222 



the effect of an optician's toy, by multiplying 

 five brace into fifty; or what is more commonly 

 the case, if totally convulsed by the first spring, 

 and distracted by their fluttering off in every 

 direction, he should find himself petrified out 

 of all power to raise up his gun at them, until 

 the tardy recoil of recollection at length hurries 

 off the charge without a chance of overtaking 

 them, and with no other possible effect than 

 that of rousing him from his hysterical reverie, 

 to shake his ears into the conviction, that much 

 yet remains to be done with himself, before 

 he is fit to appear in the ranks on a field-day, 

 or even before he can march up to his dog 

 alone, without having to blush for his want of 

 manhood. 



I have already touched upon this subject, 

 where, for the benefit of a defective shooter 

 already familiarized with his object, I have given 

 the outline of a corrected "advance to point" 

 (see p. 168) : but with my junior friends imme- 

 diately in view, it will be necessary for me here 

 to enter somewhat more closely into particulars. 

 I can not have a doubt that these gentlemen, in 

 their eagerness to get on, may have occasionally 

 felt a little uneasy under the restraints which I 

 have thought proper to put upon them : but I 



