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the flight must be followed by a corresponding 

 sweep of your barrel. In the straight-forward 

 flight, or nearly so, of course you may take 

 your choice of either. But where there is any 

 material slope into the diagonal line, you will 

 find a dependence on the first the soundest 

 practice ; and it is for this reason that, in the 

 Drill Exercise, I have more immediately had 

 this shot in view. Let us for a moment, in 

 imagination, take ourselves on beat into the 

 field, in order the better to exemplify this 

 instant shot. Mark ! there steals off a young- 

 bird, in as a great a hurry as it can to get away 

 from you, but sweeping in an ascending line 

 up the hill, upon your right. Now, Sir, be not 

 you also in a hurry to get up your gun at it. It 

 is the most difficult of shots ; and it is vain 

 for you to think of pursuing it with a corres- 

 ponding sweep. There is no keeping hold of a 

 diagonal flight like this : to the left it is far from 

 easy, and to the right nearly impracticable. 

 " Bring yourself instantly to form," therefore, 

 by a step-back with your right leg, and your 

 body in poise upon that limb*. Be not afraid 

 of a bird, sprung at your foot, getting out of 



* We have already (vide Drill Exercise, at " Make ready I") 

 spoken of this varied method of "taking form" for a right- 

 hand flight : it will be more fully explained presently, under 

 the head of the snap-shot. 



O 



