such a thing had never been seen before, never in living memory.
The brave band of hat hunters gazed proudly at one another.

Their manly features glowed with pleasure and, in every corner of the shop, firm handshakes were silently exchanged.

The emotion was so overwhelming, so unforseen that no one could find a word to say.

Not even Tartarin.

Pale and trembling, with the new rifle clutched in his hands, he stood in a trance at the shop counter.