Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-09-26

range was long, and the slightest variation
of the aim would carrysthe shot wide of the
mark, but Seth argued against it, and ap-
pealed to the commander.
{. You see, captin," said he, ''its all very
well a turkey shewt, but it don't do in
the woods, when the bars and the wolves
are abeout !; and kinder guess twouldn't
dew on the battle field, less every sojer cud
kerry niger as they dew at the South to
use as rests for their shewtin' irons"
This argument prevailed, and he decided
that the shots should be made off hand, and
that ten seconds should be allowed IN TAX
ing aim, after the piece was at the shoulder.
The Indian chief was painted in gaudy
colors, size Of life, and the bulls eye was
placed on the left side, in the region OF the
heart, with three circles drawn around it,
and it was understood that from the centre
of the bull S eye each shot Should be meas
ured. The sharp shooters and the back
woodsman drew lots for the first fire. which
fell to the lot of one of the former, who took
his position, and in a ready and adroit man
ner opened the contest, and his shot together
with the others were as follows, according to
the report of the target markers
Ranger No 1.-Two inches from the out
er circle, grazing the left arm.
Ranger No. Ball struck within one
inch Of the inner circle to the right-a fatal
shot.
Ranger No. 3.-But a half moon in the
BULBS eye-fatal.
Seth Stark.-Shot perforated the centre of
the bulls eye
There was considerable huzzaing at the
result of the first round, especially among
the spectators, and those of the Rangers
who had not rsked any of their funds on the
result.
On the second round the three Rangers
were scored as having made better shots
than before, but no score for the young
backwoodsman.
n, although several of them had lost by
Sc his first shot.
The third round resulted even better for
the Rangers thau either of the others, and
the score was brought in acco dinghy; but
there appearing no score for the would be
recruit, the shouting was terrific, and many
rude jests were again made at Seth's ex-
pense.
+" Mought yeou not as well wait till the
umpires hev decided, before yeou begin to
larf at feller ?p CALCULATED Seth. . I've
seed many turkey trial decided agn the
scorers"
Why, you dor't suppose you've bit the
target but once g asked a Ranger who had
staked a Y on the result.
e Mebbe don't 'spose SO, and mebbe I
dew" replied Seth.
"I'll go ten to one,n said the confident
soldier.
g Take my advice, and don't yeou dew
It," answered Seth.
Oh, no don't dare, eh Can't go one
against ten g. calculated the fellow.
''Wall, yeou kin put up as many ters as
yeou please, and eff L don't kiver um, why
yeou kin pick up your change agin.
:. Try him try him he's only blufing
only coming the brag game y said several
Of the Rangers.
I'll go my pile on that" said the conf
dent one, and he forthwith produced sixty
dollars, which Seth covered with only six
but then 1t must be remembered that the
odds were terribly against him, inasmuch
as the scorers report if confirmed, would
of course, give the stakes to his antagonist
The umpires, consisting of one officer of
the company, who had no especial interest
in the result, and two civilians, who were
experts in the sport of rifle shooting, forth
with visited the target, and examined the
several hits, and on comparing them with
the record of the scorers it appeared there
were no mistakes.
:' That hit in the bulls eye," remarked
one of the civil unpires, lis magnificent
shot, but how SO small slug as that
greeny's rifle carries, could make so large
an orifice as that, is quite mystery to
me-
81 agree with you," said the other civil
ian.
g 1t is remarkable perforation, certain
ly," added the officer of the Rangers, exam
ining the hole with scrutiny, and then turn
ing the target around they all were struck
with the fact that the shot of the smallest
bored rifle had really pierced much the
largest hole through the board. "See here,
too," he continued, finding the correspond
ing hole in the trunk of the tree against
which the counterfeit semblancep of the
savage chieftain had rested, "can it be- pos
sible that two bullets have passed through
this orifce ?''
The suggestion was improbable, but
somewhat startling. 1t was again exam
ined with keener scrutiny than before !; and
for the purpose of solving the least doubt IN
the matter, it was agreed to cut around the
corresponding perforation in the tree, and to
the depth of the spot where the bullet had
lodged. A carpenter was forthwith sent
for, with instructions to bring the proper
tools for the job. In a few minutes one was
procured, and he went to work with NOR