It'll do that afore long, Sir,' observed the tall man, in a low, prophetic

voice.

What do you mean by that observation, Sir?' inquired Mr Winkle,

angrily.

'Never mind, Sir, never mind,' replied the long gamekeeper; 'I've no

family myself, sir; and this here boy's mother will get something

handsome from Sir Geoffrey, if he's killed on his land. Load again, Sir,

load again.'

Take away his gun,' cried Mr Pickwick from the barrow, horror-

stricken at the long man's dark insinuations. 'Take away his gun, do

you hear, somebody?'

Nobody, however, volunteered to obey the command; and Mr Winkle,

after darting a rebellious glance at Mr Pickwick, reloaded his gun, and

proceeded onwards with the rest.

We are bound, on the authority of Mr Pickwick, to state, that Mr

Tupman's mode of proceeding evinced far more of prudence and

deliberation, than that adopted by Mr Winkle. Still, this by no means

detracts from the great authority of the latter gentleman, on all

matters connected with the field; because, as Mr Pickwick beautifully

observes, it has somehow or other happened, from time immemorial,

that many of the best and ablest philosophers, who have been perfect

lights of science in matters of theory, have been wholly unable to

reduce them to practice.

Mr Tupman's process, like many of our most sublime discoveries, was

extremely simple. With the quickness and penetration of a man of

genius, he had at once observed that the two great points to be

attained were - first, to discharge his piece without injury to himself,

and, secondly, to do so, without danger to the bystanders - obviously,

the best thing to do, after surmounting the difficulty of firing at all,

was to shut his eyes firmly, and fire into the air.

On one occasion, after performing this feat, Mr Tupman, on opening

his eyes, beheld a plump partridge in the act of falling, wounded, to

the ground. He was on the point of congratulating Mr Wardle on his

invariable success, when that gentleman advanced towards him, and

grasped him warmly by the hand.

'Tupman,' said the old gentleman, 'you singled out that particular

bird?'

No,' said Mr Tupman - 'no.'

The Pickwick Papers