136 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
and when, by a few hours’ practice in these motions, the 
pupil can perform them readily, handily and surely, it is 
wonderful how much is already gained. 
Nothing is so much to be guarded against as dwelling 
on the sight, poking about to get the aim, or keeping the 
gun long to the shoulder. This facility acquired, the next 
step is to learn to bring with equal quickness, ease and 
deliberation, the lock back from the full-cock to half-cock, 
while in the act of lowering it from the shoulder, without 
making any pause or separate motion. This is done by 
placing the ball of the thumb on the striker, as if in the 
act of cocking the piece, and holding it gently in check 
while the trigger is drawn with the forefinger, yielding to 
it, nevertheless, and letting it descend slowly, until it 
almost touches the nipple. Then by drawing it back until 
it ticks, the sound showing that the cock is safely secured. 
When considerable facility has been acquired in these 
motions, the faces of the strikers may be lined with a thick 
piece of cork or felt, so as to preserve the cones from the 
effects of the blow, and the pupil may be directed to pull 
his trigger, the moment the gun is at his shoulder and his 
cheek down to the stock, still without attempting to take 
or correct his aim, more than he has already done by fix- 
ing his eye on the mark, without removing it thence, until 
after the trigger is pulled, The instant it is pulled, the 
muzzle must be lowered and the butt withdrawn from the 
shoulder. 
This practice should be persisted in, under the super- 
vision of a careful, kind, and steady instructor, half an 
hour at a time for many days; care being had, never to 
