88 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



like the aiiinial itself. The cleverest thing about it 

 was the way in which it hung by cords, from a pole 

 fastened between the trees, in such a Avay that it could 

 be pulled to and fro, so that the marksman could have 

 the excitement of shooting at a moving object. 



'' AVho made it ? " asked Dodo, after they had 

 recovered from their surprise. " It looks very like 

 one of the animals in my Xoah's Ark, only bigger." 



''I did," said Mr. Blake; "and it is the common 

 American Deer, though I suspected 3^our uncle Avould 

 ask if it was a Rhinoceros." 



'' Oh, no, daddy ; it isn't as queer as that," said 

 Nat, wondering why his uncle laughed so. " It will 

 be bully — no, I mean jolly — to shoot at ; and when 

 we've plunked it all to pieces, perhaps you would 

 make us a l^ear or a Wild Cat, so that Ave can tell 

 where to shoot each one. Please, could I have the 

 little gun and try now ? " 



" Yes ; Rod will bring it. There, isn't it a beauty ? 

 A Ballard repeater I See how the lock drops, and 

 you put in the cartridges so. Stop ! that will never 

 do ; you were pointing the barrel almost at Dodo. 

 The first thing you must remember about a gun is 

 neve?' to point it at any one, even if you are sure it is 

 not loaded ; [ind the second thing is always to drop the 

 lock and make sure it is empty before you p)ut it away. 



"Now watch me put in the cartridges. So, now 

 close the lock and pull the trigger back half-way, 

 put the butt against your right shoulder, so, luring 

 that little pinhole sight, on your gun barrel, in a 

 straight line between your eye and the Deer back of 

 its shoulder. Now, hold fast and pull the trigger." 



