112 FRANK SCHLEY'S PARTRIDGE AND PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



powder, and you may lose a finger, or one or both eyes by 

 the explosion. On entering a house with a loaded gun, if 

 it is a breech loader, withdraw the charges. If it is a muz- 

 zle loader always remove the caps off of the nipples of the 

 gun, especially if you set the gun away ; if the caps are 

 not removed from off of the nipples a blow on them will 

 discharge the loads, and if it is drawn towards a person, as 

 it often will be by thoughtless people in lifting it, or re- 

 moving it from place to place, it will be likely to go off, and 

 perhaps cause a serious accident. The same precaution 

 should be used when getting into a vehicle, and in carry- 

 ing the gun on long tramps, where it is frequently removed 

 from vehicle to shoulder and from shoulder to case. The 

 proper way is to withdraw the charges, or leave the nipples 

 without caps, and place on the nipples, in place of caps, 

 cotton or tow; you can then let the hammers down and the 

 gun will be safe. Never put caps on the nipples of a muzzle 

 loader until you have finished charging the gun. Never 

 toss the gun up whilst drawing the charge when the gun 

 is capped. Never charge one barrel of the gun when the 

 other is cocked and capped. When in the field, and in ex- 

 pectation of a shot, always carry the gun with the ham- 

 mers raised, so you will be ready at the instant for any 

 chance that may offer. But on coming up to a fence let 

 the hammers down, and in getting over the fence push the 

 muzzle of the gun in front of you. Don't pull the gun 

 through the fence, or stick the gun between the rails of the 

 fence, and then get over. It is better to push the muzzle 

 of the gun in front of you, and climb over the top. In this 

 way you will run no risk of having an accident by the 

 hammers catching in drawing the gun through. Many 

 sportsmen have been shot by pulling the gun recklessly 

 through the fence instead of climbing over the top, and 

 pushing the gun in front of them when getting over. 

 When running around making a circuit to get a near shot, 

 or running after or chasing wounded game, always remem- 

 ber to keep the muzzle of the gun pointing upwards, for if 

 you should happen to stumble and fall when running, and 



