PRAIRIE AND FOEEST. 



CHAPTER I. 



To lay down rules by the observance of which the 

 majority of bad shots may become experts is suffi- 

 ciently easy; but the trouble is, however great the 

 determination to follow the given precepts, so soon 

 as game is flushed the instructions are thrown to the 

 winds, and bang, bang, go both barrels, with the same 

 hurried unsuccessful results as previously. That more 

 birds are missed by shooting too quickly, I assert as 

 indisputable ; and knowing this to be the case, why 

 will it continue to be practised ? For this reason, that 

 many are so fearfully nervous that for the moment 

 they have no control of their actions, or they are so 

 timid that although firing off their gun they consider a 

 duty, they believe the sooner it is got through with the 

 better ; neither of such pupils is ever likely to become 

 a crack shot. I have a friend who is, without excep- 

 tion, the most unlucky shot I was going to say the 

 worst that ever I met. We at one period very fre- 

 quently shot together, and each evening, on our tramp 

 home, he was certain to tell me that he had discovered 

 the reason for his apparent want of skill. How various 

 the causes attributed, would be beyond possibility of 



