"ART OF TRAVEL" 167 



tection was that the flight of a bullet does not describe 

 a symmetrical curve. Its course is nearly straight at 

 first, then gradually curves downward until it may be 

 said to plunge. If A. and B. are in full sight of one 

 another but at some little distance apart, and fire at 

 one another, the courses of the incoming and outgoing 

 bullet are different. That of the incoming bullet is 

 higher by several inches or feet than the outgoing. 

 Consequently, if a shield be interposed, near to A., 

 above his line of shooting and at such a height that 

 it will not interfere with his outgoing shot, it will 

 effectually prevent a shot of B. from touching him, and 

 conversely. The numerical conditions are worked out 

 on the paper. The idea took the fancy of some of 

 the audience, as one that might possibly be of much 

 service. 



I was a humble sharer in an undertaking started 

 by Herbert Spencer, of establishing a weekly news- 

 paper of literature and science, that was to eclipse the 

 existing ones. His contention was that, if a few 

 selected men were to combine each to write one 

 article weekly, on a subject within his own province, 

 a periodical might be produced that would have great 

 weight and authority. The late Sir Frederick Pollock 

 undertook its general editorship, to be helped in all 

 details by a paid sub-editor, Mr. B., while he would 

 keep the more purely literary portion in his own 

 hands. Tom Hughes (the auther of Tom Brown) 

 lent us his rooms and his co-operation. Tyndall 

 undertook Physical Science ; Huxley took Physiology, 

 with reservation, as he could not afford to give much 

 gratuitous work ; Spencer, of course, took Philosophy ; 

 my part was to look after Travels and Geography, and 



