XIV
THE SHOOTING CLUB
When Bobby proposed again that his father oversee general shoots in theback yard, the latter demurred.
"Haven't any time," said he. "And you youngsters certainly can't beturned loose with two guns alone. I'll tell you: you organize your club,and have a regular time to shoot every week. I'll appoint Martin ChiefInspector; but it must be distinctly understood that there is to be noshooting unless he's here."
Martin was the "hired man" about Grandpa Orde's place.
The children fell on the idea with alacrity, and at once adjourned toBobby's room. Carter Irvine suggested formal organization.
"Somebody's got to make targets; and somebody's got to buy cartridgesand collect the money for them; and somebody's got to buy prizes--we gotto have prizes--and somebody's got to keep the scores."
After much talk they elected officers to perform these duties; andformulated curious but practical by-laws. Bobby was elected secretaryand treasurer; and he has to-day a copy of them written in his ownboyish unformed hand. Among other things they provided that "any onepointing a gun, accidentally or otherwise, at anybody else or Duke, isfined one cent." The entire club went into a committee of the whole,marched down town in a body and pestered a number of store-keepers.Finally it purchased a silver bangle a little larger than a ten-centpiece, had it hung from a bar pin, and inscribed "First Prize." Thesecond prize, following Mrs. Orde's practical suggestion, was a brightribbon. Winners were privileged to wear these until defeated. The shootswere conducted with great ceremony. Each took a single chance in turnuntil five rounds apiece had been expended. In a loud voice the scorerannounced the results, and the name of the next on the list. Theshooting was done from a dead rest over the saw-horse, and at aboutfifteen yards. Martin sat by on the bridge-approach to the barn, smokinga very short and very black clay pipe upside down. He rarely saidanything; but his twinkling eyes never for a moment left the excitedgroup. Martin was reliable. Occasionally he was called upon to refereesome particularly close decision--as to whether a certain bullet-holecould be said to have cut the edge of the black or not--and hisdecisions were never questioned.
The shoots were taken very seriously. He who won the first or secondprize wore it proudly. Scores, individual shots, good or bad luck,distracting influences were all discussed with the greatest interest.Grandpa Orde, happening home early one day, watched the performance withgreat enjoyment, his hands behind him underneath the flapping linenduster, his eyes twinkling, his jaws working slowly. At the time he madeno comments; but next shoot day he was punctually on hand, carrying asmall paper parcel.
"Here's another prize," said he.
They opened it eagerly. It contained a large round leather disk to whicha safety pin had been sewn.
"That's for the one who makes the worst score," explained Grandpa Ordechuckling.
Thenceforth the poor shots had an interest. If they could not hope tocompete with Bobby and Carter Irvine, at least they could try not tostand at the bottom of the list. A new by-law was adopted, makingcompulsory the conspicuous wearing of the leather medal.
As has been hinted, the supremacy generally lay between Bobby andCarter. Johnny occasionally carried off all honours by a most brilliantscore; but the week following he was likely to escape the leather medalonly by the narrowest margin. The latter decoration was shared by hissister and Grace Jones. Caroline English disliked firearms; and tookpart in the contest only because she did not care to be left out. Bothshe and Grace held the weapon directly in front of them, the two handsclasped tight at the same point just behind the trigger-guard. MayFowler, Walter and Morton "furnished packing," as Morton said, betweenthe leaders and the losers.
In this manner the children came to a thorough respect for the muzzle ofa gun; and a deep pride in handling a weapon in a safe and sportsmanlikemanner. By the time the snow and cold weather put a stop to theshooting, each child would have been mortified and ashamed beyond wordsto have been caught doing anything "like a greenhorn."