human
I had a feeling that something was wrong, he said,
gpt
What sort of a man was he?
human
He was an Italian, I should think, answered Mr. Briggerland.
gpt
At any rate, he caught me an awful whack with the back of his rifle, and I knew no more until Jean found me.
human
Do you think he was firing at me?
gpt
I am certain of it, said Briggerland.
human
I realised it the moment I saw the fellow.
gpt
How am I to thank you? said the girl impulsively.
human
Really, it was wonderful of you to tackle an armed man with your bare hands.
gpt
It was nothing,
human
What happened?
gpt
It was going to be a little surprise for you, he said.
human
A little scheme of my own, my dear; you're always calling me a funk, and I wanted to prove----
gpt
What happened?
human
Well, I went out yesterday morning and fixed it all. I bought the rifle, an old English rifle, at Amiens from a peasant. I thought it might come in handy, especially as the man threw in a packet of ammunition. Yesterday morning, lying awake before daybreak, I thought it out. I went up to the hill--the land belongs to an empty house, by the way--and I located the spot, put the rifle where I could find it easily, and fixed a pair of glass goggles on to one of the bushes, where the sun would catch it. The whole scheme was not without its merit as a piece of strategy, my dear,
gpt
And then----?
human
I thought we'd go bathing yesterday, but we didn't, but to-day--it was a long time before anybody spotted the glasses, but once I had the excuse for going ashore and investigating, the rest was easy.
gpt
So that was why you asked me to keep her on the raft, and make her stand up?
human
Well----?
gpt
I went up to the spot, got the rifle and took aim. I've always been a pretty good shot----
human
You didn't advertise it to-day, she said sardonically.
gpt
Then I suppose somebody hit you on the head?
human
Who was it?
gpt
Don't ask fool questions, he said petulantly.
human
I know nothing. I didn't even feel the blow. I just remember taking aim, and then everything went dark.
gpt
And how would you have explained it all, supposing you had succeeded?
human
That was easy, he said.
gpt
I should have said that I went in search of the man we had seen, I heard a shot and rushed forward and found nothing but the rifle.
human
And you took the risk of some peasant or visitor seeing you--took the risk of bringing the police to the spot and turning what might have easily been a case of accidental death into an obvious case of wilful murder. I think you called yourself a strategist,
gpt
I did my best,
human
Well, don't do it again, father, she said.
gpt
Your foolhardiness appals me, and heaven knows, I never expected that I should be in a position to call you foolhardy.