Part 15 (1/2)
Dan took his place and fired. He missed. Sam followed, a few numbers later, and he also missed. But when it came the turn of Louis Flink he made a bull's-eye the first shot. Flink favored the two boys with a sarcastic grin as he stepped aside to give the next man a chance.
The Battles.h.i.+p Boys had adjusted their sights in the meantime, and with their next shots they, too, each made a bull's-eye. When the five rounds had been fired it was found that Flink was one point ahead of them.
The lads were disgusted with themselves. On the following day the score was the same; that is, each of the two boys made center every time and so did Flink. Their only hope now was that he might make a miss, but this he evidently had no intention of doing, for he shot with rare judgment and coolness.
”I've got a good notion to break him up by saying something to him to-morrow,” Sam confided to his companion that night.
”I should be ashamed of you, if you did,” rebuked Dan.
”Ashamed of me? Why?”
”Because it would be an unsportsmanlike and a cowardly trick. If we cannot outshoot Blinkers, as you call him, we shall take our medicine like men. It seems he's the better man at the b.u.t.ts.”
The last day of the target practice arrived. It was Sat.u.r.day morning when the boys started out for the shooting grounds. The targets stood out strong and clear in the morning sunlight, against the big mound of earth before which they had been placed. By this time the shooting of the three boys had aroused no little interest among the others of the apprentices, and even the officers began to feel more than ordinary interest, for such shooting was not usual among the rookies in their early days.
The range had now been extended to three hundred yards. It was safe to predict that the story of the week would be changed at this range.
The firing began almost at once, the men with lower scores competing first, it having been decided to let the three leaders take their turns at the b.u.t.ts after the others had finished.
”Keep your eyes open,” suggested Dan. ”Get your range well, for we mustn't miss a shot to-day.”
”We're beaten anyway,” complained Sam.
”Stop it. You're a fine sailor, you are. We are not beaten. We are never beaten until the last shot has been fired, and even then we won't run up any white flag. See that Flag over there?”
”What flag?”
”The one on the staff-the Stars and Stripes.”
”Sure.”
”Well just imagine you are under that, and that those targets over against the hill are enemies shooting at the Flag. What would you do to them?”
”You know what I would do to them if I could-I'd put them every one out of business.”
”That's the talk! Well, they are enemies-our enemies. You must put them out of business.”
”All right; I'm it. I'll drill them in the eyes. You watch me when I go to bat.”
The firing, which had been going on for the past hour, suddenly ceased.
”Leaders shoot off scores,” came the command.
”It's our turn,” nodded Dan. ”Keep cool.”
”I'm as cool as the hot sun will allow me to be, but I wish they would let me take off my jacket. I'll ask them.”
”No, no, no,” protested Dan.
”Flink take your place.”