I think not. But this will be my
first experience of fighting, you know--I have never been face to face
with an enemy thus far--and I must confess that the idea of a
hand-to-hand fight--for I suppose it will come to that--a life-and-death
struggle, wherein one has not only to incur the awful responsibility of
hurling one's fellow-creatures into eternity, but also to take the
fearful risk of being hurled thither one's self, perhaps without a
moment of time in which to breathe a prayer for mercy, is something that
I, for one, can hardly contemplate with absolute equanimity."

"Certainly not," assented Bates kindly, linking his arm in mine as he
spoke; "certainly not; you would be something more or less--_less_, I
should be inclined to say--than human if you could. But, as to the
responsibility of hurling those villains into eternity, do not let that
trouble you for a single moment, my lad; in endeavouring to put down
this inhuman slave-trade we are engaged upon a righteous and lawful
task--lawful and righteous in the eyes of God as well as of man, I
humbly believe--and if the traffickers in human flesh and human freedom
and human happiness choose to risk and lose their lives in the pursuit
of their hellish trade, the responsibility must rest with themselves,
and in my humble opinion the earth is well rid of such inhuman monsters.
And as to the other matter--that of being yourself hurried into
eternity unprepared--it need not occur, my boy; _no one_ need die
unprepared. What I mean is, of course, that _all_ should take especial
care to be prepared for death whenever it may meet us, for we know not
what a day, or an hour, or even a moment may bring forth; the man who
walks the streets of his native town in fancied security is actually
just as liable to be cut off unawares as are we who follow the terrible
but necessary profession of arms; the menaces to life ashore are as
numerous as they are afloat, or more so; the forms of accident are
innumerable. And therefore I say that _all_ should be careful to so
conduct themselves that they may be prepared to face death at any
moment. And if they are not, they may easily become so; for God's ear
is always open to the cry of His children, and I will take it upon
myself to say that no earnest, heartfelt prayer is ever allowed to go
unanswered. So, if you have any misgivings about to-night's work, go to
God and ask for His mercy and protection and help; and then, _whatever_
happ