Badger flushed.
"All right. Throw away another shot and I'll beat you."
"I'll not throw away another, and you can't beat me, though you may tie me."
He was smiling and good-humored, and the Kansan tried to be.
Badger took the next two straight, and Merriwell did the same.
"I'm afraid he is going to tie you!" grumbled Hodge.
"What's the score?" asked Rattleton, roused to the fact that Badger and Merriwell were now really shooting against each other.
"Toodness, a guy—I mean, goodness, a tie! Don't let him beat you, anyway, Merry!"
"That comes from being too good-natured," growled Hodge. "He wouldn't be anywhere near you, if you'd tried."
Twice again both brought down their birds. Only a pair was left now to each. Every member of the gun club present, together with those who, like Badger, were being permitted to shoot through the favor of members, and all the spectators, as well, knew now that Badger and Merriwell had finally pitted themselves against each other in a friendly shooting contest, with the chances in favor of a tie.