187 



adjustment of the line ot level must finally be 

 made, by an easy flexure of the upper part of 

 the body altogether, but without any loosening 

 or twist of the but from its firm hold within 

 the shoulder : and on the instant that you get 

 these two lines in contact, or, in other words, 

 at the moment that you bring the muzzle of 

 your gun, from its first level a little below, to 

 bear direct upon the object," the motion of 



FIRE ! " To be performed by a contracting 

 touch of the trigger-finger only, and not com- 

 bined, as is frequently done, with a tightening 

 pull against the shoulder." It is a bad habit ; 

 very nearly allied to the winking and blinking 

 of the raw recruit, or the rook-shooter's wiser 

 shove of his piece forward, " in order to hit the 

 harder:" and you should watch yourself nar- 

 rowly, if you have any tendency to it, inasmuch 

 as it will, to a certainty, more or less derange 

 your shot*. And here too you may note one 

 of the first advantages to be derived from a 

 recurrence to the drill : perhaps you may here 

 find out, by a deviation in your line of level, 

 after the fall of the cock, what I would not 

 affront you with by previously supposing, that 



* A method of putting this matter to the test will hereafter 

 be submitted, where the young shooter is regularly taken 

 through his forms. 



