'Missed fire,' said Mr Winkle, who was very pale - probably from

disappointment.

Odd,' said the old gentleman, taking the gun. 'Never knew one of

them miss fire before. Why, I don't see anything of the cap.' 'Bless my

soul!' said Mr Winkle, 'I declare I forgot the cap!'

The slight omission was rectified. Mr Pickwick crouched again. Mr

Winkle stepped forward with an air of determination and resolution;

and Mr Tupman looked out from behind a tree. The boy shouted; four

birds flew out. Mr Winkle fired. There was a scream as of an individual

not a rook - in corporal anguish. Mr Tupman had saved the lives of

innumerable unoffending birds by receiving a portion of the charge in

his left arm.

To describe the confusion that ensued would be impossible. To tell

how Mr Pickwick in the first transports of emotion called Mr Winkle

Wretch!' how Mr Tupman lay prostrate on the ground; and how Mr

Winkle knelt horror-stricken beside him; how Mr Tupman called

distractedly upon some feminine Christian name, and then opened

first one eye, and then the other, and then fell back and shut them

both - all this would be as difficult to describe in detail, as it would be

to depict the gradual recovering of the unfortunate individual, the

binding up of his arm with pocket-handkerchiefs, and the conveying

him back by slow degrees supported by the arms of his anxious

friends.

They drew near the house. The ladies were at the garden gate, waiting

for their arrival and their breakfast. The spinster aunt appeared; she

smiled, and beckoned them to walk quicker. 'Twas evident she knew

not of the disaster. Poor thing! there are times when ignorance is bliss

indeed.

They approached nearer.

Why, what is the matter with the little old gentleman?' said Isabella

Wardle. The spinster aunt heeded not the remark; she thought it

applied to Mr Pickwick. In her eyes Tracy Tupman was a youth; she

viewed his years through a diminishing glass.

Don't be frightened,' called out the old host, fearful of alarming his

daughters. The little party had crowded so completely round Mr

Tupman, that they could not yet clearly discern the nature of the

accident. 'Don't be frightened,' said the host.

What's the matter?' screamed the ladies.

Mr Tupman has met with a little accident; that's all.'

The Pickwick Papers