506 The Hunting Grounds 



the sights being carefully adjusted, and fitted exactly 

 parallel to the axis of the barrel. If the back-sight 

 is too much inclined to the right, or the front-sight 

 too much to the left, the rifle will shoot to the right 

 of the mark aimed at ; in the same manner, if the 

 back-sight is placed too much to the left, or the fore- 

 sight too much to the right, the gun will carry to the 

 left ; and the greater the distance the greater, in pro- 

 portion, will be the deviation. Every rifle, therefore, 

 ought to be carefully sighted and shot before it is 

 placed in a novice's hands, as non-success in practice 

 on account of an ill-sighted weapon would not be his 

 fault, and might serve to discourage him. 



The mechanical routine necessary to be gone 

 through before the tyro can become an efficient 

 marksman consists of Aiming Drill, Position Drill, 

 Judging Distance Drill, and Practice in Firing. 



AIMING DRILL is necessary to familiarise the un- 

 initiated with the use of the sights, teaching him how 

 to " align " his rifle, or " aim " correctly at a mark. 

 The practice of this drill exercises the eye, strength- 

 ening and developing the sight in the same manner 

 that continued exertion increases the power of the 

 limbs. The following standard rules should be care- 

 fully observed : 



I. The rifle should always be held with the sights 

 perfectly upright, as it is, only in this position that 

 the line of sight, the line offire> and trajectory, are in 



