The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-02-25
CHAPTER lII-Continued.

Rainey gave over the spOkes and
went to the starboard rail with Lund,
watching the preparations between
fore and main masts for the competi-
tion and telling Lund what was hap
pening. Carlson gave out some shot
gun cartridges from cardboard boxes.
twelve to each of the six hunters.
Sandy, the roustabout, had been
reQuisitioned to toss up empty bot
ties, and those who failed cursed him
for poor thrower. A hunter named
Deming made no misses, and secured
first prize of ten dollars In gold, with
man named Beale scoring two be-
hind him, and getting half that
amount from Carlson.
Then came the test with the rifles
The weapons were all of the same
calfber. well oiled. and in perfect con-
dition. Each of the hunters had a
few shells In his possession, but they
lacked the total Of six dozen by a
considerable margin
Carlson went below for the neces-
sary ammunition while the target was
completed and set in place. A keg
had been rugged with a weight under
slung to keep it upright, and a tin
can, painted white, set on short
spar in one end of the keg. A light
line was attached to bride, and the
mark lowered over the stern. where it
rode, bObbing in the tail of the
tvt1 fot
the taffrail where the crowd gath
cred.
More bullets hit the key than the
can, and Carlson was often called
upon as umpire. But the tin gradual
ly became ragged and blotched where
the steel-jacketed missiles tore
through. Beale and Deming both had
five clean, undisputed hits, tying for
first prize. Beale offered to shoot 1t
off with six more shells apiece, and
Deming consented.
"Can't be DONE" declared Carlseu
"Not right now, anyway. l gave out
the last shell there was in the maya
zine"
"Derned funny" said Deming, "a
sealer shy on cartridges! Lucky VT
amt worryin' about tibet sort Of s
cargo"
Probably plenty aboard some
where" said Carlson, "but DOM
know where they are. You boys have
got me beaten on rifles and shotguns,'
he went on, producing from his hiI
pocket fiat, notwithstanding auto
matte pistol of heavy caliber. "HoW
are you on small arms?"
The hunters shook their heads dubi
ously.
"Never use EN-" said Deming
"Never could do much with that kind
ennyhow. Give me revolver, an
might make out to hit whale, IL h,
was close enough, but not with one o
them"
mot much difference" said Carl
sen. ANY of you got revOlvers"
No one spoke. 1t was against tn
unwritten laws of vessel for pistol
to be owned forward of the mail
cabin. Beale finally answered for tn
rest.
mary a pistol. SIR"
''Then," said Carlson, 'Tll give Vol
an exhibition myself. Any bottle
left? Beale, will you toss them TO
me-"
There were eight shots in the auto
matte. and Carlson smashed sevel
bottles in midair. The hunters shout
ed their appreciation.
Break all Of 'emY" Lund aske
Rainey. Emmy bottles left at all?"
( He walked toward the taffrail, I'D
dressing Garrison.
.sKin you shoot by sound as well n
by sight. Doc?" he challenged.
Infancy not" said Carlson.
"If l had my eyes I'd snapshot y
for a hundred bucks" said Lund. "A
II Is. ] might target one or tive
Rainey. have some one run a lint
head-high, an FIX bottle on 1t, vii
yef Amt got gun O. my OWL