TWO CASES OF RIFLE SHOOTING. 



L. STEELE. 



A clear morning in December, thermome- 

 ter 14 below zero, altitude 6,800 feet. 



I found myself thus situated at a sheep 

 camp 25 miles South of Manville, Wyo. 



Immediately after breakfast I started, in 

 company with Mr. A. Remington, to look 

 up a bunch of antelope. I carried a '94 

 model nickel steel Winchester .30-30; he a 

 Winchester, same model, .3S-55 carbine. 

 We sighted the band, about 50 of them, be- 

 fore 9 o'clock, but they were so wild and the 

 country so open and flat that at 4 p.m. we 

 had not had a shot, and had concluded to re- 

 turn to camp at once. 



Not willing to go in without burning some 

 powder I began firing at the bunch. The 

 air was the clearest I ever saw it at that 

 altitude, yet I knew they were a very long 

 distance away. Mr. Remington fairly 

 hooted at the idea of shooting at anything 

 at such a distance, declaring it was a mile 

 to the animals. At the fourth discharge a 

 fine buck suddenly quit the bunch, ran off 

 to the right, about 200 yards, and lay down. 

 At the seventh shot another animal stag- 

 gered off to the left about 100 yards and 

 fell dead. 



Not having bristles on my back I con- 

 sidered 2 antelope quite enough. As we 

 rode toward our meat the band ran away. 



When we started from the spot where 

 the shooting was done we saw a section 

 corner stake (the country had been recently 

 surveyed by the Government) about 30 

 yards in front of us and as the band was 

 about due East of us the idea suggested it- 

 self of observing the line stakes and thus 

 getting the actual distance. 



Riding forward we found the next section 

 corner in a line beyond where the band 

 had stood, a distance of 100 yards. I had 

 killed 2 antelope at a distance of over 1,600 

 yards ! 



I had always had faith in the shooting 

 qualities of my .30 but my experience that 

 day changed my sentiments to genuine ad- 

 miration. % 



A few days ago I was on the edge of the 

 Laramie plains, shooting sage chickens with 

 a .22 rifle, long cartridge. 



Two ladies in our party having desired 

 the plumage of some old male birds, I was 

 looking for an opportunity to gratify their 

 wish. So when I sighted a dozen or so old 

 cocks, large as small turkeys, I walked 

 toward them trying to get a shot. As they 

 were somewhat wild I opened at long range. 

 Just as I pulled the trigger, on one of the 

 largest, I noticed another bird directly in 

 range beyond the first. As the smoke blew 

 away I was surprised to see both birds flut- 

 tering on the ground. Pacing the distance 

 to the first one I found it to be 215 steps. 

 As I step about 2 feet, the distance to the 

 first was at least 130 yards. The ball had 

 gone through his shoulder and neck, dislo- 

 cating the latter. The other bird was about 

 5 or 6 yards beyond the first. The ball had 

 torn its way through his body, riddling his 

 heart on its way. 



In the first case my friend, with his .38- 

 55 did not get a shot, though I gave him 

 plenty of chances, for I wanted to see him 

 get a trophy. In the second instance a shot 

 gun under most favorable circumstances 

 could not have done the execution. 



THE BEST DAY OF THE YEAR. 



G. A. WARBURTON. 



The day of all the glad year 



Which I love best; 



The one I think the most of, 



More than all the rest. 



The one whose coming brightens 



My face, and makes it shine. 



Is the early day in April 



When I first cast a line! 



You may talk about your Christmas, 

 (And I'll join in praise of that) 

 You may welcome blooming: Easter, 

 With its myriads of big new hats ; 

 You may rave about the birthdays 

 Of the men who did their best: 

 But give me the first day's fishing 

 And you may have the rest. 



I've been waiting long, since August, 

 For this balmy April day; 

 I've dreamed about it many a night, 

 And thought of it by day; 

 Patriotic and religious moods 

 Have been colored bv the wish: 

 That the wheels of time would hurry 

 With the first day to fish. 



