200 HO W TO A VOID BEING BOGGED 



his side or back, as may be best under the circum- 

 stances, and at the same time throws his gun to his 

 attendant, the latter being indispensable in a dangerous 

 bog. These unshod ' gossoons,' if up to the work, 

 will rarely fail to catch a gun if it is thrown properly 

 to them, if they cannot get near enough to take it. To 

 throw a gun properly, it should be held by the barrels 

 in the left hand, and the small of the stock with the 

 right, which should, if possible, throw the stock up into 

 the air a little more forward than the barrels. By 

 throwing a gun in this manner, an accident can be 

 prevented, I have seen many a gun thus thrown, 

 and never yet saw one missed, or any explosion take 

 place. In Ireland it is looked upon quite as a matter 

 of course to thus throw a loaded gun — ' Sure, yer 

 honour, I can't miss it !' 



The sensation of being bogged is decidedly un- 

 pleasant ; and if one were not to throw one's self 

 immediately on one's side or backwards, there are 

 some bogs I know of where one would run every risk 

 of disappearing for good and all ; however, there is 

 generally strength enough in the peat to support the 

 weight of the body lengthwise. Anyhow, there are 

 but a few inches of peat between one's body and 

 eternity at times, and such was the predicament in 

 which my two unfortunate companions found them- 

 selves placed ; one which I myself have many a time 

 also experienced. 



After the full moon, snipe are generally plentiful 

 enough in some of our Irish bogs, and woodcock also 

 make use of these light nights, though the latter are 

 more apt to change their intended flights when high 

 winds prevail than the former. 



