e accurate for use at a distance of two hundred yards.

Fred took longer to aim with the rifle than he had with the pistol, and
there was a breathless silence until after the report rang out.

"A four!"

"That's the stuff, Fred!"

"Now, Brassy, let us see what you can do!"

As confident as ever, Brassy Bangs came to the front, took the rifle
handed to him, and shot rather hastily.

"A three!"

Jack was up next, and to the dismay of many of his friends made only a
2.

Then came the second round with rifles, and in that Fred scored a 4,
Bangs a 1, and Jack a 3.

"Hurrah! Fred Rover and Brassy Bangs are tied with eighteen points
each."

"And Jack Rover has fifteen points."

Then came the final round, and amid a breathless silence Fred shot and
scored a bull's-eye. Then came Bangs, and made a 2. And Jack ended the
contest with a bull's-eye.

"Hurrah! Fred Rover wins the match with twenty-three points!"

"Yes, and Jack Rover and Brassy Bangs are tied for second place with
twenty each!"

"Hurrah for Fred Rover!"

"Pretty good shooting, I'll say!"

"It was all to the merry, Fred!" exclaimed Jack, as he caught his
cousin's hand. "You did fine!"

"The best ever!" burst out Andy.

"Say, Jack, why don't you and Brassy shoot off the tie?" questioned
Spouter.

"I'm willing," was the ready reply of the young captain.

"I'll shoot off the tie with pistols," put in Brassy quickly.

"No, let it be with rifles," broke in Randy.

"I'll tell you what I think would be fair," announced Captain Dale. "Each
of you take one shot with a rifle and one shot with a pistol." And after
quite a little discussion it was so agreed.

The pistols were used first, and there Brassy made a bull's-eye while
Jack managed to register a 4. Then the rifles were used, and here Jack,
shooting first, made a bull's-eye while Brassy got a 2.

"Hurrah! Nine to seven in favor of Captain Rover!"

"Some shooting, Jack!"

"If you had shot as good as that in the first contest you might have
beaten Fred."

"I'm quite content, even if I didn't beat Fred," announced the young
captain, with a smile.

Brassy Bangs was quite gloomy over the outcome of the contest, and he and
his cronies lost no time in quitting the range.

"I'm mighty glad you two fellows beat him," announced Gif. "Maybe it will
take a little of the conceit out of him."

"Well, Gif, you've got to admit he's a wonderful shot with the pistol,"
answered Jack.

"Yes. And hi