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may not so readily observe them, and in consequence beat a retreat. By-the-bye, my young friend, should you wish your host to give you another invitation to his covers never let him see you carrying your barrels horizontally. If you are a bit of a soldier you will know what I mean when I say that, combining due preparation for prompt action with security to him who may be skirmishing near, your gun can be conveniently borne across the open at the
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Slope arms of the sergeant's fusil. When you are in cover (or your dog draws upon game), it might be carried much in the position of
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Port arms. At the moment you level, following the example of the best pigeon shots, place your left hand well in advance of the poise. If you have any fears of the barrels bursting, leave them at home. Your steadiest position is with the elbow held nearly perpendicularly under the gun: whereas your right elbow ought to be almost in a horizontal line with your shoulder, thus furnishing a convenient hollow for the reception of the butt. The firmer you grasp the stock the less is the recoil. That amusing fellow Wanostrocht, in his work on cricketing (
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Felix on the Bat ), writes,
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The attitude of _en garde_ of the left-handed swordsman is the attitude of _play_ for the right-handed batsman, --and you, my supposed Griffin, may rest assured that it is the best position your feet and legs can take on a bird's rising, but the right foot might be with advantage a little more to the right. Wanostrocht continues,
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The knees are bent; and the body, well balanced, is prepared, you may add,
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In nine cases out of ten the common advice to
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when firing is extremely judicious. But some men are
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a matter you have probably little thought about; and yet it is of consequence, for if you are
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your aim from the right shoulder (both eyes being open) cannot be correct. To determine whether or not you are
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look steadily, with both eyes open, at any small object near you,--rapidly raise a finger (of either hand) perpendicularly, endeavouring to cover the object. Instantly close the left eye. If you find that your finger lies in the direct line between the object and your right eye, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are
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but if your finger, instead of intercepting the object, is wide of the mark, at once close the right eye and open the left, when you will, in all probability, perceive that your finger lies directly between your left eye and the object, thereby showing that you are
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I hope it may not be so, as, unless you can shoot from the left shoulder, you ought to close the left eye when bringing your gun to the poise, until from practice you become