IN an instant all was uproar; a French picket was called, which in a short time overpowered and carried me off to the guard-house of the regiment. I was promptly freed on announcing my name, but the officer who had collared me demanded an apology for the portion of the fracas concerning him personally. This being of course refused, a challenge was the consequence; and on the following morning we met behind the ramparts and exchanged shots, my ball passing through the poor fellow’s thigh and dropping him. My escape, too, was a narrow one — his ball perforating my coat, waistcoat, and shirt, and bruising my side.
I expressed a hope that he had not been hit in a vital part. His reply — uttered with all the politeness of his nation — was, that “he was not materially hurt.” I, however, was not at ease, for it was impossible not to regret this, to him, serious denouement of a trumpery affair, though arising from his own intemperate conduct. It was a lesson to me in future never to do anything in frolic which might give even unintentional offence.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Follow. Friend. Shoot.
2 Denouement. Regiment. Whereupon.
3 But. My. Such.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Pass. 2. Even. 3. Own. 4. Right. 5. Free. 6. Refuse. 7. Mine.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
mtts (5+2)
imitates. mitts. mottoes. mottos. mutates.
motets. mutts.
