log schoolhouse and the " old oaken bucket; " and to 

 this day, with the bullet-pouch and powder-horn, in 

 remote communities, it still hangs in the place of 

 honor, over the old fire-place. 



This gun was a splendid arm, and with it the 

 followers of Boone and Crockett began the advance 

 that has since spanned the Pacific. Out -door 

 sports were heartily encouraged by the early pio- 

 neers. Shooting competitions were very popular, 

 and the cream of the frontier marksmen gathered 

 at these times. The match was usually for some 

 prize, and often remarkable skill was shown by the 

 ^ competitors. 



The improvement in firearms went on slowly, 

 and the introduction of the cap gun was the first 

 important step towards the modern metallic car- 

 tridge. 



But before we leave the old muzzle-loader, I 

 should like to say a word concerning its efficiency. 

 Even at the present time, there is no firearm better 

 suited to a wilderness trip than the old percussion- 

 cap, muzzle-loader. Within reach of civilization, 

 where ammunition can be secured easily, modern 

 guns are, of course, far better and more trustworthy. 

 But when a hunter is making a long trip through 

 the wilderness, and is dependent for his meat on 

 what he kills, there is no gun more useful than the 

 muzzle-loader, because of the lightness of its ammu- 

 nition, and the variety of charges that may be used. 



71 



^^ 



