FINISHING LESSONS 



to the game), or otherwise your second barrel birds, 

 by flying straight away up wind, down wind, or, in 

 short, in the smoke, may sometimes defy the best 

 shot in Europe. Recollect further, that, as birds fly 

 across you, they not only become clear of the smoke, 

 but give you more time, and present to your charge 

 a more vital part. Be assured there is a great deal 

 of generalship (if I may use the expression) as well 

 as marksmanship in showing off a brilliant day's 

 shooting. But, when a man, over his bottle, talks 

 to his company of killing to a certainty double shots 

 in whatever situation you choose to spring the game, 

 within forty yards, " hear him," as Lord Chesterfield 

 says, " with patience, and at least seeming attention ;" 

 although you might feel disposed to confer on him 

 the order of the long bow, or put him on your list 

 for a knight's companion of the golden hatchet. 

 Recollect, however, it is but liberal to allow those 

 persons who have most frequently the mortification 

 to do but little, the comfort of astonishing the cre- 

 dulous by talking a great deal. 



In firing at random distances, where birds are 

 crossing you at the distance of sixty or seventy yards, 

 the average of good shots generally present not more 

 than half a foot before them. But it should be re- 

 collected, that after the shot has been driven through 

 the air to the point blank distance, it travels so 

 much slower, that the allowance must be greatly 

 increased; and that although a few inches may be 

 sufficient to fire before a fair cross shot, yet at sixty 



