234 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



Have the cover of your rifle unbuckled and all ready 

 to be pulled out in a second; see that it is loaded and the 

 safety bolt properly adjusted and in working order ; it 

 is never desirable to crawl with a loaded rifle more than 

 is necessary; and, above all things, do not take for your- 

 self the best, and perhaps the only good spot to shoot. 

 Make your "gentleman "creep alongside of you, or even 

 a few inches in advance ; let him have the front seat 

 now, and choose the position he likes best to shoot from. 

 I have often seen a good, experienced stalker take the 

 front and only possible place to fire from himself, pull 

 the rifle out of the cover, thrust it into his "gentleman's" 

 hand, and expect him to shoot as best he could. 



There are a hundred and one little trivial circum- 

 stances that cause a miss at the last moment that could 

 be so easily avoided. 



Crawl close up alongside your "gentleman" do 

 not let him fire till the stag is offering a good broadside 

 chance. If the deer have not " taken you up," there is 

 no hurry whatever, unless the light is failing, when the 

 sooner you shoot the better. Now, having given your 

 "gentleman" the hint " Tak' him noo, Captain," he 

 will at once place his forefinger round the trigger in the 

 shape of an " 'ook " (as our old drill sergeant used to 

 teach us), " and, without moving the ' 'ead, 'and, or heye/ 

 press the trigger gently until the 'ammer falls " ; and I 

 think, if he follows out these instructions to theletter, the 

 stag will also fall and thus conclude a successful stalk. 



But other little trifles very often cause a miss, such 



