A LITTLE PISTOL P11A.CTICE. 



One quiet Sabbath afternoon, while just x> the 

 North of Ascension, the captain, waking up from 

 his usual siesta, appeared on deck with two pistols. 

 1 wae at the wheel. It was a dead calm, ind the 

 ship had scarcely a motion of any kind, so quiet 

 ?vas the sea. 



" 1 need a little pistol practice," said the cap- 

 tain, as he loaded his weapons two large bell- 

 mouthed instruments, holding an ounce ball each. 

 After vainly looking along the smooth surface of 

 the water, for some object at which to aim, he 

 finally stepped to my side, standing about three 

 feet from me, and aimed straight above his head. 



"We'll see how nearly perpendicular I can fire. 

 That will be a good way to practice." 



His hand trembled as he fired, and presently we 

 heard the ball drop into the water along side. 



" That was a bad shot; I must do better than 

 that." 



The second ball dropped astern. The third 

 went through the spanker, and so into the water 

 astern again. A grin of satisfaction spread over 

 his countenance, when he saw that he was improv- 

 ing. In the course of half an hour's firing the balls 

 drcpped in the water in all directions, possibly 

 much surprising the fish with whom they came ia 

 contact in their course bottomward. 



Fin ally, taking a particularly good aim, he fired, 

 and the ball returned whizzing to the deck, mak- 

 <ng a deep indentation just midway between th 

 captain and myself. 



