"Watch thy mouth."
"One should not be offended when--"
"Leave it," Robert Jordan said.
He was looking at the position.
22
"Cut me pine branches," Robert Jordan said to Primitivo, "and bring them quickly."
"I do not like the gun there," he said to Agustin.
"Why?"
"Place it over there," Robert Jordan pointed, "and later I will tell thee."
"Here, thus.
Let me help thee.
Here," he said, then squatted down.
He looked out across the narrow oblong, noting the height of the rocks on either side.
"It must be farther," he said, "farther out.
Good. Here.
That will do until it can be done properly.
There.
Put the stones there.
Here is one.
Put another there at the side.
Leave room for the muzzle to swing.
The stone must be farther to this side.
Anselmo.
Get thee down to the cave and bring me an ax.
Quickly."
"Have you never had a proper emplacement for the gun?" he said to Agustin.
"We always placed it here."
"Kashkin never said to put it there?"
"No.
The gun was brought after he left."
"Did no one bring it who knew how to use it?"
"No.
It was brought by porters."
"What a way to do things," Robert Jordan said.
"It was just given to you without instruction?"
"Yes, as a gift might be given.
One for us and one for El Sordo.
Four men brought them.
Anselmo guided them."
"It was a wonder they did not lose them with four men to cross the lines."
"I thought so, too," Agustin said.
"I thought those who sent them meant for them to be lost.
But Anselmo brought them well."
"You know how to handle it?"
"Yes.
I have experimented.
I know.
Pablo knows.
Primitivo knows.
So does Fernando.