14 DEER-STALKING. 



chance of a shot, and as in some grounds such present 

 themselves several times in the course of each season, 

 this is an advantage not to be despised. 



The thin shepherd's plaid mackintosh covers often 

 used are so flimsy, whether wet or dry, that they cling 

 to the rifle, and it is a matter of some seconds before 

 it can be drawn out, and the fact of being in a hurry 

 to do this does not tend to help matters. 



Some foresters object to the hard thick cover as 

 making a "crunching" noise when dragged after them 

 in a crawl through heather, and certainly on the rare 

 occasions of quite still days it does make a small 

 amount of noise when so carried. 



It is quite safe to carry the rifle loaded in the cover 

 with the stops on. 



Never forget that a rifle is totally different from a 

 gun, and requires more care to keep it in a state of 

 perfection. A good stalker will clean his gentleman's 

 rifle before he changes his clothes or has his supper. 

 Especially after a wetting great care should be given 

 to the perfect cleansing of the grooving, the muzzle, 

 and the triggers, and when hung up in a room where 

 peat fires are burnt, an old handkerchief should be laid 

 over the triggers to keep the peat dust from getting into 

 them. 



In putting a rifle away for the season never plug up 

 the muzzles with rag or tow, whether greased or not it 

 is a most fertile source of rust. In laying a rifle by 

 the great thing is elbow-grease. After well oiling the 

 insides of the barrels rub them out with dry tow till 

 they are quite warm, and the insides shine like silver, 



