FIREARMS, USE AND ABUSE OF THEM. 121 



pointed at his next-door neighbour, I call him a 

 dangerous fellow, whoever he may be. But go out 

 any day with a party, and you will always find at least 

 two or three who seem perfectly unaware that they 

 are doing anything dangerous by carrying their guns 

 with the muzzles low, at full cock, and pointed at the 

 middle of the stomach of the beater or keeper next to 

 them. If it is not pointed at about the second button 

 of the unfortunate fellow's waistcoat, you will see it on 

 a level with the calves of his legs. The poor fellow- 

 dare not say, " Please, sir," or " Please, my lord, hold 

 your gun up," but he must often think a good deal, 

 and feel if it did go off he would probably be 

 nowhere. That accidents do happen, and will for 

 ever happen, in the best regulated families, there is 

 no doubt, but it is a sad thing when they occur 

 through carelessness. 



I once knew a gentleman who was one of the best, 

 if not the best, shot in England, who met with a 

 terrible accident not through carelessness, for he was 

 one of the most careful men possible. He put up 

 his gun to shoot at a rabbit in some turnips, a boy 

 who was with him ducked for him to shoot over his 

 head. Just as he caught sight of the rabbit again the 

 poor boy popped up his head, and he cut a gutter 



