194 LETTERS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



other than that of money. He knows what class have the 

 money now ; more than likely he knows what you can afford 

 and will think none the better of you if you fail in the sense 

 of proportion. I could tell you of men who have protested 

 against accepting money at all, and that in these latter days 

 with boots at 3 los. per pair and decent tea their main 

 luxury unobtainable from the remote merchant, and 

 oatmeal their staple necessity maintained at a fictitious 

 price to please the fanner, instead of being subsidised as is 

 flour to stop the mouth of the voter. Remember, game- 

 keepers are not a necessity, and thus cannot dictate terms 

 through a union or hold up the country. There is one other 

 point I would like you to be clear upon : some shooters 

 always carry their gun at " safe " until the moment of dis- 

 charge, when almost automatically the thumb presses forward 

 the safety-bolt. This may be, and probably is, a desirable 

 habit to acquire, but on no account whatever should it be 

 made an excuse for treating the gun otherwise than if the bolt 

 were at " danger." In other words, " safe " or not, always 

 carry the weapon as if safety-bolts had not been invented. 

 The correct position is on the shoulder, triggers uppermost, 

 grip on the " small " or the heel plate according to whether 

 a shot is expected or not. Always look through the barrels 

 before loading ; avoid packing the gun in a soft cover below or 

 among others in car or carriage. Neglect of this rule results 

 sooner or later in dints, which require skilled " tapping up," 

 a process which leaves a weak spot. A well known gun- 

 maker with whom I once discussed these dints and their 

 treatment, attributed the frequency of their infliction to the 

 careless " chucking," by " gentlemen's gentlemen," of 

 aluminium shooting seats, with the projecting discs attached, 

 on to the priceless pile of weapons. The safest covers for 

 carrying guns at full length or "assembled" are made of 

 stout sole leather, the price of which per square foot at the 

 moment is practically prohibitive. 



