“Oh, let it rip. You’re not tied down to the works, are you?”
“Certainly not—you don’t imagine I think myself qualified as yet to be tied down. ‘But what about guns?”
“Oh, well,” said Grant, “I have a.32 Winchester, one that has got a record too, by gunnies, as Jim Rankin would say. Its record is great.”
“How big a record?” inquired Roderick.
“Seven deer,” answered Grant.
“All your own killing?”
“Well, no. To be downright truthful since you force me to particularize, I’ll admit I never killed but one deer with it. But that does not interfere with the gun’s record.” And then he continued: “I have no doubt Major Hampton will be delighted to loan you his gun. He has a .30 calibre Government Springfield and in his hands it has accounted for many a buck.”
After breakfast they called on Major Hampton.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” said the Major as he opened the door and bade them welcome.
“We are going deer hunting,” said Grant, quite enthusiastically. “I have a gun, but this-would-be-slayer-of-big-game, Roderick, is gunless and when we return he may be deerless. Was just wondering, Major, if you would care to loan your famous deer killer to him. Guess its long record,” he added, “would fill a book.”