WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 395 



A WORD TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN, 



BY VENATOR. 



We observe, with strong feelings of regret, that in 

 every successive season, many serious and sometimes fatal 

 accidents occur to gentlemen while shooting. By attending 

 to a few general rules, some of those accidents may be 

 avoided. 



The first great principle to bear constantly in mind, is, 

 never to suffer any part of your own person, or that of your 

 companion nor even yoixr dog, to come within range of 

 your gim at any time. This should more particularly be 

 observed in gi\'ing or receiving, or in drawing the piece 

 after you through a hedge. Carry your gun, invariably, 

 well poized in the air, or pointing to the ground ; then, 

 should it by any chance go off, the charge flies harmless 

 above your head, or is instantly buried beneath your feet. 



Charging is the next material point you should attend 

 to. Never suffer any part of either hand to pass over the 

 muzzle of your gun when in the act of loading, or after it 

 is loaded. When the powder is put into the barrel, take 

 hold of the rod with the tip, as near as you can, of your 

 finger and thumb, to ram down the wadding, and observe 

 the same caution both in passing down and drawing the rod 

 in completing the charge ; and then, should the gun unex- 

 pectedly go off, you could receive no other injury than a 

 slight laceration of the extreme points of your thumb and 

 finger. Any man who has learned his discipline in the 

 army, will explain this method to you in a few lessons. — 

 Keep the piece at a distance from your person while loading, 

 with the muzzle rather slanting outward ; this precaution 

 is always a safe one with a short gun. 



There is another kind of accident, from which the most 

 serious consequences often occur, that cannot be so easily 

 guarded against, which is a bursting of the gun j yet this. 



