148 THE OUT-STATION; OR, 



yelled for petits verres of cognac, whilst others tried 

 to laugh at and disbelieve it. 



However, so excellent was it, that I was determined, 

 if possible, to have another pie, and the next day I found 

 a nest of porcupines in the neighbourhood of the scene 

 of the former one's destruction ; and although, on the 

 second production of the dish, 1 was only joined in the de- 

 licacy by a very "green" ensign, still, before a fortnight 



was over, one by one became a convert, and " G 's 



dish," or " porcupine pie," got to such a premium 

 the demand exceeding the supply that the animals 

 became exhausted ; and no more " materials" could 

 be got within a dozen miles, the " fretful" animal 

 having become, no doubt, too "crusty" to show out 

 with only the prospect of a pie before him. 



I here had an opportunity, one morning, of prac- 

 tically deciding the truth of the opposite theories, 

 entertained by the celebrated Buffon and the show- 

 man of Bartholomew Fair notoriety,* as to the power 

 of the porcupine of harpooning a distant object with 

 his quills ; and 1 would just as soon stand as target 

 for a toxopholite society, as I would before a society 

 of porcupines, barring the distance. 



A brother officer of mine had a spaniel completely 



* For the benefit of the reader unacquainted with the 

 view of the case held by this worthy, it may be as well to 

 set it forth in his own eloquent and expressive words. 

 Speaking of the porcupine he is showing, he says, " Buffoon 

 says the little animal shoots his quills ; but Buffoon is a 

 fool and a liar. He no more shoots his quills than I my 

 arms nor legs." 



