LOADED GUNS IN THE HOUSE 199 



dropping powder on a small plate of iron, which had been 

 heated for the purpose, and placed on the table. The 

 consternation of both at the result of the experiment may 

 be better imagined than described ; but as cooks are 

 generally insured in the " Salamander Office," they are 

 considered fire-proof, and ours, instead of fainting away, 

 seized the poker to inflict summary punishment on the 

 fat boy for his mischievous prank, as she thought it, 

 upon which he fled into the yard, and on my rushing out 

 to ascertain the cause of the uproar, he was found per- 

 forming sundry gyrations to the tune of Hop of my 

 thumb. 



Serious accidents often occur from guns being left 

 loaded in the house, which should never be allowed, 

 and the powder-horn should be placed out of reach of 

 children and servants. When youngsters we were rather 

 careless with our guns, which were often left loaded in 

 the hall ; but the housemaid having one morning dis- 

 charged a random shot at the floor, the recoil from which 

 threw her into hysterics, orders were issued from head- 

 quarters that no fowling-piece should be permitted to 

 stand loaded within doors from that time forward. A 

 great deal has been said in favour of hair-triggers, as 

 they are termed ; but I must confess I never could 

 discover any great advantage in them, and they ought 

 not to be trusted in the hands of young or nervous 

 sportsmen. 



Grouse- and partridge-shooting are of very short dura- 

 tion. Grouse, after the month of August, become wild, 

 and packing together in large bodies, take long flights, 

 leading the hardy sportsman many a weary mile over 

 brae and bum, and toiling up and down the craggy 

 hill-sides, with every now and then a random shot to 



