Frank drew the gun to his shoulder and took careful aim while the others were still vainly trying to see something to shoot at. A snap, a flash, and a bird whirred up a hundred paces away, flew a few feet from the ground, and fell. Frank ran to the spot and held up a good-sized plover. Marian and Alice examined it pitifully. "What a slender delicate thing it is! It seems a shame to kill it. I like the excitement of hunting but I always want to cry over the victims," said Alice with a sigh. Sherm caught sight of a covey soon after. He and Ernest slipped out of the wagon and stole up as close as possible. Ernest got two with the scattering bird shot, but Sherm missed. "You were too anxious, lad. Stop an instant always before you fire to make sure your hand is steady," the Captain consoled him kindly. Sherm profited by this advice and brought down his next bird. Captain Clarke left the game to the boys until their first zest for the sport was satisfied. Chicken Little frequently discovered the birds before either of the boys, and was eager to have a turn herself, as was also Katy. Gertie put her hands to her ears every time a gun was fired and openly hoped they wouldn't find any more game to shoot at. Captain Clarke advised the girls to wait a little, and watch the boys carefully to see exactly how they aimed and rested their guns, and he would help them both a little later. But Ernest soon undertook Katie's education and was surprised to find he had a very apt pupil. Katy had as steady a nerve and as true an eye as either of the boys. Ernest began to be alarmed lest his pupil win his honors away from him. "You must have shot before, Katy." "I have with a revolver. Uncle Sim used to let me shoot at a target. And he had an archery club last summer." The Captain did his best for Chicken Little but she did not do nearly so well as Katy, though she made one shot the Captain considered quite extraordinary. "It's a pretty long range for a novice, little neighbor, but you can try it." Two birds flew up where she had seen one. "Oh, dear, I missed," she lamented. "I'm not so sure," said Sherm. "Let's go see." He helped her down and they made a brisk run toward the spot where the grouse had risen. After a few minutes, Sherm stooped and picked up a bird considerably to the right of where Chicken Little had aimed. "Well, I'll be jiggered!" he exclaimed with a puzzled expression. "You did get one." He stood looking down thoughtfully at the ground. Chicken Little hurried to him elated, but her joy was short-lived. Snuggled among the grasses was an empty nest. "Oh, do you 'spose she was on the nest? But I couldn't have seen her if she had been--and it's empty." By way of reply, Sherm stooped again and picked up a baby grouse from a clump of weeds. Fear had frozen it into a motionless wee brown image. "Oh, the poor little darling! I took its mother." Chicken Little looked ready to cry.