At St. Mary's 



succession, and the number of fugitives les- 

 sened by one. 



Again four shots rang out those two 

 figures seem to think they are skirmish- 

 ing at the Department Rifle Competition. 



Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! 



" That last one dropped at two hundred 

 and fifty at least," said Hardeman coolly, 

 as the last of the animals remaining unhit 

 disappeared behind the rocks. 



" That last one " proved to have five 

 bullets in him. 



" Well," said I, as a half-hour later we 

 were sitting on the carcass of one of our 

 sheep which had slipped off my shoulder 

 while we were carrying it together, and 

 had sent Hardeman rolling down the shaly 

 slope, " well, let's recapitulate. This is 

 our fifth day out, and the score stands as 

 follows : 



" Sheep seen, eight. Cartridges fired, 

 twelve. Hits : on the stand, two ; on the 

 run, six. Misses : on the stand, none ; on 

 the run, four. Killed : on the stand, two ; 

 on the run, two. We have retrieved our- 

 selves, my friend, and may hold up our 

 heads again." 



" And we missed those things yesterday 

 at fifty yards," mused Hardeman. 



298 



