"Head off? Ah! and would, if he'd had three heads."
"But you had a gun and bayonet besides?" said Tom."I should like the gun and bayonet best, because you could shoot 'em first and spear 'em after. Bang! Ps-s s-s!" Tom gave the requisite pantomime to indicate the double enjoyment of pulling the trigger and thrusting the spear.
"Ah, but the sword's the thing when you come to close fighting," said Mr. Poulter, involuntarily falling in with Tom's enthusiasm, and drawing the sword so suddenly that Tom leaped back with much agility.