THE GUN, AND HOW TO USE IT. 91 



strikers on the nipples may be discharged, and by either 

 of these they will be discharged nine times out of ten. 



There is one accident, by which the lock on the full- 

 cock may be, and by that it will be, invariably discharged. 



There is only one accident by which the lock at half- 

 cock can be discharged, and by that it will not, ninety 

 times out of a hundred. 



I never, to conclude, object to shooting with persons 

 who shoot with their guns habitually carried at full-cock. 

 Most quick shots always do so ; and some argue, with some 

 show of reason, though I do not agree, that it is safest so 

 to do. I have shot for years with men who do so, and 

 never saw an accident occur ; besides which, they are 

 of necessity careful. With no man, who carries his strik- 

 ers on his caps, would I walk in company ten minutes, 

 much less hunt a day with him. 



To load a gun, which has been recently fired, leave the 

 striker of the barrel just discharged, down upon the cap 

 which it has exploded ; let down the other to half-cock, 

 or, if at half-cock already, let it stand there ; drop the 

 butt, so that the piece shall stand perpendicularly before 

 you, with the trigger guard and ramrod toward your face, 

 at about a foot distant from the body. 



Hold the barrel lightly, at about two inches below the 

 muzzle, between the three first fingers and thumb of the 

 left hand. With the right draw out the powder flask from 

 the pocket in which you carry it ; cover the orifice of the 

 charger with your forefinger ; invert the flask ; turn off the 

 charger spring with the ball of your thumb, giving the 

 flask a slight shake. Let the spring fly back with a sharp 



