Bursting a Gun. 203 



some time since : the breech-piece split, and the 

 nipple, hammer, and part of the barrel there blew 

 out. Fortunately no injury was done ; and I should 

 not note it except for the curious effect upon the 

 tympanum of the ear. The first sense was that of a 

 stunning blow on the head ; on recovering from 

 which the distinction between one sound and another 

 seemed quite lost. The ear could not separate or 

 define them, and whether it was a person speaking, a 

 whistle, the slamming of a door, or the neigh of a 

 horse, it was all the same. Tone, pitch, variation 

 there was none. Though perfectly, and in fact pain- 

 fully, audible, all sounds were converted into a 

 miserable jangling noise, exactly like that made when 

 a wire in a piano has come loose and jingles. This 

 annoying state of things lasted three days, after 

 which it gradually went off, and in a week had 

 entirely disappeared. Probably the sound of the 

 explosion had been much increased by the cheek 

 slightly touching the stock in the moment of firing, 

 the jar of the wood adding to the vibration. This 

 gun belonged to another person, and was caught up,, 

 already loaded, to take advantage of a favourable 

 chance ; it is noticeable that half the accidents happen 

 with a strange gun. 



Shot plays curious freaks sometimes : I know a 



