The First Gun 



while \vc were puzzling over the moon and the ship 

 and the queer signs on the dial a gun was hidden 

 inside ! The case was locked, it is true ; but there 

 are ways of opening locks, and we were always handy 

 with tools. 



This gun was almost, but not quite so long as tho 

 other. That dated from the time between Stuart and 

 Hanover; this might not have been more than 

 seventy years old. And a beautiful piece of work- 

 manship it was : my new double breechloader is a 

 coarse common thing to compare with it. Long and 

 slender and light as a feather, it came to the shoulder 

 with wonderful ease. Then there was a groove on 

 the barrel at the breech and for some inches up 

 which caught the eye and guided the glance like a 

 trough to the sight at the muzzle and thence to the 

 bird. The stock was shod with brass, and the trigger- 

 guard was of brass, with a kind of flange stretching 

 half-way down to the butt and inserted in the wood. 

 After a few minutes' polishing it shone like gold, and 

 to see the sunlight flash on it was a joy. 



You might note the grain of the barrel, for it had 

 not been browned ; and it took a good deal of sand 

 to get the rust off". By aid of a little oil and careful 

 wiping after a shower it was easy to keep it bright. 

 Those browned barrels only encourage idleness. The 



