SUGGESTIONS TO SPORTSMEN. 413 



careful, and that the risk of a twig's touching the 

 trigger in spite of the trigger-guard is very slight, 

 while the weapon is ready for instant use, and only 

 has to be fiointed at the object and discharged. 

 Moreover, I have twice seen a gun that was at half- 

 cock discharged when the sportsman was in the act 

 of cocking it hastily, and twice when putting it 

 back to half-cock ; but the piece should never for a 

 moment be trusted out of the sportsman's hands 

 without his first putting it at half-cock ; nor should 

 he ever cross a fence without the same precaution. 

 In changing from whole to half-cock, pass the ham- 

 mer below the first notch, so as to hear a distinct 

 click when it is di'awn back. 



Countrymen when about to walk a log over a 

 rapid stream, will usually carefully put the hammers 

 down on the caps, and placing the butt on the log, 

 steady themselves by it, thus insuring their destruc- 

 tion if they should happen to slip ; and if they stand 

 on a fence they do the same thing, and rest the 

 stock on the upper rail. Not only should such fol- 

 lies be avoided, but the gun should never be leaned 

 against a tree, as thoughtless people are apt to do 

 when they stop at a spring to drink, and never 

 placed where it can slip or roll. 



When you desire to reload a muzzle-loader, put the 

 hammer of the loaded barrel at half-cook, and if the 

 right barrel has been discharged, set down the butt 

 so that the hammers are towards you, and the con- 

 trary way if the left barrel is to be loaded ; in this 

 manner you will avoid bringing your hand over the 



