4G8 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



parative safety, as with a breech-loader the muzzle 

 of the gun can never by any chance be directed to- 

 wards the person of the loader ; no mistake can be 

 made, such as putting two charges of powder or 

 shot into one barrel ; there is no chance of losing a 

 hand by pouring powder from a flask down the 

 muzzle of a gun recently discharged, in which, per- 

 haps, a bit of lighted tow, or, what is oftener the 

 case, a small piece of cork (got among the powder 

 in opening the canister) may remain — an accident 

 which may happen to the most careful sportsman. 

 Again, one is always enabled to see clearly through 

 the barrels, and can be certain that no dirt or ob- 

 struction has got in, which is a great advantage, as 

 many people have been injured by guns bursting 

 from the muzzle being accidentally plugged up with 

 clay, which may have got in whilst jumping a ditch, 

 climbing over a fence, or stumbling in an uneven 

 turnip-field. The sportsman can never meet with 

 an accident by loading one barrel whilst the other 

 is on full-cock, which the ramming down of a wad 

 or the catching of a twig might cause to go ofi"; and 

 when game is abundant, in the hurry of reloading 

 or the excitement of the moment, accidents from 

 this cause frequently occur : also there is no danger 

 of an unlucky cap flying and endangering the eye- 

 sight — not a very uncommon occurrence. 



As to the pleasantness of shooting, both to self 

 and company, there can be no doubt ; for what an 

 advantage it is for sportsmen, when beating country, 



