of whom were officers' wives； Mabel being strictly； as had
been stated by the Quartermaster； the only real candidate
for matrimony among her sex。
Some little preparation had been made for the proper
reception of the females； who were placed on a low staging
of planks near the immediate bank of the lake。 In this
vicinity the prizes were suspended from a post。 Great
care was taken to reserve the front seat of the stage for
the three ladies and their children； while Mabel and those
who belouged to the non…commissioned officers of the regi…
ment； occupied the second。 The wives and daughters of
the privates were huddled together in the rear； some stand…
ing and some sitting； as they could find room。 Mabel；
who had already been admitted to the society of the
officers' wives； on the footing of a humble companion； was
a good deal noticed by the ladies in front； who had a
proper appreciation of modest self…respect and gentle re…
finement； though they were all fully aware of the value of
rank； more particularly in a garrison。
As soon as this important portion of the spectators had
got into their places； Lundie gave orders for the trial of skill
to proceed in the manner that had been prescribed in his
previous orders。 Some eight or ten of the best marksmen
of the garrison now took possession of the stand； and began
to fire in succession。 Among them were officers and men
indiscriminately placed； nor were the casual visitors in the
fort excluded from the competition。
As might have been expected of men whose amusements
and comfortable subsistence equally depended on skill in
the use of their weapons； it was soon found that they were
all sufficiently expert to hit the bull's…eye； or the white
spot in the centre of the target。 Others who succeeded
them； it is true； were less sure； their bullets striking in the
different circles that surrounded the centre of the target
without touching it。
According to the rules of the day； none could proceed
to the second trial who had failed in the first； and the ad…
jutant of the place； who acted as master of the ceremonies；
or marshal of the day； called upon the successful adven…
turers by name to get ready for the next effort； while he
gave notice that those who failed to present themselves for
the shot at the bull's…eye would necessarily be excluded
from all the higher trials。 Just at this moment Lundie；
the Quartermaster； and Jasper Eau…douce appeared in the
group at the stand； while the Pathfinder walked leisurely
on the ground without his beloved rifle； for him a measure
so unusual； as to be understood by all present as a proof
that he did not consider himself a competitor for the
honors of the day。 All made way for Major Duncan； who；
as he approached the stand in a good…humored way； took
his station； levelled his rifle carelessly； and fired。 The
bullet missed the required mark by several inches。
〃Major Duncan is excluded from the other trials！〃
proclaimed the Adjutant； in a voice so stroug and confi…
dent that all the elder officers and the sergeants well un…
derstood that this failure was preconcerted； while all the
younger gentlemen and the privates felt new encourage…
ment to proceed on account of the evident impartiality
with which the laws of the sports were administered。
〃Now； Master Eau…douce； comes your turn；〃 said Muir；
〃and if you do not beat the Major； I shall say that your
hand is better skilled with the oar than with the rifle。〃
Jasper's handsome face flushed； he stepped upon the
stand； cast a hasty glance at Mabel； whose pretty form he
ascertained was bending eagerly forward as if to note the
result； dropped the barrel of his rifle with but little ap…
parent care into the palm of his left hand； raised the muzzle
for a single instant with exceeding steadiness； and fired。
The bullet passed directly through the centre of the bull's…
eye； much the best shot of the morning； since the others
had merely touched the paint。
〃Well performed； Master Jasper；〃 said Muir； as soon as
the result was declared； 〃and a shot that might have
done credit to an older head and a more experienced eye。
I'm thinking； notwithstanding； there was some of a young…
ster's luck in it； for ye were no' partic'lar in the aim ye
took。 Ye may be quick； Eau…douce； in the movement；
but yer not philosophic nor scientific in yer management
of the weepon。 Now； Sergeant Dunham； I'll thank you
to request the ladies to give a closer attention than com…
mon； for I'm about to make that use of the rifle which
may be called the intellectual。 Jasper would have killed；
I allow； but then there would not have been half the sat…
isfaction in receiving such a shot as in receiving one that
is discharged scientifically。〃
All this time the Quartermaster was preparing himself
for the scientific trial； but he delayed his aim until he saw
that the eye of Mabel； in common with those of her com…
panions； was fastened on him in curiosity。 As the others
left him room； out of respect to his rank； no one stood
near the competitor but his commanding officer； to whom
he now said in his familiar manner；
〃Ye see； Lundie； that something is to be gained by ex…
citing a female's curiosity。 It's an active sentiment is
curiosity； and properly improved may lead to gentler in…
novations in the end。〃
〃Very true； Davy； but ye keep us all waiting while ye
make your preparations； and here is Pathfinder drawing
near to catch a lesson from your greater experience。〃
〃Well Pathfinder； and so _you_ have come to get an idea
too； concerning the philosophy of shooting？ I do not wish
to hide my light under a bushel； and yer welcome to all
ye'll learn。 Do ye no' mean to try a shot yersel'； man？〃
〃Why should I； Quartermaster； why should I？ I want
none of the prizes； and as for honor； I have had enough
of that； if it's any honor to shoot better than yourself。
I'm not a woman to wear a calash。〃
〃Very true； but ye might find a woman that is precious
in your eyes to wear it for ye； as 〃
〃Come； Davy；〃 interrupted the Major； 〃your shot or a
retreat。 The Adjutant is getting impatient。〃
〃The Quartermaster's department and the Adjutant's
department are seldom compliable； Lundie； but I m ready。
Stand a little aside； Pathfinder； and give the ladies an op…
portunity。〃
Lieutenant Muir now took his attitude with a good deal
of studied elegance； raised his rifle slowly； lowered it； raised
it again； repeated the manmuvres； and fired。
〃Missed the target altogether！〃 shouted the man whose
duty it was to mark the bullets； and who had little relish
for the Quartermaster's tedious science。 〃Missed the
target！〃
〃It cannot be！〃 cried Muir； his face flushing equally
with indignation and shame； 〃it cannot be； Adjutant； for
I never did so awkward a thing in my life。 I appeal to
the ladies for a juster judgment。〃
〃The ladies shut their eyes when you fired！〃 exclaimed
the regimental wags。 〃Your preparations alarmed them。〃
〃I will na believe such calumny of the leddies； nor sic'
a reproach on my own skill；〃 returned the Quartermaster；
growing more and more Scotch as he warmed with his
feelings； 〃it's a conspiracy to rob a meritorious man of
his dues。〃
〃It's a dead miss； Muir；〃 said the laughing Lundie；
〃and ye'll jist sit down quietly with the disgrace。〃
〃No； no； Major；〃 Pathfinder at length observed； 〃the
Quartermaster _is_ a good shot for a slow one and a measured
distance； though nothing extr'ornary for real service。 He
has covered Jasper's bullet； as will be seen； if any one will
take the trouble to examine the target。〃
The respect for Pathfinder's skill and for his quickness
and accuracy of sight was so profound and general； that；
the instant he made this declaration； the spectators began
to distrust their own opinions； and a dozen rushed to the
target in order to ascertain the fact。 There； sure enough；
it was found that the Quartermaster's bullet had gone
through the hole made by Jasper's； and that； too； so ac…
curately as to require a minute examination to be certain
of the circumstance； which； however； was soon clearly
established； by discovering one bullet over the other in the
stump against which the target was placed。
〃I told ye； ladies； ye were about to witness the influence
of science on gunnery；〃 said the Quartermaster； advancing
towards the staging occupied by the females。 〃Major
Duncan derides the idea of mathematics entering into
target…shooting； but I tell him philosophy colors； and en…
larges； and improves； and dilates； and explains everything
that belongs to human life； whether it be a shooting…match
or a sermon。 In a word； philosophy is philosophy； and
that is saying all that the subject requires。〃
〃I trust you exclude love from the catalogue；〃 observed
the wife of a captain who knew the history of the Quarter…
master's marriages； and who had a woman's malice against
the monopolizer of her sex； 〃it seems that philosophy has
little in common with love。〃
〃You wouldn't say that； madam； if your heart had ex…
perienced many trials。 It's the man or the woman that
has had many occasions to improve the affections that can
best speak of such matters； and； beli