LONG SHOTS. 257 



Armstrong guns had been commenced in the Govern- 

 ment factories, a story was spread abroad of the 

 wonderful practice which had been made with this gun 

 at a range of seven miles. At that tremendous range, 

 a shot had been fired into the middle of a flock of 

 geese, according to one version of the story ; but this 

 was presently improved upon, and we were told that a 

 bird had been singled out of the flock by the artillerists 

 and successfully " potted ! " Many believed this little 

 narrative; though some few, influenced perhaps by the 

 consideration that a flock of geese would not be visible 

 at a distance of seven miles, were obstinately in- 

 credulous. Presently it turned out that the Arm- 

 strong gun was incapable of throwing a shot to a 

 distance of seven miles ; so that a certain air of 

 improbability has since attached to the narrative. 

 Still there were not wanting those who referred to 

 " Queen Anne's pocket-pistol " the cannon which was 

 able to throw shot across the Straits of Dover ; and in 

 the fulness of their faith in that mythical piece of 

 ordnance, they refused to believe that the skill of 

 modern artillerists was unequal to the construction of 

 cannon even more effective. 



If there are any who still believe in the powers 

 ascribed to the far-famed " pocket-pistol," they will find 

 their confidence in modern artillery largely shaken by 

 the announcement that it is considered a great matter 

 that one of "Whitworth's cannon should have thrown a 



