Did you sling that bullet ? ' ' I did . I was using Dan 's catapult , ' said Una . ` Catapults ! ' said he . ' I ought to know something about them . Show me ! ' He leaped the rough fence with a rattle of spear , shield , and armour , and hoisted himself into Volaterrae as quickly as a shadow . ' A sling on a forked stick . I understand ! ' he cried , and pulled at the elastic . ` But what wonderful beast yields this stretching leather ? ' ` It 's laccy -- elastic . You put the bullet into that loop , and then you pull hard . ' The man pulled , and hit himself square on his thumb-nail . ` Each to his own weapon , ' he said gravely , handing it back . ' I am better with the bigger machine , little maiden . But it 's a pretty toy . A wolf would laugh at it . Are n't you afraid of wolves ? '
` There are n't any , ' said XXXXX .
Dan Una Volaterrae armour bullet laccy laugh maiden thumb-nail toy