THE WOLF HUNTERS 



**No, I don't want the money — I want your 

 note written on this card, signed by a bullet shot 

 by you through the centre of the ace at ten 

 paces." 



Saying which, I produced the card I had pre- 

 pared and read the inscription to him. 



"Now, I'll tack the card up on this tree here," 

 I continued, "and you are to stand with your back 

 against the card, pistol in hand, step off ten paces, 

 'bout face, and fire a bullet through the ace. And 

 if you don't knock the centre out it's no go — I'll 

 have to write another note on another ace and 

 you'll have to try it again." 



"Huh! that's easy," said Bill with a grin of 

 confidence. "You won't have to waste any more 

 of your cards." 



I knew he could do it, even at twenty paces, for 

 I had seen him perform such feats before. With 

 the utmost indifference, he backed up to the card on 

 the tree, stepped off ten paces — good, long-legged 

 measure — made a graceful "ofl&cer's about face," 

 instantly firing, without apparently taking aim, as 

 he came around facing the card; and we could all 

 see the hole in the centre of the bright-red ace. 



"By George, that's good shooting!" exclaimed 

 Saunders in unfeigned astonishment. "Can you 

 do it again. Bill, or was that just an accident.?" 



"I'll put another ball in the same hole for you," 

 replied the scout carelessly as he threw up his 

 pistol and fired. 



290 



