The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-03-14

care. After they had fired several rounds,
he wen, lounging lis,lessly into the crowd,
which had gathered around the target,
excaiming in admiration over the last
brilliant shot of Hinch, which was trium.
phanily the best. The bully was as usu-
al clustering vehemen,ly, taunling every
one around him, and when he saw Jack
looking very coolly at the famous shot,
with no grain of that deferenlial admira'
ton in his expression which was deman,
ded, he snatched up the board, and thrust.
ing i. insul,ingly close to his face, roared
out
Here you Jack Long Shanks-look
at that! Take good look Can you
bea, it ? Jack drew back with a quiet
laugh, and said good humoredly-
'Psha You don't brag on such shoot
in as that, do you!
''Brag on il; I'd like to see such a
moon-eyed chap as you beat it!
Il don't know as I'd be very proud 10
bea, such bungin' work as that
You don't! don't you! yelled the
fellow, now fairly in rage at Jacks
cooness.-'You'll try it, won't you
You must try il! You shall try it. by
Cd. Wen see what sort Of swell
you are y
oh, well!' said Jack nterrupting him
as he was proceeding to rave for quaint,
ty,-'Just set up your board. you want
TO see me put ball through every hole
you can make y
Perfectly astounded at this rash beard
ing of the lion-for it was difficult, 10 tell
whether contempt or simplicity dictated
Jacks manner-,he men set up the board,
while he walked back to the stand, and
carelessly swinging his heavy rifle from
his shoulder, fred seemingly as quick as
thought. Its trick of mine said he
moving towards the mark, as he lowered
his gun; i caught it from shoolin' var.
ments in the eyes-always takes 'em
there. It's notion i've got,-il's my
gun They all ran eagerly to the tar
get, and sure enough his ball, which was
larger than Hinch's, had passed through
the same hole, widening it!
Hes humbug! It's all accident
He can't do that again 2 shouted the ruff
fan, turning pale, till his lips looked blue,
as the board was held up. I'll bet the
ears Of buffalo calf against his, tina! he
can't do it again =
IF you mean by that, TO bet your own
ears against mine, III take you up! said
Jack laughing, while the men could not
resist joining him. Ilinch slared around
him with a fierce chaled look. before
which those who knew him best qualed,
and with compressed lips silently loaded
his gun. A new target was put up. a,
which, after long and careful aim he fired.
The shot was fine one. The edge Of
the ball had just broke the centre. Jack,
after looking at it quietly, then remark
eds
Plumbing out the centre is my fash
ion, III show you kink or two. Cap
tain Hinch, about the clear thing in shoot
in. Give us another board there, boys =
Another was set up and after throwing
out his gun on the level, in the same rap.
id, careless style as before. he fired, and
when the eagre crowd around the large,
announced that he had driven the centre
cross clear out, he turned upon his heel
and with a pleasant nod to Hinch, started
to walk off. The ruf1ian shouted after
him.
Il thought you were Id coward
You'v made two good shots by accident
and now you sneak of to Drag that you've
beat me. Come back sir You cam
shoot before a muzzle half as true =
Jack walked on without noticing this
mortal insult and challenge, while Hincl
laughed taun,ingly long and loud-jeerine
him with exulling bitterness, as long as
he could make himself heard, as a flash
in the pam "a dunghill cock, who had
spread his white feather, while the men
who had been surprised into profound
respect for Long, and were now still more
astonished at what they considered his
backing out, joined DANGEROUSLY in boot.
ing his retreat.
The fools! They made fatal mis-
take, in supposing he felt the insult unre
sented from any fear for himself. Jack
| Long had Young and very pretty wife
at home, and his love for her was strong.
er than his resentment for his own indig
nifty. His passions were slow, and had
never been fully roused-none Of them a
least but this love, and that presented hel
Instantly, forlorn and deserted, with hel
little ones. in this wild country, should he
throw away his life with such desperate
odds-and seeing the turn the affair was
likely 10 take, he had pruden,ly deter
mined TO &c, away before il had gone toe