LOADING. 



355 



not half rammed home ; and the killing, and even the 

 safety of the gun, became a matter of doubt. I shall 

 now, with great pleasure, though it is against my own 

 sport to divulge it, give my new plan to all my brother- 

 sportsmen; and I flatter myself that those who have suf- 

 ficient confidence in my advice to try it, will say that 

 they never loaded with so much expedition or comfort ; 

 and that their large guns never shot so strong, so close, 

 or so regular by the ordinary modes of loading. To 

 the point, then, as I hate preface and prosing. Sup- 

 posing your gun was from 80 to lOOlbs. in weight, and 

 carried a pound of shot. Take the same measure of 

 powder as of shot, which in weight would be about two 

 ounces ; and, with the gun in a horizontal position, 

 put it all the way to the breeching with the loading- 

 spoon A. 



Taking care to keep upwards the black-painted, or flat, 

 part of the loading-rod ; by which you know that the 

 open part of the cylinder must be upwards. The upper 

 part of the rod is made flat, in order iofeel it in the 

 dark, when shooting by night. When the powder is 

 home, elevate the muzzle as much as you can ; turn 

 round the loading-rod ; and, after giving it a shake, 

 draw it out with the black, or flat, part downwards. 



A A 2 



