173 



In your situation, at least, it is not easy to say 

 when some sulky, selfish, solitary scoundrel of 

 an old cock may not spring upon you ; and off 

 he goes, chuckling defiance in your face ; whilst 

 you may just as well employ your left hand in 

 scratching your head, as in a scrambling attempt 

 to recover arms, so as to get any adequate level 

 at him. Toujours alerte! is the watchword 

 with the sportsman, as much as with the soldier ; 

 and when the excess of fatigue will not admit 

 of that, why, you had better go home and get 

 your dinner. 



I must now observe, that it is not solely for 

 the purpose of a somewhat readier shift into a 

 grasp by the right hand, that I am thus direct- 

 ing the inverted bearing of the barrel over the 

 left arm. It is of no small consideration with 

 me, that by this means, in case of accidental 

 discharge, the security for its being harmless is 

 so materially increased. When the gun is borne 

 in the common way, with the barrel upwards, 

 more particularly if the muzzle be permitted to 

 droop into the slovenly and vulgar cross-line, 

 every thing to the left is most awfully threatened 

 by it; and if your piece happen to be upon 

 cock, or if any accidental impediment should 

 occur to the perfect catch of the lock within 

 (from an obstruction of this kind I have been 



