Part 12 (1/2)
”Hip, hip, hurra, for the Gray Lady and her maiden speech! All in favor of following her lead, say 'Aye'!”
All the company rose and the deafening ”Ayes” which those young throats emitted were as flattering as confusing to the ”speech” maker. Then she waved them back to their chairs and Wun Sing's perfection lunch was served.
Of course they all missed their jolly host, and their hearts were still troubled because of the missing Jim; but each strove with the other to keep these feelings out of sight. This was hardest for Dorothy, who guessed that the lady's suggestion was meant for her most of all; yet she bravely tried to smile at every witticism made by her mates and to respond in sort as far as she could. They had been a little company of eight and because one was away should the seven be made to suffer? She would try not, and contented herself with one final question, as the hostess rose from the table and, the others hurrying ”Barracks”-ward, she could whisper:
”Even if they don't find my poor boy right away, you won't let them give up looking, will you, dearest Gray Lady?”
Mrs. Ford drew the child close into her arms and kissed her tenderly:
”Don't fear that, for a moment, darling. As if James Barlow were our own Leslie, the search for him would never be given up till he were found.
Scouts will be looking for him everywhere; though, of course he's sure to be found near home and soon. Now, my dear little girl, shorten up that long face and trust to older heads to do the right thing. Your business now, as it has always seemed to be, is to make your playmates happy. Jim shall be found; and soon--I do believe. You've heard the men say that whatever 'Dan Ford, Railroad Boss' undertook he accomplished.
Now let's put that matter aside and learn how to handle a rifle.”
”Captain Lem” had made great preparations for his ”shooting school.” He had called upon his own company, as far as he could find it, to help him. Most of the ”boys” had gone searching, but the few who were left soon had a row of benches set out, a target placed, and the finest guns available stacked in readiness. It was really a very business like arrangement and the would-be students soon found Lemuel's rule was business only. For the boys he had placed arm-rests and they were to fire from the ground, aided by these slight supports.
”The females can stand and shoot, on account o' their petticoats worryin' 'em, lyin'. An' as I can't do nothin' unless it's by rule an'
rod, I lay it this way: Mrs. Ford, bein' she's the eldest--though she don't look it, Ma'am!--she'll begin. n.o.body can have more 'n two tries to a round. Then Number Two takes it. The schoolma'am next, an' mebbe I mistook in that matter of age. But that's not here nor there. Mrs. Ford, Number One; the schoolma'am, Two; the rest the females follerin' in order. Then the boys. One, two, three--attention! Step right here, lady, and I'll show you the first position--how to hold your rifle.”
Captain Lem had put on a rusty uniform, a relic of former grandeur ”back home,” and carried his bent shoulders with a military precision that quite transformed him. He gave Gray Lady a salute, moved forward and placed her ”in position” and handed her the rifle.
”Hold it just this way, scholar, and sight your bull's-eye. Keep your eye on that, allowin' for a little play in the carryin', and now--pull your trigger--let her go!”
Mrs. Ford obeyed, or thought she did. The result was that the gun kicked, she screamed, and threw it as far from her as she could. What became of the bullet she never knew, but she firmly declined any further lessons in the fine art of sharpshooting.
”Look at Lem's face!” whispered Herbert to Molly who giggled and returned:
”Wait till it comes my turn, I'll show him something!”
The Captain, as they henceforth called him tried to hide his look of disgust by turning his back upon the group, and asking in a sarcastic tone:
”Any more females want to take a try? The schoolma'am lady, for instance?”
She ignored his question and sat down by her hostess to soothe that now abashed person for her failure. Captain Lem had withered even the lady of the ranch by his contempt.
”Helena next!” cried Molly, fairly dancing about in her impatience.
So Helena tried and made out fairly well. That is she succeeded in keeping the rifle in hand, she did not scream at the discharge, and she came within a hundred feet of the target. The lads applauded, noisily, and she mocked back at their pretended admiration, though she made one effort only and subsided on the bench beside the ladies.
”All the same it's wonderfully exciting! And I mean to try again, to-morrow, if they'll let me,” she remarked.
”Let some of the boys try before we do, so we can see how it's done. Or you, Captain Hunt, you show us!” begged Molly.
This was what he had waited for. With a strut he marched across the s.p.a.ce between them and the target and carried that much further back. He longed for a target bearing an arrangement of letters that he could hit and cause to disappear, as at his boasted Seagirt, instead of a plain affair such as this he had to use.
Strutting back to them he lay down, wriggled himself into position, muttered something about the sun in his eyes, hemmed and hawed, took final aim and--let her go!
But she didn't go--not in the least. All unconsciously, he had taken an unloaded piece!