“Bah! The shooting didn’t amount to much anyway!” growled Gasway, and lost no time in getting out of sight. But he never said anything more to Dave or Henry about target shooting, nor did Pelton mention the subject.
After that Henry was urged to try his hand at long-distance shooting. To please his friends he complied, and made several remarkable shots, which called forth praise from Captain Ecuyer and many others.
“I know of nobody who can shoot better than you,” said the commandant of the fort.
“I know one man who can—the man who taught me,” answered the youth.
“And who is he?”
“Sam Barringford. I don’t know if he can do any better at a target, but he can best me in shooting at running game or flying birds. He is remarkably quick that way.”
“But you must be able to hit a bird on the wing.”
“I can generally. Once in a while I miss,” answered Henry.
“But not often,” said Dave. “He is the best hunter in our family, by a good deal,” he added, warmly.
“Well, you can do a little too,” said Captain Ecuyer, with a laugh.