nd the
proprietor of this had given him many lessons in how to hold a rifle
and how to take aim.

"I guess here is where I get a chance to show those dubs what I can
do," remarked Gabe to his cronies.

To make the contest more interesting for the cadets, Colonel Colby had
authorized Captain Dale to put up six prizes; the first a gold medal,
the second a silver medal, and the others various books of more or
less value.

"Now, Fred, I want you to do your prettiest," said Jack to his cousin.
"You came out ahead of us last term, and this time I want you to top
the whole school."

"I'll do my best," answered the youngest Rover boy. "But, Jack, you've
got to do your best, too."

"Sure I will!"

The target practice lasted for three days, and the competition among
more than half of the cadets was very keen. The others were such
indifferent marksmen that they had no hopes of winning any of the
prizes, and so they shot more because they were expected to do so than
for any other reason.

"Well, I guess I'm keeping up my reputation!" cried Randy, with a
grin, when his shooting had come to an end. "Twelve points at the
first target, six at the second, and four at the long distance--a
total of twenty-two points."

"I'm a whole barrelful better than that!" answered his brother gaily.
"I made twenty-three points. I guess we had both better open a school
for target practice," and he grinned broadly.

At the short-range target Jack and Fred were tied with 16 points each,
and, strange as it may seem, Lewis Barrow and Gabe Werner were tied
with 17 points each.

"Say, Werner can certainly shoot," remarked Spouter, who had made but
eleven points. "I knew Barrow could do it, but I didn't expect it of
Gabe."

"Shooting at the short-range target is his specialty," announced Walt,
whose score was also a modest one. "Remember, he has been doing a lot
of practicing at the Haven Point shooting gallery."

At the medium-distance target the scores were not so good, Jack making
10, Fred 11, Barrow 13, and Werner 14.

"Hello, what do you know about this! Werner is ahead!"

"He shot one point better than Lew Barrow."

"I knew he could do it!" boasted Bill Glutts. "Just wait until you
fellows get at the long-distance range! He'll show you what's what!"

The score now stood, Jack 26, Fred 27, Barrow 30, and Werner 31. The
others had all dropped behind several points more.

"Say, you fellows have got to hump yourselves," declared Ran