uired
for use, it is taken out in an instant by simply raising it with the
hand, when the loose end of the strap comes off the pommel.

The chief causes of accidents from the use of fire-arms arise from
carelessness, and I have always observed that those persons who are
most familiar with their use are invariably the most careful. Many
accidents have happened from carrying guns with the cock down upon the
cap. When in this position, a blow upon the cock, and sometimes the
concussion produced by the falling of the gun, will explode the cap;
and, occasionally, when the cock catches a twig, or in the clothes, and
lifts it from the cap, it will explode. With a gun at half-cock there
is but little danger of such accidents; for, when the cock is drawn
back, it either comes to the full-cock, and remains, or it returns to
the half-cock, but does not go down upon the cone. Another source of
very many sad and fatal accidents resulting from the most stupid and
culpable carelessness is in persons standing before the muzzles of guns
and attempting to pull them out of wagons, or to draw them through a
fence or brush in the same position. If the cock encounters an obstacle
in its passage, it will, of course, be drawn back and fall upon the
cap. These accidents are of frequent occurrence, and the cause is well
understood by all, yet men continue to disregard it, and their lives
pay the penalty of their indiscretion. It is a wise maxim, which
applies with especial force in campaigning on the prairies, "_Always
look to your gun, but never let your gun look at you._"

An equally important maxim might be added to this: _Never to point
your gun at another, whether charged or uncharged, and never allow
another to point his gun at you._ Young men, before they become
accustomed to the use of arms, are very apt to be careless, and a large
percentage of gun accidents may be traced to this cause. That finished
sportsman and wonderful shot, my friend Captain Martin Scott, than whom
a more gallant soldier never fought a battle, was the most careful man
with fire-arms I ever knew, and up to the time he received his
death-wound upon the bloody field of Molino del Rey he never ceased his
cautionary advice to young officers upon this subject. His extended
experience and intimate acquaintance with the use of arms had fully
impressed him with its importance, and no man ever lived whose opinions
upon this subject should carry greater weight. As incompreh