136 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



and when, by a few hours' practice in these motions, the 

 pupil can perform them readily, handily and surely, it is 

 wonderful how much is already gained. 



Nothing is so much to be guarded against as dwelling 

 on the sight, poking about to get the aim, or keeping the 

 gun long to the shoulder. This facility acquired, the next 

 step is to learn to bring with equal quickness, ease and 

 deliberation, the lock back from the full-cock to half-cock, 

 while in the act of lowering it from the shoulder, without 

 making any pause or separate motion. This is done by 

 placing the ball of the thumb on the striker, as if in the 

 act of cocking the piece, and holding it gently in check 

 while the trigger is drawn with the forefinger, yielding to 

 it, nevertheless, and letting it descend slowly, until it 

 almost touches the nipple. Then by drawing it back until 

 it ticks, the sound showing that the cock is safely secured. 



When considerable facility has been acquired in these 

 motions, the faces of the strikers may be lined with a thick 

 piece of cork or felt, so as to preserve the cones from the 

 effects of the blow, and the pupil may be directed to pull 

 his trigger, the moment the gun is at his shoulder and his 

 cheek down to the stock, still without attempting to take 

 or correct his aim, more than he has already done by fix- 

 ing his eye on the mark, without removing it thence, until 

 after the trigger is pulled. The instant it is pulled, the 

 muzzle must be lowered and the butt withdrawn from the 

 shoulder. 



This practice should be persisted in, under the super- 

 vision of a careful, kind, and steady instructor, half an 

 hour at a time for many days ; care being had, never to 



