'Factor,' whispered Callum in his deep voice, 'the breast of the villain who thought to outrage my Minnie is smaller than that target, yet my ball may reach it some day, on the lone hillside, at a thousand yards!'
Snaggs grew pale, as if the death-shot was ringing in his ears. As I levelled my rifle, the betting began. I fired and placed the ball in the black line at the very head of the cross. Then Callum stepped forward.
'Fifty to one, he hits the black line,' said Clavering.
'Aw—done—I take you—cool hundred if you like,' drawled Snobleigh, betting-book in hand!
'It is done, by Jove; right through the target!'
'Lend me the telescope.'
'I could hit the medal on your breast at half the distance, Captain Clavering,' said Callum, as he fired again.
'Thank you, my fine fellow; I would rather you found another mark. Bravo! in the very centre of the cross!' continued Clavering, who was looking at the target through his telescope.
Then I fired again, and lodged my bullet in the black line, a little lower down, and so we discharged our seven bullets, planting them all fairly until the cruciform arrangement was complete, thus—
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