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 



