ondition followed, among whom was seen the well-turned form,
intelligent, blooming, animated countenance, and neat, becoming attire
of Mabel Dunham.

Of females who were officially recognized as belonging to the class of
ladies, there were but three in the fort, all of whom were officers'
wives; Mabel being strictly, as had been stated by the Quartermaster,
the only real candidate for matrimony among her sex.

Some little preparation had been made for the proper reception of the
females, who were placed on a low staging of planks near the immediate
bank of the lake. In this vicinity the prizes were suspended from a
post. Great care was taken to reserve the front seat of the stage for
the three ladies and their children; while Mabel and those who belonged
to the non-commissioned officers of the regiment, occupied the second.
The wives and daughters of the privates were huddled together in the
rear, some standing and some sitting, as they could find room. Mabel,
who had already been admitted to the society of the officers' wives, on
the footing of a humble companion, was a good deal noticed by the ladies
in front, who had a proper appreciation of modest self-respect and
gentle refinement, though they were all fully aware of the value of
rank, more particularly in a garrison.

As soon as this important portion of the spectators had got into their
places, Lundie gave orders for the trial of skill to proceed in the
manner that had been prescribed in his previous orders. Some eight or
ten of the best marksmen of the garrison now took possession of the
stand, and began to fire in succession. Among them were officers and
men indiscriminately placed, nor were the casual visitors in the fort
excluded from the competition.

As might have been expected of men whose amusements and comfortable
subsistence equally depended on skill in the use of their weapons,
it was soon found that they were all sufficiently expert to hit the
bull's-eye, or the white spot in the centre of the target. Others who
succeeded them, it is true, were less sure, their bullets striking in
the different circles that surrounded the centre of the target without
touching it.

According to the rules of the day, none could proceed to the second
trial who had failed in the first, and the adjutant of the place, who
acted as master of the ceremonies, or marshal of the day, called upon
the successful adventurers by name to get ready for the next effort,
while he