按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
wait； for presently over came a wedge of geese nearly a hundred yards
up。 I aimed at the first fellow； holding about eight yards ahead of him
to allow for his pace； and pressed。 Next second I heard the clap of the
bullet； but alas！ it had only struck the outstretched beak； of which a
small portion fell to the ground。 The bird itself； after wavering a
second； resumed its place as leader of the squad and passed away
apparently unharmed。
〃Baas； baas；〃 whispered Hans as he seized the rifle and began to
re…load； 〃you were too far in front。 These big water…birds do not
travel as fast as the rock pigeons。〃
I nodded； wishing to save my breath。 Then； quivering with excitement；
for if I missed the next shot the match appeared to be lost； presently I
took the rifle from his hand。
Scarcely had I done so when a single goose came over quite as high as
the others and travelling 〃as though the black devil had kicked it；〃 as
Retief said。 This time I allowed the same space to compensate for the
object's increased speed and pressed。
Down it came like a stone； falling but a little way behind me with its
head knocked off。
〃Baas； baas；〃 whispered Hans； 〃still too far in front。 Why aim at the
eye when you have the whole body？〃
Again I nodded； and at the same time heaved a sigh of relief。 At least
the match was still alive。 Soon a large flight came over； mixed up with
mallard and widgeon。 I took the right…hand angle bird； so that it could
not be supposed I had 〃browned the lot；〃 as here in England they say of
one who fires at a covey and not at a particular partridge。 Down he
came； shot straight through the breast。 Then I knew that I had got my
nerve； and felt no more fear。
To cut a long story short； although two of them were extremely difficult
and high； one being； I should say； quite a hundred and twenty yards
above me； and the other by no means easy； I killed the next three birds
one after the other； and I verily believe could have killed a dozen more
without a miss； for now I was shooting as I had never shot before。
〃Say； nephew Allan；〃 asked Retief curiously in the pause between the
fifth and sixth shots； 〃why do your geese fall so differently to
Hernan's？〃
〃Ask him！ don't talk to me；〃 I answered； and next instant brought down
number five； the finest shot of the lot。
A sound of wonder and applause came from all the audience； and I saw
Marie wave a white handkerchief。
〃That's the end；〃 said the referee。
〃One minute before you stir；〃 I answered。 〃I want to shoot at something
else that is not in the match； just to see if I can kill two birds with
one bullet like the Heer Pereira。〃
He granted my request with a nod； holding up his hand to prevent the
audience from moving； and bidding Pereira； who tried to interrupt； to be
silent。
Now； while the match was in progress I had noticed two falcons about the
size of the British peregrine wheeling round and round high over the
kloof； in which doubtless they bred； apparently quite undisturbed by the
shooting。 Or； perhaps； they had their eyes upon some of the fallen
geese。 I took the rifle and waited for a long while； till at last my
opportunity came。 I saw that the larger hen falcon was about to cross
directly over the circle of its mate； there being perhaps a distance of
ten yards between them。 I aimed； I judgedfor a second my mind was a
kind of calculating machinethe different arcs and speeds of the birds
must be allowed for； and the lowest was ninety yards away。 Then； with
something like a prayer upon my lips； I pressed while every eye stared
upwards。
Down came the lower falcon； a pause of half a second； and down came the
higher one also； falling dead upon its dead mate！
Now； even from those Boers； who did not love to see an Englishman excel；
there broke a shout of acclamation。 Never had they beheld such a shot
as this； nor in truth had I。
〃Mynheer Retief；〃 I said； 〃I gave you notice that I intended to try to
kill both of them； did I not？〃
〃You did。 Allemachte！ you did！ But tell me； Allan Quatermain； are your
eye and hand quite human？〃
〃You must ask my father；〃 I answered with a shrug as I sat myself down
upon my stool and mopped my brow。
The Boers came up with a rush； Marie flying ahead of them like a
swallow； and their stout womenfolk waddling behind； and formed a circle
round us； all talking at once。 I did not listen to their conversation；
till I heard Pereira； who was engaged in some eye…play with Marie； say
in a loud voice：
〃Yes； it was pretty； very pretty； but all the same； Uncle Retief； I
claim the match； as I shot six geese against five。〃
〃Hans；〃 I said； 〃bring my geese；〃 and they were brought； each with a
neat hole through it； and laid down near those that Pereira had shot。
〃Now；〃 I said to Retief； 〃examine the wounds in these birds； and then
that on the second bird which the Heer Pereira killed when he brought
down two at once。 I think it will be found that his bullet must have
splintered。〃
Retief went and studied all the birds； taking them up one by one。 Then
he threw down the last with a curse and cried in a great voice：
〃Mynheer Pereira； why do you bring shame on us before these two
Englishmen？ I say that you have been using loopers； or else bullets
that were sawn in quarters and glued or tied with thread。 Look； look！〃
and he pointed to the wounds； of which in one case there were as many as
three on a single bird。
〃Why not？〃 answered Pereira coolly。 〃The bargain was that we were to
use bullets； but it was never said that they should not be cut。
Doubtless the Heer Allan's were treated in the same way。〃
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃when I said that I would shoot with a bullet I meant
a whole bullet； not one that had been sawn in pieces and fixed together
again； so that after it left the muzzle it might spread out like shot。
But I do not wish to talk about the matter。 It is in the hands of the
Heer Pieter Retief； who will give judgment as it pleases him。〃
Now； much excited argument ensued among the Boers； in the midst of which
Marie managed to whisper to me unheard：
〃Oh！ I am glad； Allan； for whatever they may decide； you won； and the
omen is good。〃
〃I don't see what geese have to do with omens； sweetheart；〃 I
answered〃that is； since the time of the ancient Romans。 Anyhow； I
should say that the omens are bad； for there is going to be a row
presently。〃
Just then Retief put up his hand； calling out：
〃Silence！ I have decided。 The writing of the match did not say that the
bullets were not to be cut； and therefore Hernan Pereira's birds must
count。 But that writing does say that any bird accidentally killed
should not count； and therefore one goose must be subtracted from
Pereira's total； which leaves the two shooters equal。 So either the
match is dead or； since the geese have ceased to come； it must be shot
off another day。