“All right, Butler, I will now throw my hat up from behind you.  You will turn and shoot at it when I give the word,” said the captain.

The first shot Tad missed the hat by some three or four rods.  How the boys did shout and jeer at him!

“I did better than you.  I trimmed the professor’s whiskers,” declared Chunky.

Tad nodded to McKay that he was ready for another shot.

“Don’t shoot this time until you see the hat.  Shoot a little under rather than over it.  The natural tendency is always to overshoot, whatever one is shooting at.”

Bang!

The hat in the air jumped as if it had received a sudden blow as Tad whirled and let go.

“You’ve graduated.  Next!”

Rector missed five shots.  Walter fanned the rim, then they called a halt in the practice.

“Altogether I am well satisfied with your shooting, boys.  Even Brown accomplished something,” said McKay.

Stacy grinned broadly.

“I—–­I could hit a German, couldn’t I?” he stammered.

“Yes, I think you could,” laughed Billy.

“Especially if you were to turn your back to him before shooting,” added Tad.

“Professor,” said McKay, “I must go away for part of the day.  I do not believe your party will have any difficulty.  The bandits are no longer here.  I should not be at all surprised if my men were to round them up, as they are on the track of the enemy at this very moment.  If you want to move, you may do so, but I would suggest that you make this your camp for the night”

“I am quite well satisfied here.  The boys will no doubt want to go out exploring.  I am somewhat interested in the geological formation of the canyon at this point, so we shall all be well occupied during the remainder of the day.  You plan to return here to-night?”

“I think so.”

“We will see if we can’t pick up the trail of the enemy,” laughed Tad.

“Do so by all means.  Who knows but that you may discover something worth while?  I am sure you have an idea in your mind,” answered McKay, giving Butler a shrewd glance.

“I will confess that I have, sir.”

The Ranger captain did not say where he was going.  But shortly after that he rode out of camp and was seen no more until late that evening.  After the departure of McKay the professor cleared his throat and stroked his damaged whiskers.

“I trust you young men will try to keep out of trouble to-day.  I am sorry to say that you are becoming rather too venturesome.  Be good enough to keep in mind that we are in what appears to be a hostile country.”

“It strikes me that Chunky is more hostile, more to be feared, than anything else about here,” chuckled Tad.

“I agree with you, and for that reason I am going to place Stacy under your charge for the day, Tad.”

“Oh, what a responsibility!” mocked Butler.