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LETTEE XXIII 



a ROUSE SHOOTING (PAET VIII) 

 DEIVIXG concluded 



THE SAFE HANDLING OF GUNS WHEN GROUSE DRIVING 



EXERCISE the utmost caution in the handling of your 

 gun or guns during a grouse drive. If you are only 

 using one gun, you can load it from cartridges kept 

 in a pocket, and the gun, being manipulated by your- 

 self alone, should be safe enough ; and in these days 

 of ejectors you can charge a gun with such wonderful 

 rapidity that one gun will now almost perform the 

 work for which two were required some years ago. 

 If, however, as is more customary, you are employing a 

 pair of guns, be most observant of the behaviour of your 

 assistant till you feel you can thoroughly rely upon 

 him to load and change your guns with perfect safety. 

 If birds are not coming fast, one after the other, 

 it is always safer and more convenient to rest the 

 loaded second gun against the wall of your shelter in 

 front of you, and take it up to fire just when required. 

 Continue to use the one gun, and charge it from your 



