eapon behind him at
the firing-point, and should place it, _muzzle down_, in a hole or slot
purposely made in the table before him to receive it, which hole in the
table should have the word 'LOADED' written legibly near it.

If there is no table, then the weapon should, if at full-cock, be placed
upon half-cock, as before described, and then laid carefully upon the
ground, muzzle pointing towards the target, and slightly inclined to the
left thereof, so as to be clear of it, which will allow of the target
being examined, if necessary, without the examiner coming within the
direct line of fire of the weapon; but the table with a hole in it is
the safest method, and is recommended.

A couple of stakes with a rope from the firing-point to the target
should be used, as a precaution to keep back idle curiosity-seekers from
placing themselves within danger on the firing party's left.

No one should, upon any pretence whatever, place himself, or be allowed
to place himself, on, or even near, the firing party's left side. The
reason is obvious, as it will be found invariably in practice that a
man, when loading with a breech-loader, will naturally incline the
muzzle of his piece, and so innocently place those immediately upon his
left within its range.

If it is necessary to address a man when at the firing-point all
interlocution should be addressed to him on his right; so the Instructor
should place himself on the right and rather behind the practitioner,
and as close to him as convenient, so as not to incommode his freedom.

Some men are naturally nervous, particularly when at ball practice, and
for this reason all but novices should be left alone, as they will
perhaps make better scoring if not interfered with.

All spectators should take ground well in rear of the alignment of the
firing-point, and on its right flank. The practice of taking up weapons
and going through the pantomime of pointing them at the target, or
pointing a weapon at anything when not at actual practice, is idle, and
is to be condemned.

Weapons set aside for practice should never be meddled with.

The party who takes his turn (if firing with revolvers) should receive
his weapon unloaded, _muzzle up_, with the necessary amount of
ammunition, from the Instructor or Superintendent in charge; he should
then step to the front or firing-point, load his piece himself, and get
rid of his cartridges as quickly as a due regard to careful aim, &c.,
wil