This must have happened many times, and each time but once the fire-maker may have muttered something under his breath, gone after his spindle, and then settled down stupidly to his work. He had had a golden chance to make a great discovery, but didn’t realize it.
The Sling Man in Action
Practice developed some wonderful marksmen among the users of this primitive weapon.
But, so it has been suggested, there was one man who stopped short when he lost his spindle, for a red-hot idea shot suddenly through his brain.
He forgot all about his fire-blocks while he sat stock still and thought.
Once or twice he chuckled to himself softly. Thereupon he arose and began to experiment.
He chose a longer, springier piece of wood, bent it into a bow, and strung it with a longer thong. He placed the end of a straight stick against the thong, drew it strongly back and released it.