78 BREECH-LOADERS. 



the expense of the first outlay and the continual 

 wear and tear, etc., was attended by several serious 

 disadvantages, some half-dozen of which I shall 

 enumerate. 



In the first place, two or three gun -bearers 

 are required to each sportsman, whose duty it is 

 to pass up the spare guns as fast as those in hand 

 are discharged ; now, it is a great disadvantage 

 for a hunter, when on trail or stalking, to have 

 a number of persons at his heels, on account of 

 the extra noise they must necessarily make in 

 forcing their way through cover, which often 

 gives alarm to the game, and prevents him from 

 getting a shot. 



Secondly, it is a great drawback, whilst in the 

 pursuit of some dangerous animal, when a faux 

 pas might be attended with fatal consequences, to 

 have any other than yourself to look after. 



Thirdly, it is not pleasant to have loaded fire- 

 arms carried in the rear by inexperienced hands, 

 with whom an accident from carelessness is as 

 likely to occur as not. 



