SHOT BELT. 119 



may be used for a whole month without your losing 

 half a charge. 



While pressing the spring with the forefinger and 

 thumb, draw the top just out ; then take a fresh hold 

 over handed, so as for the first finger and thumb to 

 steady the hand by pressing the muzzle of the belt, and 

 the second finger to be just within the ridge of the top, 

 and by closing the second finger a little, the top will be 

 sufficiently drawn out. The instant you have taken 

 this fresh hold, lean the body, with a little jerk, to the 

 right, and the shot will fill the top, of which your second 

 finger will have such a command, that none will be 

 spilt. 



Before you put the first measure into the barrel, lean 

 a little to the left, or the shot will pour out of the belt ; 

 and in loading your second barrel, you must observe 

 the same motion of the body to the right and left. In 

 doing all this, the left hand should never be taken from 

 the gun. Be sure always to keep the spring inwards, 

 and have your shot-top made rather longest in the part 

 which comes under while filling it. 



When we have acquired the knack of this, nothing 

 can be more quickly done, long and tedious as it may 

 appear in explanation. 



Always have the tops of your shot belts made to fit 

 nicely into the muzzle of your gun, by which means, in 

 the process of drawing your charge, you can empty your 

 shot into them without losing a grain. <**~~> 



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