THE GUN, AND HOW TO USE IT. 89 



directly to the ground. If on the trail, the muzzle should 

 be pointed directly forward ; but the gun should never be 

 so carried, unless when the shooter can see that there is no 

 one in front of him. If in the hollow of the left arm, with 

 the gripe lying in the hand, and the barrels diagonally 

 across the person, the shooter must see that no person is, 

 or can be, in range of it; so also, when, in walking up 

 to a point, or to game marked down, he bears his gun with 

 the muzzle diagonally advanced, his hand on the trigger 

 guard and his thumb on the striker ; or, when he levels the 

 gun, in the act of taking aim, he is bound to see that no 

 one is in the line of fire. 



There is a very safe way of carrying a gun in thick 

 covert, where you expect snap shots, which I have seen 

 little practised it is to gripe the stock with your right so 

 that the forefinger can command the trigger, and the 

 thumb the striker, and, with the left on the barrels imme- 

 diately before the trigger guard, to bear the piece perpen- 

 dicularly, muzzle upward, with the elevated rib toward the 

 body, almost in the attitude of a soldier presenting arms. 

 If a bird rise, a simple and easy movement simultaneously 

 drops the sight to its level and brings the stock to the 

 shoulder; while in forcing his way through coppice, it 

 assists rather than hinders the shooter, by parting the 

 branches before his face. 



I recommend its practice as worthy of attention. 



Than these, I know no other way in which it is allow- 

 able to carry a gun under any circumstances. 



Next, as to the condition of the locks, in carrying a 

 gun. When a piece is loaded and capped, the strikers 



