EPISODES 257 



too ; but time and industry are required, as well as talents, 

 to make a good artist. If you will examine the birds, 

 I'll to my labor." So saying, the artist took up his 

 palette, and was searching for a rest-stick; but not finding 

 the one with which he usually supported his hand, he 

 drew the rod of a gun, and was about to sit, when he sud- 

 denly threw down his implements on the table, and, tak- 

 ing the gun, walked to me and asked if " I had ever seen 

 a percussion-lock." I had not, for that improvement was 

 not yet in vogue. He not only explained the superiority 

 of the lock in question, but undertook to prove that it was 

 capable of acting effectually under water. The bell was 

 rung, a flat basin of water was produced, the gun was 

 charged with powder, and the lock fairly immersed. The 

 report terrified the birds, causing them to beat against 

 the gilded walls of their prisons. I remarked this to the 

 artist. He replied, "The devil take the birds! — more 

 of them in the market; why, sir, I wish to show you that 

 I am a marksman as well as a painter." The easel was 

 cleared of the large picture, rolled to the further end of 

 the room, and placed against the wall. The gun was 

 loaded in a trice, and the painter, counting ten steps from 

 the easel, and taking aim at the supporting-pin on the 

 left, fired. The bullet struck the head of the wooden pin 

 fairly, and sent the splinters in all directions. "A bad 

 shot, sir, " said this extraordinary person. " The ball ought 

 to have driven the pin farther into the hole, but it struck 

 on one side ; I '11 try at the hole itself." After reloading 

 his piece, the artist took aim again, and fired. The 

 bullet this time had accomplished its object, for it had 

 passed through the aperture and hit the wall behind. 



" Mr. , ring the bell and close the windows, " said the 



painter, and, turning to me, continued, " Sir, I will show 

 you the ne plus ultra of shooting. " I was quite amazed, 

 and yet so delighted that I bowed my assent. A servant 

 having appeared, a lighted candle was ordered. When it 



TOL. II. — 17 



