Part 61 (1/2)

”Parrakeets,” said Mark. ”They're smaller than parrots; you can't shoot flying with a matchlock. There's a beech; shoot at that.”

The suns.h.i.+ne fell on one side of the trunk of a beech, lighting up the smooth bark. They walked up till they thought they were near enough, and planted the staff or rest in the ground. Bevis put the matchlock on it, pushed the lid of the pan open with his thumb, and aimed at the tree. He pulled the trigger; the match descended on the powder in the pan, which went puff! The report followed directly.

”Never kicked a bit,” said Bevis, as the sulphury smoke rose; the barrel was too heavy to kick.

”Hit!” shouted Mark, who had run to the tree. ”Forty dozen shots everywhere.”

Bevis came with the gun, and saw the bark dotted all over with shot. He measured the distance back to the rest left standing in the ground, by pacing steadily.

”Thirty-two yards.”

”My turn,” said Mark.

The explosion had extinguished the match, so shutting the pan-lid they loaded the gun again. Before Mark shot, Bevis went to the tree, and fastened a small piece of paper to the bark with a pin. Mark fired and put three shots through the paper. Pan raced and circled round to find the game, and returned with his back covered with cleavers which stuck to his coat. After shooting three times each they thought they would try bullets, but with ball they could do nothing. Four times they each fired at the beech and missed it, though every time they took a more careful aim.

”The staff's too high,” said Mark, ”I'm sure that's it. We ought to kneel, then it would be steadier.”

Bevis cut the staff shorter, not without some difficulty, for the old black oak was hard like iron. The next was Mark's turn. He knelt on one knee, aimed deliberately, and the ball scored the trunk, making a groove along the bark. Bevis tried but missed, so did Mark next time; then again Bevis fired, and missed.

”That's enough,” said Bevis; ”I shan't have any more shooting with bullets.”

”But I hit it once.”

”But you didn't hit it twice.”

”You never hit it once.”

”It wants a top-sight,” said Bevis, not very well pleased. ”n.o.body can shoot ball without a sight.”

”You can't put one,” said Mark.

”I don't know.” The sight was the only defect of the weapon; how to fasten that on they did not know.

”I hit it without a sight,” said Mark.

”Chance.”

”That it wasn't.”

”It's time to have dinner, I'm sure,” said Bevis. ”The gun is to be put away now. I'll take it in; you get some sticks for the fire.”

”O! very well,” said Mark shortly. ”But there's plenty of sticks inside the stockade!”

He followed Bevis and began to make a pile in their enclosed courtyard.

Bevis having left the gun in the hut came out and helped him silently.

”It's very hot here.”

”Awful!”