aintance, explained to the
amateur all that he did not know. During the previous week the master of
the Red House and other officers of the local yeomanry interested in
military matters had dined at the mess of those artillery officers then
encamped at Okehampton for the annual practice on Dartmoor; and the
outcome of that entertainment was an invitation to witness some shooting
during the forthcoming week.

The gunners in their dark blue uniforms swarmed busily round four
shining sixteen-pounders, while Major Tremayne conversed with his
friend. He was a handsome, large-limbed man, with kindly eyes.

"Where's your target?" asked Grimbal, as he scanned the deep distance of
the valley.

"Away there under that grey mass of rock. We've got to guess at the
range as you know; then find it. I should judge the distance at about
two miles--an extreme limit. Take my glass and you'll note a line of
earthworks thrown up on this side of the stone. That is intended to
represent a redoubt and we're going to shell it and slay the dummy men
posted inside."

"I can see without the glass. The rock is called Oke Tor, and I'm going
to meet a man there this afternoon."

"Good; then you'll be able to observe the results at close quarters.
They'll surprise you. Now we are going to begin. Is your horse all
right? He looks shifty, and the guns make a devil of a row."

"Steady as time. He's smelt powder before to-day."

Major Tremayne now adjusted his field-glasses, and carefully inspected
distant earthworks stretched below the northern buttresses of Oke Tor.
He estimated the range, which he communicated to the battery; then after
a slight delay came the roar and bellow of the guns as they were fired
in slow succession.

But the Major's estimate proved too liberal, for the ranging rounds fell
far beyond the target, and dropped into the lofty side of Steeperton.

The elevation of the guns was accordingly reduced, and Grimbal noted the
profound silence in the battery as each busy soldier performed his
appointed task.

At the next round shells burst a little too short of the earthworks, and
again a slight modification in the range was made. Now missiles began to
descend in and around the distant redoubt, and each as it exploded dealt
out shattering destruction to the dummy men which represented an enemy.
One projectile smashed against the side of Oke Tor, and sent back the
ringing sound of its tremendous impact.

Subsequent practice, n