They were congratulated by their companions, and would have been fairly satisfied only that they found the others so much better. Out of six dozen of the other cartridges, only one struck the other edge of the mark; the other seventy-one went straight, one over the other, right in the centre. The man who struck the edge looked disgusted with himself.
As for those other nine misses, they could easily be counted on the white.
The self-satisfaction of our heroes died away at their own miserable display. They felt suddenly as if they were worthy only of contempt.
“It isn’t at all bad shooting for the first try at a new target,” said the young men, encouragingly. “You must remember that we spend most of our evenings here, drilling and practising.”
That was something in their favour certainly.
“You must join our squad; we go through our manoeuvres here every night from seven till ten o’clock. We have the very best instructors in the British Army to teach us, and I reckon we will make a good show when the time arrives to show our paces above the ground.”
Our heroes resolved that, while they remained in Johannesburg, they would fill out their evenings in this way.
While they had been shooting, Philip Martin and the council were engaged in another part of the hall discussing politics. The message which Philip delivered to them seemed to give them universal satisfaction.
But they were finished now, for Philip came forward and called the boys.
“I am happy to tell you that you have been accepted as members of this society. Come and be sworn in.”