Our other and much more convenient, if less powerful, projective weapon has also its own disadvantage.

It can be used only at short distances; and at these it is apt to burn and tear a skin so soft and delicate as that of the thernee.

Moreover, it so terrifies the caldecta as to render it unmanageable; and we are compelled to dismount before using it, as you may presently see.

Four or five of our party are now armed with it, and I wish you had allowed me to furnish you with one." "I prefer," I answered, "my own weapon, an air-gun which I can fire sixteen times without reloading, and which will kill at a hundred yards' distance.

With a weapon unknown to me I might not only fail altogether, but I might not improbably do serious injury, by my clumsiness and inexperience, to my companions." "I wish, nevertheless," he said, "that you carried the _mordyta_.