Bang, bang, bang! Tad bored three holes through the crown to the captain's amazement.
"There! I guess we are even with you now, Professor," laughed the boy.
"That old hat of yours won't hold water next time you go to the spring."
"I thought you folks didn't know how to shoot," wondered the Ranger. "I guess I'd better take some lessons from you instead of you from me. That certainly was mighty fine gun work. Where did you learn?"
"Since we have been out. I am not much of a shot with the revolver, though. I think I can do better with the rifle."
"How about the rest of you?" questioned the captain. "Do all of you shoot like that?"
"I suppose I am about the best shot in the outfit," answered Stacy pompously. "I can hit a penny—-"
"Yes, if the penny is glued to the muzzle," interrupted Ned.
"We'll see what you can do."
Stacy, after three shots, failed to hit the hat once. Walter and Ned each succeeded in placing a bullet through the professor's hat. Chunky insisted that his bullet went through one of the holes made by Tad Butler. He declared that he had never missed an easy shot like that in his life.
"Here, hit my hat," commanded Tad, tossing his sombrero into the air.
The fat boy watched the soaring hat with longing eyes.