A Mountain Europa

e east by Pine Mountain, was thus shut in on every side by wooded heights. Here the marksmen gathered. All were mountaineers, lank, bearded, men, coatless for the most part, and dressed in

nd many of their wives had come with them to the camp. These stood near, huddled into a listless group, with their faces half hidden in check bonnets of various colors. A barbaric love of color was apparent in bonnet, shawl, and g

s with pipes lounging on the ground, and women and girls, who returned the fu

ork, and the match was already go

id Uncle Tommy Brooks, who was squatted

ever'body. I'm afeard

ver now. Ef she'd be

the ch'ice parts o

he? " aske

ler thar load

you say hi

eller that's goin' to

s smooth, and he was fuller in figure than the rest, but still sinewy and lank, though not awkward; his movements were too quick and decisive for that. With a casual glance Clayton had wondered what secret influence could have turned to spiritual things a man so merely animal-li

ds behind Clayton, and said something to his companions. They, too, raised their

mes East

with a rifle on one shoulder and a bullet-pouch and powder-

heartily. " Goin' to shoot, air ye? I 'lowed ye

rkey," said the girl.

-morrer," he answered

Y'u're on hand fer m

must be a-git

ight build, but nearly six feet in length, with a shade of rusty tin two feet long fastened to the barrel to prevent the sunlight from affecting the marksman's aim. She wore a man's hat, which, with unintentional coquetry, was perched on one side of her head. Her hair was short, and fell as it pleased about her neck. She was bare-footed, and apparently clad in a single garment, a blue

to shoot-them that hain't w

he oughtn' to shoot. Thar hain't no chance shootin' a

but a few turkeys left, 'n' ye'd better bar out the gun 'stid o' the

aines spoke her face tightened with sudden decision, and she strode swi

gun, is hit,

it? Hit is a good gun, but ye ought to be ashamed to take all the credit 'way from me. But ef you air so sarta

ster!" shouted th

companions urged him aloud to accept the challenge, but he paid no heed to them. He

ev mine ef I d

girl's face; and when, with a defiant glance, she turned

shoot, fer ye hev been winnin' so much that it's hard to git up a match when ye air in it."

er ef ye pin me down, I

e girl, shortly, and Raines, after a

em; "but she air gittin' too set up an' proud, 'n

body doubted that he would win, for there were few marksmen in the moun

up, "thar ain't but one turkey left, 'n' I'd like to know what w

ught of that, and a moment of debate follow

urkey for the res

and gave him a quick glance, b

with a bullet in the inner circle. The girl had missed both, and the mountaineer offered her two more shots to accustom herself to the gun. She accepted, and smiled a little triumphantly as she touched the outer circle with one bullet and placed the other almost in t

bed its head unhurt, and the marksman sprang to his feet with an exclamation of surprise and chagrin. As he loaded the gun and gravely handed it to the girl, the excitement grew intense. The crowd pressed close. The stolid faces of the mountaineer women, thrust from their bonnets, became almost eager with interest. Raines, quiet and composed as he was, look

shoot?" asked a v

d, stepping toward her, said quietl

me from every pair of lips as the turkey leaped into the air and fell, beating the ground with its wings. In an in

eyes!" he shouted. "Shot

and handed the g

aid, steadily.

id want that turkey-' n' "-a little taunti

oting that followed, and when, after the match was over, the girl, with her rifle on one sho