Of course,
in those days only muzzle loaders were used, although we had cut-felt
wads and all the improvements in gunnery known at that time. My weapon
was supplied me by Captain Stevenson--a good Manton, somewhat battered
up from much use, but of excellent even pattern. Orme shot a Pope-made
gun of London, with the customary straight hand and slight drop of the
English makes. I think he had brought this with him on his travels.
"Shall the firing be with the single barrel, or with both barrels?"
inquired our referee. In those days many American matches were shot from
plunge traps, and with the single barrel.
"I'm more used to the use of both barrels," suggested Orme, "but I do
not insist."
"It is the same to me," I said. So finally we decided that the rise
should be at twenty-eight yards, the use of both barrels allowed, and
the boundary at fifty yards--such rules as came to be later more
generally accepted in this country.
"Gentlemen, I suggest that you agree each bird to be gathered fairly by
the hand, each of you to select a gatherer. Each gentleman may
remunerate his gatherer, but the said remuneration shall in each case
remain the same. Is that satisfactory?" We agreed, and each tossed a
silver dollar to a grinning darky boy.
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