“For infantry, the service rifle and milag cartridge; for cavalry the same, but shorter and lighter, besides a pistol using the milag cartridge of calibre 35. The artillery use nothing but the heavy guns, which are of different styles and for different purposes. Some are for lipthalene, others for lipthalene and meteorite, and still others using meteorite alone.”
“What! did I understand you to say meteorite?” and Cobb looked at the Secretary with a surprised and earnest expression, while his hand nervously grasped the back of his chair.
“Yes; certainly. Is there anything strange in the name, that you should look at me so doubtingly?”
“No; I suppose not,” settling back in his chair.
“But you appeared very much surprised.”
“Yes?”
“Yes; have you seen this explosive? But no; you could not have seen it. It did not come to the notice of the government until after your time.”
“Will you show me one of these milag cartridges?”
“Certainly.”