THE GUN, AND HOW TO USE It. 91 
strikers on the nipples may be discharged, and by either 
of these they will be discharged nine times out of ten. 
There is one accident, by which the lock on the full- 
cock may be, and by that it will be, invariably discharged. 
There is only one accident by which the lock at half- 
cock can be discharged, and by that it will not, ninety 
times out of a hundred. 
I never, to conclude, object to shooting with persons 
who shoot with their guns habitually carried at full-cock. 
Most quick shots always do so; and some argue, with some 
show of reason, though I do not agree, that it is safest so 
to do. I have shot for years with men who do so, and 
never saw an accident occur; besides which, they are 
of necessity careful. With no man, who carries his strik- 
ers on his caps, would I walk in company ten minutes, 
much less hunt a day with him. 
To load a gun, which has been recently fired, leave the 
striker of the barrel just discharged, down upon the cap 
which it has exploded; let down the other to half-cock, 
or, if at half-cock already, let it stand there; drop the 
butt, so that the piece shall stand perpendicularly before 
you, with the trigger guard and ramrod toward your face, 
at about a foot distant from the body. 
Hold the barrel lightly, at about two inches below the 
muzzle, between the three first fingers and thumb of the 
left hand. With the right draw out the powder flask from 
the pocket in which you carry it; cover the orifice of the 
charger with your forefinger; invert the flask; turn off the 
charger spring with the ball of your thumb, giving the 
flask a slight shake. Let the spring fly back with a sharp 
