it was, she merely stipulated, "If you bring the boy back with his head blown to bits by a musket, don't look to me to put it together again." The sergeant took a polite leave of the ladies, and parted from Mr.
Pumblechook as from a comrade; though I doubt if he were quite as fully sensible of that gentleman's merits under arid conditions, as when something moist was going.

His men resumed their muskets and fell in.
Mr.Wopsle, Joe, and I, received strict charge to keep in the rear, and to speak no word after we reached the marshes.

When we were all out in the raw air and were steadily moving towards our business, I treasonably whispered to Joe, "I hope, Joe, we shan't find them." and Joe whispered to me, "I'd give a shilling if they had cut and run, Pip." We were joined by no stragglers from the village, for the weather was cold and threatening, the way dreary, the footing bad, darkness coming on, and the people had good fires in-doors and were keeping the day.