"Of course not. I didn't want to spoil the card; but the second bullet is in there, right on top of the first one, and I'll bet a horse on it. Now, stand out of the way till I show you another trick. I'm going to take off the right-hand point of the diamond this time."
And at the crack of his pistol the right point disappeared—the last hole just cutting into the edge of the first one.
"Now, look out for the left-hand point."
And the left point was gone—all the red being obliterated but a little streak above and below the first hole.
"There, Peck," he remarked regretfully as he began reloading his pistol, "I had to pretty nigh spoil the card to show these fellows I wasn't a-faking."
"Don't that beat the devil?" remarked Wilson, looking from the target to Bill and from Bill to the target in undisguised astonishment.
"Well, I've heard of such phenomenal shooting," said Saunders, "but never saw the like before and wouldn't have believed it possible if I hadn't seen it. Ain't there some trick about it, Bill?"
"Not as I know of—nothing but what you've seen. Now, if you think that second shot missed the tree, Cap," remarked the scout as he took down the card and passed it around for inspection, "take that axe, there, and chop 'em all out, and if you don't find four navy balls in there I'll eat the chips."
Lieutenant Wilson seized the axe and soon cut out the four battered but distinct bullets.
"I'd give a good deal if I could shoot like that. How do you do it, Bill?" asked the captain.