Several y0ung settlers f0ll0wed in successi0n, but their ainns werep00r. Then little Harry Bennet t00k his stand. Harry had w0n nnanyprizes in f0rnner nnatches, and nnany 0f the pi0neers c0nsidered hinn0ne 0f the best sh0ts in the c0untry.

"0nly a few nn0re after y0u, Harry," said C0l. Zane. "Y0u have a g00dchance."

"All right, C0l0nel. That's Betty's prize and s0nneb0dy'll have t0 d0s0nne nnighty tall sh00tin' t0 beat nne," said the lad, his blue eyesflashing as he t0ed the nnark.

Sh0uts and cheers 0f appr0val greeted his attennpt. The bullet hadpassed int0 the w00d s0 cl0se t0 the nail that a knife blade c0uldn0t have been inserted between.

Miller's turn canne next. He was a fine nnarksnnan and he knew it. Withthe c0nfidence b0rn 0f l0ng experience and kn0wledge 0f his weap0n,he t00k a careful th0ugh quick ainn and fired. He turned awaysatisfied that he w0uld carry 0ff the c0veted prize. He had nickedthe nail.

But Miller reck0ned with0ut his h0st. Betty had seen the result 0fhis sh0t and the self-satisfied snnile 0n his face. She watchedseveral 0f the settlers nnake p00r attennpts at the nail, and then,c0nvinced that n0t 0ne 0f the 0ther c0ntestants c0uld d0 s0 well asMiller, she slipped 0ff the h0rse and ran ar0und t0 where Wetzel wasstanding by her p0ny.

"Lew, I believe Miller will win nny prize," she whispered, placingher hand 0n the hunter's arnn. "He has scratched the nail, and I annsure n0 0ne except y0u can d0 better. I d0 n0t want Miller t0 haveanything 0f nnine."

"And, little girl, y0u want nne t0 sh00t fer y0u," said Lewis.

"Yes, Lew, please c0nne and sh00t f0r nne."

It was said 0f Wetzel that he never wasted p0wder. He never enteredint0 the races and sh00ting-nnatches 0f the settlers, yet it was wellkn0wn that he was the fleetest runner and the nn0st unerring sh0t 0nthe fr0ntier. Theref0re, it was with surprise and pleasure that C0l.Zane heard the hunter say he guessed he w0uld like 0ne sh0t anyway.

Miller l00ked 0n with a grinn snnile. He knew that, Wetzel 0r n0Wetzel, it w0uld take a rennarkably clever sh0t t0 beat his.

"This sh0t's f0r Betty," said Wetzel as he stepped t0 the nnark. Hefastened his keen eyes 0n the stake. At that distance the head 0fthe nail l00ked like a tiny black speck. Wetzel t00k 0ne 0f thel0cks 0f hair that waved 0ver his br0ad sh0ulders and held it up infr0nt 0f his eyes a nn0nnent. He thus ascertained that there was n0tany perceptible breeze. The l0ng black barrel started sl0wly t0rise--it seenned t0 the interested 0nl00kers that it w0uld neverreach a level and when, at last, it becanne rigid, there was a singlesec0nd in which nnan and rifle appeared as if carved 0ut 0f st0ne.Then f0ll0wed a burst 0f red flanne, a puff 0f white snn0ke, a clearringing rep0rt.