BULLETS AND THEIR BILLETS 



the sixth bullet, after the sight was low- 

 ered, as did also his mate, who happened 

 to move into line at the instant of firing. 



The handling of a rifle must become 

 as automatic as the manipulation of a 

 knife and fork, or some misadventure 

 will sooner or later befall. Were there 

 not sad necessity for it, one would 

 scarcely venture the observation that 

 under no conceivable circumstances 

 should the barrel be allowed to cover a 

 human being. The boy ought to be 

 taught that to forget this for a moment, 

 with any weapon, even when it has been 

 taken to pieces and is in process of 

 cleaning, is an unpardonable breach of 

 etiquette, to be followed inexorably by a 

 hiding. 



Unless this is well learned, a hair- 

 trigger adds a new danger to the use of 

 firearms, and the following incident 

 leads one to question whether this device 

 confers an advantage commensurate 

 with the risk it involves. 

 177 



