CARTRIDGES. 355 



the bullet by about half an inch, or rather less. The length 

 of the long side should be just sufficient to fold twice round 

 the bullet at its base, with half an inch to spare, and the 

 angle which the inclined side makes with the long side about 

 forty-five degrees. Supposing such a piece of paper to be 

 lying before the person making up the bullet, with its square 

 end towards him and its long side to his right, the bullet 

 would be laid on the end nearest to him, with its point to 

 the left and its shoulder exactly over the left edge, and 

 rolled from him in the paper till the latter formed a close- 

 fitting tube round its cylindrical part, and projecting about 

 half an inch beyond its base. This hollow part is then 

 'choked' with a piece of strong string or catgut, till a 

 neck is formed sitting close against the base of the bullet, 

 when it is secured by two half-hitches and a thumb-hitch of 

 thread or fine twine, and any edges of paper that are left 

 trimmed off with a pair of scissors, so as not to project 

 beyond the sides of the bullet. It is then dipped in grease, 

 and ready for use. The bullet, thus prepared, is precisely as 

 though it had been removed from a Government cartridge 

 by cutting away the part above the shoulder of the pro- 

 jectile. 



" Unless it is likely to be carried far in a pouch, the 

 trouble of tying the neck may be avoided by merely twisting 

 it after 'choking,' and pressing the end into the hollow 

 base of the bullet with a round-headed former. It is rather 

 difficult to obtain a paper of uniform texture thin, and 

 yet sufficiently tough to bear the ' choking ' without 

 tearing. 



" The bullet thus prepared would, like the naked bullet, 

 be used with a powder-flask. One of a pattern made by 

 Messrs. Dixon, of Sheffield, in which the charger is detached 

 from the body of the flask, is the best, because it gives the 

 charge of powder more regularly than the ordinary pattern, 

 and the safest, because, if the charge of powder should 

 ignite in passing down the barrel, as in loading rifles does 

 occasionally (but very rarely) happen, the explosion cannot 

 ignite the remainder of the powder contained in the flask, 

 and thus cause a serious accident. 



" WELSHMAN." 



AA2 



