“A birding-piece!” exclaimed the King, “we knew not that he ever used any such new-fashioned tool.”
“He hath not used it till of late,” said Cochran; “but it would seem that he hath lost no time in perfecting himself in the use of it, now that he hath taken it in hand. Your Majesty would be surprised to behold how expertly he can employ it. The last shot I saw him make with it was just as we were about to part, and it astonished me and all those who were in my company.”
“We shall ourselves see him use this strange weapon, the very first visit he may make to court,” said the King. “But what of this famous shot of his?”
“So please your Majesty, a sparrow-hawk sat on the very top of a straight upright pine tree, of immense height. He was perched there so proudly and confidently in his lofty position, and, as he thought, so safely too, that he looked down as carelessly on our cavalcade below as if he had been the weather-cock on the needle point of some lofty church-spire.—‘There’s a shot for you, Sir Walter,’ said I, and I straightway offered to gage five gold unicorns that he could do nought against it.—‘I take thy wager,’ said he; and with that he raised his piece, and without saying a word more, he presented it at the over-confident bird, and, to the astonishment of all present, down it came tumbling.—‘He’s gone!’ cried he.”
“Aye, and your gold was gone too,” interrupted James, laughing heartily.
“Nay, your Majesty, I minded not my gold,” replied the wily Cochran; “and had but these words of his been all the speech he uttered, I had been well contented to have lost a larger wager.”
“What said he else?” demanded James.
“So please your most gracious Majesty, I had rather leave the rest unsaid,” replied Cochran, with great affectation of discretion.
“Nay, but we would hear it all from thee,” cried the King, impatiently.
“If your most gracious Majesty commands, your faithful servant must obey,” replied Cochran. “Yet true as mine ears are wont to be to their office, I could hardly believe that I heard the words which they then conveyed to me.”