THE RECKLESS SPORTSMAN. 113 



the point of the gun is downward the muzzle will be driven 

 into the ground, especially if the ground is moist and soft, 

 and if the gun goes off, or is discharged in this situation 

 the barrels will be almost sure to explode, and you may 

 lose your life by the explosion. But if the muzzle of the 

 gun is pointed upward, there will be no risk of an explo- 

 sion. When standing on a fence, or walking a log, or 

 jumping a ditch, or getting in or out of a wagon or boat, 

 or walking along in a road going or returning from a hunt, 

 when stopping at a spring to drink or resting for awhile, 

 always have the hammer of the gun down. Whenever 

 you stop at a spring to drink, or to eat your lunch, or in 

 any manner rest for awhile, instead of standing the gun 

 up against a bush, twig or tree, as all reckless sportsmen 

 do, lay the gun down on the ground, and you will have 

 less chance of an accident. Should the gun be standing up 

 it might fall and strike the hammers and go off, and per- 

 haps shoot you, your friend or dog. When shooting in 

 swamps, woods or thicket with a companion never fire 

 upon a bird or animal, it makes no difference how fair the 

 shot may be, unless you are certain of the whereabouts of 

 the position of your companion. You had better let the 

 bird or animal escape without firing, than to fire recklessly 

 and perhaps hit your companion. In walking in thick 

 undergrowth with a friend, where it is difficult to force 

 the way, and you are compelled to walk on behind the 

 other, let the foremost man hold the muzzle of his gun in 

 front, and the rear man hold the muzzle of his gun point- 

 ing backward, so that if a twig or bush should happen to 

 catch and raise the hammer, and discharge either of the 

 guns, there will be no damage done. The same precaution 

 should be used in sneaking or crawling up to get a close 

 shot. If one man is behind the other the foremost should 

 carry his gun with the muzzle pointing in front of him, 

 and the rear man should carry his gun with the muzzle 

 pointing backwards. When in the field, where the birds 

 are all scattered around, and in expectation of a shot, the 

 gun should be carried with the hammers raised. If the ham- 

 15 



