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., will admit; then return his piece, _muzzle up_, to the Instructor, who will carefully examine it and satisfy himself that all the chambers have been expended. Should a revolver miss fire, it is most important that great caution should be used, as it will sometimes '_hang fire_,' which the cartridges of all weapons are liable to do at times.[A] When a cartridge does not explode the revolver should be held in the same position as much as possible, muzzle to the front, or downwards, for a few seconds; should it not then explode it may be examined, the non-exploded cartridge removed and condemned, and a new cartridge put in its place. On no account should the condemned cartridge be placed with or near live cartridges. Firearms should never, under any pretence, be pointed at anybody; even if unloaded, such a practice is foolish and unpardonable. No soldier except in action would ever think of doing so, and no gentleman could.