io 4 Ifctnas of tbe 1Rofc, TCifle, anb <3un 



was crossing Hounslow Heath in a chaise late one 

 winter's afternoon, he was stopped by a highwayman. 

 On hearing the summons to " stand and deliver," 

 Manton looked hastily out of the window and recognised 

 a pistol of his own make levelled at his head. " Why 

 damn it, you rascal," cried the indignant gunmaker, 

 " I'm Joe Manton, and that's one of my pistols you've 

 got. How dare you try to rob me ! " 



" Oh ! you're Joe Manton, are you ? " said the highway- 

 man coolly. "Well, you charged me ten guineas for 

 this brace of pistols, which I call a damned swindle, 

 though I admit they're a good pair of barkers. Now 

 I mean to be quits with you. Hand me over ten 

 guineas, and I'll let you go because you're Joe Manton, 

 though I know you've got fifty pounds at least about 

 you!' 



Joseph swallowed his wrath and promptly paid 

 the ten guineas. But he never forgave the highway- 

 man for getting a brace of his best pistols for nix, and 

 he made himself a special double gun, with barrels 

 barely two feet long, which he always carried about 

 with him afterwards when travelling, and christened 

 "The Highwayman's Master." With this weapon 

 I have heard that he subsequently shot a highwayman 

 who stopped his chaise and mortally wounded him. 



I have mentioned in passing one or two of Joe 

 Manton's rivals in the gun-trade, but there was one who 

 deserves a more extended notice. 



When Colonel Hawker once asked Manton who was 

 the next best maker to himself, Joe's reply was, " Purdey 

 gets up the best work next to mine." And no doubt 



