t it. Not in a way to
alarm him; but I will point out that it is of no use your having brought
out firearms if none of you know how to use them, and suggest that it
will be a good thing if you and the men were to make a point of firing a
dozen shots every morning at a mark. I shall add that he himself might
just as well do so, and that even the ladies might find it an amusement,
using, of course, a light rifle, or firing from a rest with an ordinary
rifle with light charges, or that they might practice with revolvers.
Anyhow, it is certainly desirable that you and your father and the men
should learn to be good shots with these weapons. I will gladly come
over at first and act as musketry instructor."

Wilfrid embraced the idea eagerly, and Mr. Atherton on the occasion of
his first visit to The Glade in a casual sort of way remarked to Mr.
Renshaw that he thought every white man and woman in the outlying
colonies ought to be able to use firearms, as, although they might never
be called upon to use them in earnest, the knowledge that they could do
so with effect would greatly add to their feeling of security and
comfort. Mr. Renshaw at once took up the idea and accepted the other's
offer to act as instructor. Accordingly, as soon as the Renshaws were
established upon their farm, it became one of the standing rules of the
place that Wilfrid and the two men should fire twelve shots at a mark
every morning before starting for their regular work at the farm.

The target was a figure roughly cut out of wood, representing the size
and to some extent the outline of a man's figure.

"It is much better to accustom yourself to fire at a mark of this kind
than to practise always at a target," Mr. Atherton said. "A man may
shoot wonderfully well at a black mark in the centre of a white square,
and yet make very poor practice at a human figure with its dull shades
of colour and irregular outline."

"But we shall not be able to tell where our bullets hit," Wilfrid said;
"especially after the dummy has been hit a good many times."

"It is not very material where you hit a man, Wilfrid, so that you do
hit him. If a man gets a heavy bullet, whether in an arm, a leg, or the
body, there is no more fight in him. You can tell by the sound of the
bullet if you hit the figure, and if you hit him you have done what you
want to. You do not need to practise at distances over three hundred
yards; that is quite the outside range at which you wo