The Portugoose rose slowly with his hand to his head, and a thin stream of blood dripping from his shoulder.

As I saw the faithful eyes glazing in death, and knew that I had lost the best of all comrades, I went clean berserk mad.

The cluster of men round me, who had been staring open-eyed at the fight, were swept aside like reeds.

I went straight for the Portugoose, determined that, pistol or no pistol, I would serve him as he had served my dog.
For my years I was a well-set-up lad, long in the arms and deep in the chest.

But I had not yet come to my full strength, and in any case I could not hope to fight the whole of Laputa's army.