Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-23


ally, if not invariably, measure, Wnere none
of the balls touch the cross but II the cross
be driven, they measure from 1t to the centre
Of the bullet-hole. To make draw shot,
therefore, between two who drive the cross,
it is necessary that the centre OF both balls
should pass directly through the cross; a thing
that very rarely happens.
The Bite alone remained to shoot. Billy
wiped out his rife carefully, loaded her to
the top of his skill, and handed her to me-
Now said he, Lyman, draw fine bead,
but not too fine for Soap-stick bears up her
ball well. Take care and don't touch the
trigger until you've got your bead; for she's
spring -triggerd, and goes mighty easy: but
you hold her to the place you want her, and
if she don't 60 there dang old Roper
took hold of Soap-stick, and Iapsed imme-
diately into the most hopeless despair am
sure never handled as heavy gun in all
my life. why, Billy said |, you little
mortal, you what do you use such gun as
this for ?
Look at the bull's-eye yonderr said he.
True said |, but / cant shoot her; it is
impossible
Go long, you old coonr said Billy Il see
what you're at : intimating that all this was
merely to make the coming shot the more re-
markable; Daddy's little boy don't shoot a
nything but the old Soap-stick here to-day. |
know
The Judges, knew, were becoming impa-
tient, and, withal, my situation was growing
more embarrassing every second; SO cen re-
solved to try the Soap-stlck without farther
parley.
stepped out, and the most interest was ex-
cited all around me, and it flashed like electri-
ty around the target, as Judged from the anx.
ious gaze of all in that direction.
Policy dictated that should fire with fall
ing rifle, and I adopted this mode; determin-
ing to fire as soon as the sights came on a
line with the diamond, bead or no bead Ac-
cordingly, | commenced lowering old Soap
stick but, in spite of all my muscular pow
ers, she was strictly obedient to the laws Of
gravitation, and came down with a uniformly
accelerated velocity. Before could arrest
her downward flight, she had not only passed
the target, but was making rapid. encroach-
ments on my own toes.
why, he's the weakest man in the arms I
ever seed,' said one, in half whisper.
Its only his fun, said Billy; know him.
1T may be fun, said the other, but it looks
nightly like yeamest to man up a tree
| | now, of course, determined to reverse the
mode of firing, and put forth all my physical
energies to raise Soap-stick to the mark. The
effort silenced Billy, and gave tongue to all
his companions | had just strength enough
to master Soap sticks obstinate proclivity,
and, consequently, my nerves began to exhib-
it palpable signs of distress with her first i'm
perceptible movement upward. A trembling
commenced in my arms Increased and extern
ded rapidly to my body and lower eXtremites :;
so that, by the time thet had brought Soap
stick up to the mark, ] was shaking from
head to foot, exactly like a man under the
continued action of a strong galvanic battery.
In the mean time my friends gave vent to their
feelings freely.
i swear poin blank said one, that man
can't shoot
He used to shoot WE'LL said another; but
can't now, nor never could
You better git away from bout Hallmark p
bawled third, for I'll be dod darned if
Broadcoth don't give some of YOU the dry
grpes if you stand too close thare.'
The strangers got the peedoddles'* said a
fourth, with humorous gravity.
IF he had bullets enough in his gun, he'd
shoot ring round the bulls-eye big as a
spinning Wheel said fifth.
AS soon as I found that Soap-stick was high
enough (tor | made no farther use fthe sights
than to ascertain this fact), | pulled trigger,
and off she went. have always found that
the most credita BILE way of relieving myself of
derision was to heighten it myself as much as
possible 1t is a good plan in all circles, but
by far the best which can be adopted among
the plain, rough farmers of the country
Accordingly, brought old Soap stick to an
order with an air of triumph; tipped Billy a
wink, and observed, Now Billy, IS your time
to make your fortune. Bet em two to one
that lve knocked out the cross
No, I'll be dod blamed if do said Billy
but I'll bet you two to one you han't hit the
plank
sAh, Billy said 7, was Joking about bet
ting, for never bet; nor would have you
to bet: indeed, | do not feel exactly right in
shooting for beef !; for it is species of gaming
at last: but I'll say this much if that cross
isn't knocked out, I'll never shoot for beef a.
gain as long as I live.''
BY dod,' said Mealy Whitecotton, you'll
lose no great things at that
WELL said |, | reckon know little a.
bout wabbling. Is it possible, Billy, a man
shooting with the double wabbe? It's the
greatest take in in the world when you learn
to drive the cross with it. Another sort for
getting bets upon, to the drop-sight, with a
single wabble! And the Soap-sticks the We
, ny yarn for it.
Tell you what, stranger said one, you're
too hard for us all here. We never hearn O
that sort o shoot'n' in these parts
WELL returned |, you've seen it now
{ and Pm the boy that can do it,
The judges were now approaching with the
t target, and a singular combination Of circum-
stances had kept all my party in utter ignor.
ance of the result of my shot Those abou
: the target had been prepared by Billy Curlew
for great shot from me; their expectations
had received assurance from the courtesy
i which had been extended to me; and nothing
had happened to disappoint them but the sin
gle caution to them against the dry grip pes,
' which was as likel y to have been given il
= irony as in earnest; for my agonies under the
+ weight Of the Soap-stck were either imper
ceptlble to them at the distance of sixty yards
or, being visible, were taken as the fourshes
OF an expert who wished to 'astonish the ma
tlves.' The other party did not think the di.
f rectlon OF my ball worth the trouble of ques
t ton; or if they did, my airs and harangue hat
t put the thought to flight before it was deliver
ed. Consequntlyf they were all transfxet
with establishment when the Judges presented
E the target to them, and grayely observed, It..
only second best, after all the FUSS
r Second bestr exclaimed 7, with uncon
trollable transports.
a The whole of my party rushed to the tar