HOW TO LEARN TO SHOOT. 147 
more of mankind, to become even fair rifle shots, with any 
possible amount of practice, but to all men, who have good 
eyes, iron nerves, sufficient physical strength and phleg- 
matic tempers, it is a certainty, beyond calculation, that 
they can become first-rate rifle shots with sufficient prac- 
tice. 
It is far easier to become a tolerable shot even on the 
wing with a shot gun, than a passable marksman with the 
rifle. But of those who shoot at all with the rifle, there 
are a hundred splendid marksmen, where of those who affect 
to use the shot gun there is one really crack shot. 
In learning to shoot with the rifle, therefore, the first 
requisite is to see the end sight through the orifice of the 
back sight exactly on the mark—the second, to keep it 
there steadily for a length of time, a second or two at 
least—the third, to pull the trigger exactly when the 
sights are most centrically and steadily on the mark, and 
never to pull it otherwise—the fourth, to pull the trigger 
and endure the little shock of the discharge, without 
the smallest jerk, start, or trepidation. 
To teach how this is to be done is impracticable, 
beyond saying that it is to be done. Practice and cool- 
ness can alone effect the ability to do it, even with: those 
constituted by temper, physical and moral, to obtain the 
power. One thing may be premised, that it is well, if not 
actually necessary, to hold the breath from the moment the 
sight is taken until the ball is fairly discharged. 
One eye must, of course, be closed in rifle shooting ; 
but, as I have said before concerning the shot gun, the 
other eye should be riveted on the mark before the rifle is 
