And now that you guys have made me think about it.

A blackpowder flintlock would be loaded by pouring the powder "charge" down the barrel, but this portion of the powder might commonly be called the "load." A ball, usually with a cloth "patch" would then be rammed down on top of the "load."

In a long gun, like a rifle or musket, that is how the gun would be carried. Immediately before firing, a smaller amount of powder - sometimes the same as the load, and sometimes a special "finer" powder, would be poured into the flash pan - "charging" the gun. The flint makes a spark to ignite the "charge" in the flash pan, which transmits a flame through the flash hole to ignite the "load."

Since pistols were intended to be "at the ready," the flash pan usually had a tighter cover that would be pushed aside by the flint. It was thus possible to "charge" them in advance.

The amount of powder used in the flash pan is very small, and would not be missed by "feel" if simply poured out, but a careful bandit might actually look, so a small spit in the pan might be more likely to fool him. At any rate, the "charges" refered to are most likely only the small bit of powder in the flash pan - and he's done in by a triviality.

John