a successful shot.

"Don't you think you have got that weepin' raised a leetle too high?"
he inquired anxiously of Jim.

"I'm aiming a little over, sir," replied Jim, "because I think the
shell will fall a little in that distance."

"I guess you know your business better than I do, Skipper," replied
the captain. "I was no shot 'cept with a blunderbuss that would
scatter."

"Make a bull's-eye, Jim," urged Juarez.

"You mean a whale's eye," put in Jo.

"Humph!" said Jim, "don't talk that way; you will make me miss."

"You mean----" Jo got no further, for Jim held up a cautionary hand.

"Ready now," he cried.

The captain clapped the spy-glass to his eye, there was a roar and the
quarter deck shook under their feet, then the captain shook the glass
above his head.

"Yer struck into the shark gang, Skipper," he cried, "I said you would
be a recruit for John Paul Jones."

"Let me have a chance," said Jo.

"All right," agreed Jim, "I don't want to be a hog."

So Jo took his turn. With due deliberation he aimed the shining little
cannon aft toward the distant fray. Then he fired, but the shot sent
up a spurt from a wave some distance short.

"We are getting too far away," said Jim, "to get in an accurate shot."

"Say, Jim," put in Tom, "you haven't told me why things seem closer on
the ocean than they do on land." If pertinacity meant success in life,
Tom Darlington would no doubt reach the top of the ladder. Jim was
somewhat surprised, and he did not want to admit ignorance, so he
sparred for time.

"Now, Thomas," said James, "I am not paid to do your thinking for you,
but if you will sit down and think for ten minutes and if at the end
of that time you have not reached a logical conclusion, I will explain
the matter to you."

"Ho! Professor!" railed Tom, pulling out his silver timepiece, which
was so heavy that it would be a dangerous weapon if thrown, "if you
ain't ready with your explanation you will lose your place."

Jim took this warning with perfect nonchalance, but his mind was very
active just the same trying to solve this problem, because Tom would
never let up on him if he found out that he was bluffing. But why was
an object nearer, anyway, in appearance on the ocean than on land?
Why? Perhaps it was the difference in atmosphere. No, for in high
altitudes things appeared closer on account of the clarity of the air
than they did at sea level.

Six minutes passed, still no answer had come to