"fantail" and I would have to shoot. 

 On me depended the solution of the 

 "f antail" puzzle. 



The Cap'n passed over the gun 

 and motioned across the little basin. 

 I was too short to see over the tall 

 marsh grass in the foreground. In 

 desperation I found precarious foot- 

 ing on a root which brought me on a 

 level with their eyes, and looking 

 through the branches of an aggravat- 

 ing willow bush that was in the way, 

 I saw two ears facing me. One 

 flicked a fly off. It was a hundred 

 yards fully, and the light was failing. 

 The ears moved, turned and I could 

 guess where the body was. 



' 'Shoot it's going, ' ' whispered the 

 Cap'n. 



Another instant, and the illusive 

 "fantail" would be again a myth. I 

 took the desperate chance and aimed 

 where his shoulders ought to be. 

 The animal jumped, and gave one 

 glimpse of itself going over a log. 



" It is hit "cried the Cap'n. I began 

 to weep. It was the first time I had 

 fired at a live thing without having 

 a sure shot. The four victims of my 

 pride had never suffered. Now I 



