The board was put up again, and they returned to their former position. Archie attempted to shoot the same as Frank had done, but his rifle was pointing toward the top of the tree against which the board leaned when he fired. Of course, he did not touch the board.
“I nevah pwacticed that way,” he said. “I will twy the wegular way.”
Then he took careful aim and fired.
Examination showed he had not touched the board or the tree.
“It’s verwy vexing!” he exclaimed. “Awfter all I paid faw this wifle, it is no good, don’t yer see?”
Again and again he fired, and, with his seventh shot, he hit the board near the bottom, so it fell over again. Both he and Cholly gave a mild shout of delight and hurried forward to see where the bullet had struck.
“I should not like to be anywhere in a strip of woods while that chap was shooting at a deer,” grunted Browning, with a lazy grin.
“If I were anywhere in the woods I should want to be in the deer’s place,” laughed Frank. “It would be the safest position.”
“Why do you want that rifle?” asked Browning. “We are going out of the woods now.”
“That’s all right. I don’t want it for myself.”