128 SHOOTING. 



irritated if laughed at for their extreme caution in 

 never allowing their gun to be cocked till after the 

 bird had risen ; but if they will show me one among 

 them that can cock a gun, and bring down a snap 

 shot with as little loss of time as one who had nothing 

 to do but to present and fire, and particularly in 

 making double shots, I will resign all pretensions to 

 argument on the subject. This system may have 

 done very well half a century ago, when they might 

 almost have " put salt on the birds' tails," and when 

 the art of neatly using the second barrel was wholly 

 unknown ; or even now, among the tame birds in 

 the preserved turnip fields of Norfolk and Suffolk, 

 where they may pick both their shots, or keep the 

 second barrel for the chance of springing another 

 bird. But those who shoot on this system, in a wild 

 country, would stand a poor chance in competition 

 with one who went up to his game with both barrels 

 cocked, at a time when the birds were wary, and 

 when the loss of an instant made the difference of ten 

 yards in the distance. Then only is it that the dif- 

 ference is to be seen between a first and second rate 

 shot ; and, consequently, that those who pride them- 

 selves on skill, instead of easy slaughter, have the 

 opportunity of distinguishing themselves. The ar- 

 gument, therefore, as to not cocking a gun, can only 

 be heard on the question of safety. And here again I 

 must confess I have my doubts as to their correctness. 

 We will put a cool and steady old sportsman out of 

 the question : but suppose an eager young man, who 



