'It looks like witchcraft.

I'll go to my grave but what he was drove full of slugs like a pepper-box.' 'Quietly,' said Mr.Archer, 'you must not excite yourself.

These deceptions are very usual in war; the eye, in the moment of alert, is hardly to be trusted, and when the smoke blows away you see the man you fired at, taking aim, it may be, at yourself.

You should observe, too, that you were in the dark night, and somewhat dazzled by the lamps, and that the sudden stopping of the mail had jolted you.

In such circumstances a man may miss, ay, even with a blunder-buss, and no blame attach to his marksmanship.'.