New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-01-07
CHAPTER liI-Continued,

Dan saw the loon close behind him,
ana he had an I~nstnnt'S glimpse of the
long sweep Of moonlit ridge that
stretched beneath the window. Then.
all at once, seemingly without warm
Ing, II simply blinked out. Not until
the next morning did he really know
why. Insomnia was an old ~acquaint-
nncc Of Dams, aud he had expected TO
hnye some trouble in getting To sleep.
His only real trouble was waking up
again when Lcnnox called him to
breakfast. He couldn't believe that
the light at his window shade was
really that of morning.
Good Heavens :" his host exploded.
"You sleep the sleep Of the just
Dan was about To tell him that on
the contrary he was a very nervous
sleeper, but he thought better Of II.
Something had surely happened 10 his
insomnia. The next instant he even
forgot 10 wonder about II in the reali.
2ntiou that his tired body had been
wonderfully refreshed. lie had no
dread now Of the long tramp up the
ridge that his host had planned.
But first came target practice. In
bans baggage he had n certain very
plain but serviccahlc sporting rife of
about thirty-furty calibrr-a gun that
the information department Of the
large sporting-s goods Store in Gitche-
HpoliS had recommended for his pur.
pose. Except for the few moments In
the store, Dan had never held "A rifle
I'm his hands. The first shot he hit the
trunk of n five-foot pine at thirty
PAGES.
but | couldn't very well have
missed II" he replied to LennoX's
cheer. You see, | aimed AT the mid
debut I just grazed the edge"
The Second shot was not So good.
missing the tree altogether. And II
was n singular thing that he aimed
longer and tried harder on this shot
than on the first. The third time he
tried still harder, ana made by far
the worst shot of all.
Whats the mnttcrf' he demanded.
I'm getting worse all the time"
Lcnnox didn't know for sure. But
hc made n long guess. ut might be
hcg'unrr's luck" he said. "but I'm in
clin'6 10 think you're trying too hard.
Tuk- Il casicr-lrpcud more on your
Instincts"
Dams reply was Ia lift the rifle
lightly "a his shoulder. glance quickly
along the trigger and fire. The bullet
struck within one inch of the center
OF the pine.
For q long second Lcunox gazed ~
him n opcn-mouthed astoni>hment.
MS stars. hoy 80 he cried al last.
"NNas I mistaken in thinking you were
q bern tcndprfoot-after all? Can II
Dc hat "a little Of your old grandfa-
thpr's SIKH has been passed down 10
you1 But YOU can't do it again"
fpt Dan did do II again. IF any
thing. the bullet was a little nearer
tie center. And thcn he aimed at a
more distant tree.
Q But the hammer snapped down IN
effectively on the breech. He turned
With a look Of question.
Your gun only holds five shots"
Ieunox explained. RelOading, Dan
tried n more difficult target-a trunk
ulmost one hundred yards distant. OF
rourse II would have been only child's
play to- an experienced hunter: but
10 - tenderfoot IL was n difficult
raark indeed. Twice out Of four shots
Ian hit the tree trunk. and one Of his
two hits was practically Il bulTs-eye.
Ills two misses were the result Of the
sam. mistake he had made before
attempting 10 hold his aim too long.
Dan and Lcnu1x started together
W. the long slope of the ridge. Dan
nlnne armed: Lennox went with him
solely as q guide. The deer season had
Just opened. and il might be that Dan
would want to procure one Of these
creatures.
But I'm not sure ! want TO hunt
deer" Dan told him. "You speak Of
them as being 50 beautiful"
"The. are beautiful and your
grandfather would never hunt them.
either. except for meat. But maybe
you'll change your mind when you see
n buck. Be-Ides. we might run into a
lynx or n panther. But not very like
y. without dogs
Thet trudged NJ. over the carpet Of
pie needles. They fought Their way
through a thicket Of buckbrush- Once