PEAIKIE AND FOBEST. 



CHAPTEE I. 



To lay down rules "by the observance of which the majority 

 of bad shots may become experts is sufficiently easy ; but 

 the trouble is, however great the determination to follow 

 the given precepts, so soon as game is flushed the instruc 

 tions are thrown to the winds, and bang, bang, go both 

 barrels, with the same hurried unsuccessful results as 

 previously. That more birds are missed by shooting too 

 quickly, I assert as indisputable ; and knowing this to be 

 the case, why will it continue to be practised ? For this 

 reason, that many are so fearfully nervous that for the 

 moment they have no control of their actions, or they are 

 so timid that although firing off their gun they consider a 

 duty, they believe the sooner it is got through with the 

 better; neither of such pupils is ever likely to become a 

 crack shot. I have a friend who is, without exception, 

 the most unlucky shot I was going to say the worst 

 that ever I met. We at one period very frequently shot 

 together, and each evening, on our tramp home, he was 



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