But before they had gone half a dozen steps a bomb hissed through the air, fell and rolled to their feet.

It was still hissing and smoking, but Ned, driven by some unknown impulse, seized it and with a mighty effort hurled it over the wall, where it burst.

Then he stood licking his burned fingers and looking rather confusedly at Crockett.

He felt a certain shyness over what he had done.
The veteran frontiersman had already formed a great affection for the boy.

He knew that Ned's impulse had come from a brave heart and a quick mind, and that he had probably saved both their lives.