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sider him as no longer in a condition of being 

 indebted for his triumphs to the contingencies 

 of accident. 



After having submitted himself to this test, 

 which I would offer as the experimentmn crucis 

 of death-doing level, and having acquired an 

 unaltered hold of the flight, or at least some 

 degree of approximation towards it, under the 

 pull of the trigger, I certainly have nothing 

 more to require from him, so far at least as 

 respects the knowledge and command of his 

 weapon ; and it remains for me only to intro- 

 duce him to the knowledge and command of 

 himself. In the mean time, I must not omit to 

 congratulate him on his admission as a candi- 

 date for the honours of the field : as a prelimi- 

 nary to which, however, and I hope he will not 

 think me hard with him, I expect, under the 

 full permission of selected shots at swallows, a 

 production of one in three, as a certificate of 

 his ability. 



We are now arrived at a point, when I am 

 afraid I shall have some difficulty with my pupil, 

 in keeping the necessary check-rein upon his 

 impetuosity. Elated as he feels himself, and 

 big with imaginary triumphs, he will be very 



