208 



eagerly measured by the eye towards the open- 

 ing glade where you instantly expect a clearer 

 view, as the point for its arrival at which you 

 reserve your shot: at which selected instant 

 the gun, with the but thrown forward (remem- 

 ber that it be habitually forward enough to clear 

 the shoulder*), must be brought up decidedly 

 to the present; when, agreeably to the skill 

 already acquired in the ready adjustment of 

 the line of level with that of sight, in the course 

 of previous exercise on drill, the fire will now 

 be given with more or less effect. 



In exhibiting the above shot, I have purposely 

 followed a transition into it from the. secured 

 carriage of arms in cover, as being the situation 

 where it will be more immediately called for. 

 But it must be obvious to the practitioner, that 

 this quicker, though more combined, action of 

 coming to the present, is equally applicable to 

 the more formal and more prepared hold of 

 your gun, as given at "Handle arms! in the 

 approach to point" (p. 180). It will of course, 

 therefore, be adopted when the rapid shot is 

 called for ; remembering that the backward, or 

 rather crab-like, step with the right leg, with a 

 sink upon that limb, during which the gun is 



* See the next note. 



