“But you will prove that it is not so, if you fail to do me a favour that lies in your power, after promising to do it. Come now, we have no time to lose. I will show you how to use the repeater. See; it is empty just now. All you have to do is to take aim as you would with any ordinary rifle, and pull the trigger. When the shot is off, you load again by simply doing this to the trigger-guard—so. D’you understand?”
“Yes, perfectly; but is that all? no putting in of cartridges anywhere?”
“No, nothing more. Simply do that (open—and the cartridge flies out), and that (shut—and you are loaded and ready to fire)! Now, try it. That’s it! Capital! Couldn’t be better. Why, you were born to be a sportsman!”
“Yes, with fish,” remarked the gratified old man, as he went through the motions of loading and firing to perfection.
“Now, then, I will load it thus. Watch me.”
As he spoke, he filled the chamber under the barrel with cartridge after cartridge to the amazement of MacRummle and the amusement of Quin, who looked on.
“How many shots will it fire without reloading?” asked the old man at length.
“Sixteen,” replied Jackman.
“What! sixteen? But—but how will I ever know how many I’ve let off?”
“You don’t require to know. Just blaze away till it refuses to fire! Now, I must be off. Where is this white rock that I have to go to?”