White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-08-01


er ropes of the pack horses and coiled
them, then Tipped the beasts on the
launches, sided them on to the trail.
Just at the entering into the timber
they looked round-and there was
Nancy, standing on a stump, like
figure on a pliDth, arm up, hand ready
to wave. James, under his big SLOUGH
hat, hands on hips stood near her.
She waved. They took off their hats.
James hand went up and out to-
wards them, palm open: and then they
rode on into the Big Timber.
The pack horses went first, jog-jog-
ging along on the winding strip of
tamarack needles that was the trail
Dewar followed, hand on cantle, half
turned in his saddle, talking. He be-
gan in trifling way and led to more
serious matters.
"Say, can you shOot?"
"a little bit with a rifle. With
six-gun can't get on to this business
of coming down and firing all in one
motion"
"Takes a bit of practice" said De-
war. You'll find lots Of people who
can't do it tell you how to do it, and
go through all the gestures of 1t with
their hand-sitting in hotels talking. |
Huh! Talking! o it's good way
all right, but you spend a pocketful
Of shells in learning it. Now the way
these fellows deride is a good way,
too Crook your left arm like this,
and rest your right hand knuckles,
holding the six-gun, in the crook Of
your left arm. Don't lay the barrel on
the left arm. No use scorchtng a
sleeve. Just rest your right hand that
way on the left arm, and then sight.
Yes-sight! These fellows who sit
and talk about six-guns say: Don't
sight. Don't aim. Pointw Pshaw!
That can be done, too. But even a
darn good six-gun man, If he met a
grizzly in nasty mood, and had only
a six-gun, would crook his left arm
and aim. AS for what they call slam
ming down a gun, there's plenty Of
people will tell you that's wrong and
that it ought to be brought up and
fired instead"
Dewar strolled along the sweep of
meadow, driving the horses easily
ahead Of him, putting in quick step
where the trail led on as one Of the
pack horses seemed to think he want
ed to continue on there. He drove
them to the extreme end where very
raft of deadfall made an end Of the
grass and then, coming back, took a
piece of white wood and set it atop
} bush near the edge Of the timber.
That's about fifty yards" said he
'It's as long range as the space will
allow here. Try the 1903 first"
. John aimed and fired, and there still
was the piece of white wood. He
frowned and ejecting the she'll raised
the rifle again. He tucked 1t we'll into
his shoulder and through the peep
sight aimed keenly, fired. There was
the glimmer of white still atop the
bush.
Fifty yards, and missed that!" he
exclaimed.
He elected the second she'll and
fired again. Nothing! He looked at
l Dewar with the face of one who would
l say: well, what do you know about
i that?"
Half minute" said Dewar, and
walked slowly to the chip Of wood
took it off the bush top and looked
at 1t, brought it back and held it out
to John.
n Look" he said.
II John looked and saw on one side
It three holes and on the other side
g three long splintered assures as we'll
well, how on earth did the bullets
IS not send it flying?"
. Because they do it so neatly.
d you'd been shooting with little q.
the splinter would have jumped in the
8, air. The velocity of these 1903 cart
ridges just makes flick of job O.
it. You can shoot all right. Try thu
1t six-gun."
e He walked away about fifty feet in
n stead of yards and put up another
IS piece of white wood
e John brought the six-gun down ant
t felt 1t tremble in his grasp. He coult
s. lot hold 1t rigid, realized that Their,
st was a deep reason for the plan o
not sighting six-gun but bringing
down and firing at end Of the descen
u of the arm. No, he could not hold |
n sighted on the splinter of wood. HI
1t ran his hand forward, looking alonl
t the sights, and by doing so combatte,
h the tendency to a trembling Of tn,
S hand. AS he ran his hand out 30 b,
II pressed the trigger. Bang! The chi
flew in air.
II "All right" said Dewar, "You'v
k done it your own way. It's not tn
t. rules that matter. It's the spirit o
" the rules that matters. That's anothe
y way to keep the hand steady on tn
n object long enough to fire, and that
If the whole object Of all the rules" TIL,
d Wolfer walked forward and set vi
10 the target again.
n That time Jack brought the guI
e down and let fly. Nothing happened
p THE six shells were spent, at the finish
It with only one hit.
It We'll, you'll get onto It," said De