I summoned to my recollection all the knowledge I had acquired, and made sure that nothing should be lacking so far as human skill would go.

I had another pistol besides the one I called "Elspeth," also made in Glasgow, but a thought longer in the barrel.
For this occasion I neglected cartouches, and loaded in the old way.

I tested my bullets time and again, and weighed out the powder as if it had been gold dust.

It was short range, so I made my charges small.

I tried my old device of wrapping each bullet in soft wool smeared with beeswax.