Soon the men were shooting for the second time. Dave got a bull’s-eye and Henry a five, giving them 10 and 11 respectively. Strange to say Gasway and Pelton also scored 10 and 11, so the friends on each side were a tie. The other marksmen got from 8 to 10 each. Those to make the highest scores were to shoot last, and as a consequence Dave was pitted against a soldier named Brocaw and against Gasway, while Henry was pitted against Pelton. Brocaw was the first to shoot and made a four, much to his disgust. “You go next,” said Gasway to Dave. “Toss up for it,” said the officer who was judging the contest, and the toss of a penny sent Gasway to the front. He was a trifle nervous and took so long to shoot that some friends jeered at him. “Five!” called out the judge, when the shot had been taken. “Now, Dave, make a bull’s-eye!” cried Henry. It must be confessed that Dave was also nervous, although he did his best to conceal it. This time he raised his rifle quickly and blazed away before anybody expected it. “A bull’s-eye, sure enough!” “That gives him two points above Brocaw and one point above Gasway!” The toss of the penny now brought Pelton to the front, and he shot with great care, yet all he could make was a five, which gave him a total of 16 points, just what Dave had. “Now, Henry, a bull’s-eye sure,” said Dave. “More likely he’ll make a three,” sneered Gasway. He was disgusted because of his own showing. Henry was cool, for his nerves seldom bothered him. He took aim with great deliberation, and hit the target exactly in the center. “Seventeen points for Henry Morris!” was the cry. “He takes the first prize!” “He certainly can shoot, even if he is young.” It was decided that Dave Morris and Ike Pelton should have one more shot each, the one coming nearest to the center of the target taking the second prize and the other taking the third prize. The toss made Pelton shoot first. All of the other shots on the target were chalked over, so that there might be no mistakes in scoring. This time Pelton took more care than ever in shooting, and as a consequence put his bullet directly on the inner ring,—something which, though between 5 and 6, would count the higher number. “I fancy the youngster can’t beat that,” said Gasway. “Don’t be so sure,” answered a soldier who favored Dave. Dave’s heart thumped loudly in his breast as he stepped up beside the tree-stump. But he kept outwardly calm and did what he could to steady his arms. He took one good look at the target, raised his rifle, and fired. The smoke cleared away and there was a second of silence. “A miss!” “What!” cried Dave and Henry, in a breath. “The bullet does not seem to have touched the target,” announced the judge. “Oh, I must have hit the target!” went on Dave. “Why, I aimed as carefully as before, when I made 16 in three shots.” “Can’t help it. The target has not been touched. You can see for yourself.”