HOUSEBOAT-GUN -DOG 39 



maker, for the simple reason that on the 

 goodness of the work depended the 

 quickness in firing, and consequently the 

 filling of the bag. But, nowadays, every 

 common fellow in the market-town can 

 detonate an old musket, and make it shoot 

 as quick as can be wished ; insomuch that 

 all scientific calculations in shooting, at 

 moderate distances, are now so simplified 

 that we, every day, meet with Jackanapes 

 apprentice boys who can shoot flying and 

 knock down their eight birds out of ten." 



But Col. Hawker was too public 

 spirited to be insensible to improvements in 

 mechanical science, and while he loved his 

 flint gun as an early companion he admits 

 that later on he was kidnapped into using 

 a detonator. He writes : " The detonators 

 have, of late years, been much improved in 

 shooting in consequence of their being bored 

 different from flint guns. They now detain 

 the shot longer in the barrel, in order that 

 the powder may have time to kindle, which 

 is done to such a degree as to occasion an 

 increase of recoil, and a liability to become 

 " leaded " with much firing. Many wad- 

 dings have been invented to counteract this, 



