THE GUN, AND HOW TO USE Iv. 89 
directly to the ground. If on the trail, the muzzle should 
be pointed directly forward ; but the gun should never be 
so carried, unless when the shooter can see that there is no 
one in front of him. If in the hollow of the left arm, with 
the gripe lying in the hand, and the barrels diagonally 
across the person, the shooter must see that no person is, 
or can be, in range of it; so also, when, in walking up 
to a point, or to gamé marked down, he bears his gun with 
the muzzle diagonally advanced, his hand on the trigger 
guard and his thumb on the striker; or, when he levels the 
gun, in the act of taking aim, he is bound to see that no 
one is in the line of fire. 
There is a very safe way of carrying a gun in thick 
covert, where you expect snap shots, which I have seen 
little practised—it is to gripe the stock with your right so 
that the forefinger can command the trigger, and the 
thumb the striker, and, with the left on the barrels imme- 
diately before the trigger guard, to bear the piece perpen- 
dicularly, muzzle upward, with the elevated rib toward the 
body, almost in the attitude of a soldier presenting arms. 
If a bird rise, a simple and easy movement simultaneously 
drops the sight to its level and brings the stock to the 
shoulder; while in forcing his way through coppice, it 
assists rather than hinders the shooter, by parting the 
branches before his face. ; 
I recommend its practice as worthy of attention. 
Than these, I know no other way in which it is allow- 
able to carry a gun under any circumstances. 
Next, as to the condition of the locks, in carrying a 
gun. When a piece is loaded and capped, the strikers 
