42 MUZZLE-LOADERS AND BREECH-LOADERS. 
One immense advantage of the breech-loader is 
its safety in loading, especially in a confined posi- 
tion, as on a boat or in a battery. Whereas, in 
the muzzle-loader, immediately after the discharge, 
while the smoke is still pouring from the barrel, and 
while the fire may be smouldering invisible below, 
the sportsman deliberately pours in a fresh charge 
of powder, holding his hand and the entire flask 
over the muzzle, endangering his life, and incurring 
injury far more frequently than most persons sup- 
pose ; with the breech-loader, the barrels are opened 
and fall into such a position that no discharge can 
take place, and never point towards the person of 
their owner. 
Several of the writer’s friends have been maimed 
for life by the premature discharge of a load in the 
muzzle-loader from a spark remaining in the barrel ; 
the risk connected with it has always seemed very 
great; and even with the patent flasks, which are 
hardly practical inventions, more or less unavoid- 
able. This danger is entirely obviated by the breech- 
loader, which cannot go off until the barrels are 
restored to position after the charges are inserted ; 
cannot leave hidden sparks to imperil the owner’s 
life or limb; never expose the hand over the 
loaded barrel, that may have been left at half-cock, 
if the sportsman is lable to thoughtlessness or 
over-excitement; and which can be loaded without 
difficulty in the most confined position. So, not 
only do we have rapidity, but entire safety in load- 
ing. 
snes 
