BREECH-LOADERS. 67 



the common gun ! No halting the line to reload ; 

 you fire, and continue moving on, loading with 

 the greatest ease and celerity as you go. By this 

 means the line is kept unbroken, and in cover 

 the sportsmen are not exposed to the danger of a 

 stray shot from any one lagging behind. What 

 is more calculated to try the patience of a man 

 than this continual stopping? No one likes to 

 keep his friends waiting, and consequently reloads 

 with the greatest expedition. In the hurry of 

 the moment how often does a shot drop in the 

 nipple, or some mistake take place in the loading ? 

 to rectify which the line is delayed, and the 

 game, perhaps already afoot, makes off. All this 

 is avoided by the breech-loader. 

 g f , . 3. The great comparative safety in 



using a breech-loader is undeniable. 

 Never by any chance need you have the direction 

 of your gun's muzzle pointed either towards 

 yourself or your friends in loading. It should be 

 kept in the direction you are going. 



4. You cannot make any mistake in the loading, 



