THE SPORTSMAN'S VADE MECUM. 47 



mush in to cool and set ; a chopping block, knite, ladle, 

 with long wooden handle, to stir and empty the copper 

 with, a few hooks to hang flesh on, when you use horse- 

 flesh, &c., in place of heads equally good, by the way, 

 when you can get it shovel, broom, and buckets. I 

 believe all in this department is now complete and requisite, 

 when you keep six or more dogs. The spare place is good 

 for breeding bitches, when you do not require it for your 

 tired dogs, as also for sick ones. In fact, you cannot well do 

 without it. 



And now methinks I may safely add a few words on 

 guns. This, of course, especially to the rising generation. 

 I need not tell you not to put the shot all in one barrel and 

 the powder in the other, though I have frequently seen it 

 done, aye, and done it myself, when in a mooning fit ; but I 

 will say, never carry your gun at full cock or with the ham- 

 mers down, than which last there cannot be anything more 

 dangerous. The slightest pull upon the cock is sufficient to 

 cause it to fall so smartly on the cone or nipple as to explode 

 the cap. Positively, I would not shoot a day, no, nor an 

 hour, with a man that so carried his gun. At half cock 

 there is no danger. By pulling ever so hard at the trigger, 

 you cannot get it off; and if you raise the cock ever so 

 little, it falls back to half cock, or, at the worst, catches at full 

 cock. Never overcharge your gun. Two to two and a half 

 drachms of powder, and one ounce to one and a quarter of shot, 

 is about the load. For summer shooting, still less. Never 

 take out a dirty gun, not even if only once fired out of, even 

 if you have to clean it yourself. After cleaning with soap. 



