Part 9 (1/2)

”No, I did not, nephew,” answered Retief, ”but doubtless they must have done so, or the same bullet could not have pierced both”

Both Hans and I only looked at each other and laughed Still we said nothing

Froratulation not unain Pereira loaded, aioose--it ht enough, for the feathers flew fro down as though it were going to fall, recovered itself and fleay straight out of sight

”Tough birds, these geese!” exclaimed Pereira ”They can carry as h indeed,” answered Retief doubtfully ”Never before did I see a bird fly aith an ounce ball through its middle”

”Oh! he will drop dead somewhere,” replied Pereira as he rammed his powder down

Within fourshots, selecting, as he was entitled to do, low and easy young geese that cah the last of theh grass

Now murmurs of stifled applause broke froment

”You will have to shoot very well, Mynheer Allan,” said Retief to me, ”if you want to beat that Even if I rule out one of the two birds that fell to a single shot, as I think I shall, Hernan has killed five out of six, which can scarcely be bettered”

”Yes,” I answered; ”but, eese collected and put upon one side I don't want the any down”

He nodded, and soeese Several of these, I noted, were still flapping and had to have their necks twisted, but at the ti done I called to Retief, and begged him to examine the powder and bullets I was about to use

”What's the good?” he asked, looking at me curiously ”Powder is powder, and a bullet is a bullet”

”None, I dare say Still, obligeHans took six bullets and placed the him to return thereat deal ser, uses a heavier gun”

”Yes,” I answered briefly, as Hans put the charge of powder into the rifle, and drove ho a bullet from Retief's hand, he raun, and handed it to ht was at its full

Only, either because sohted the Kaffirs collecting the fallen birds and risen--an example which the others noted fro of their danger had been conveyed to theher and faster than the first arrivals

”You will have the worst of it, Allan,” said Retief ”It should have been shot and shot about”

”Perhaps,” I answered, ”but that can't be helped now”

Then I rose fro to wait, for presently over caeese nearly a hundred yards up I aiht yards ahead of him to allow for his pace, and pressed Next second I heard the clap of the bullet, but alas! it had only struck the outstretched beak, of which a sround The bird itself, after wavering a second, resumed its place as leader of the squad and passed away apparently unharmed

”Baas, baas,” whispered Hans as he seized the rifle and began to re-load, ”you were too far in front These big water-birds do not travel as fast as the rock pigeons”

I nodded, wishi+ng to savewith excitement, for if I missed the next shot the match appeared to be lost, presently I took the rifle frooose cah the black devil had kicked it,” as Retief said This time I allowed the same space to compensate for the object's increased speed and pressed

Down it ca but a little way behind me with its head knocked off