He nodded, and some Kaffirs were sent to bring in the geese. Several of these, I noted, were still flapping and had to have their necks twisted, but at the time I did not go to look at them. While this was being done I called to Retief, and begged him to examine the powder and bullets I was about to use.
"What's the good?" he asked, looking at me curiously. "Powder is powder, and a bullet is a bullet."
"None, I dare say. Still, oblige me by looking at them, my uncle."
Then at my bidding Hans took six bullets and placed them in his hand, begging him to return them to us as they were wanted.
"They must be a great deal smaller than Hernan's," said Retief, "who, being stronger, uses a heavier gun."
"Yes," I answered briefly, as Hans put the charge of powder into the rifle, and drove home the wad. Then, taking a bullet from Retief's hand, he rammed that down on to the top of it, capped the gun, and handed it to me.
By now the geese were coming thick, for the flight was at its full.
Only, either because some of those that had already passed had sighted the Kaffirs collecting the fallen birds and risen--an example which the others noted from afar and followed--or because in an unknown way warning of their danger had been conveyed to them, they were flying higher and faster than the first arrivals.
"You will have the worst of it, Allan," said Retief. "It should have been shot and shot about."
"Perhaps," I answered, "but that can't be helped now."
Then I rose from my stool, the rifle in my hand. I had not long to wait, for presently over came a wedge of geese nearly a hundred yards up. I aimed at the first fellow, holding about eight yards ahead of him to allow for his pace, and pressed. Next second I heard the clap of the bullet, but alas! it had only struck the outstretched beak, of which a small portion fell to the ground. The bird itself, after wavering a second, resumed its place as leader of the squad and passed away apparently unharmed.
"Baas, baas," whispered Hans as he seized the rifle and began to re-load, "you were too far in front. These big water-birds do not travel as fast as the rock pigeons."
I nodded, wishing to save my breath. Then, quivering with excitement, for if I missed the next shot the match appeared to be lost, presently I took the rifle from his hand.
Scarcely had I done so when a single goose came over quite as high as the others and travelling "as though the black devil had kicked it," as Retief said. This time I allowed the same space to compensate for the object's increased speed and pressed.
Down it came like a stone, falling but a little way behind me with its head knocked off.
"Baas, baas," whispered Hans, "still too far in front. Why aim at the eye when you have the whole body?"
Again I nodded, and at the same time heaved a sigh of relief. At least the match was still alive. Soon a large flight came over, mixed up with mallard and widgeon. I took the right-hand angle bird, so that it could not be supposed I had "browned the lot," as here in England they say of one who fires at a covey and not at a particular partridge. Down he came, shot straight through the breast. Then I knew that I had got my nerve, and felt no more fear.
To cut a long story short, although two of them were extremely difficult and high, one being, I should say, quite a hundred and twenty yards above me, and the other by no means easy, I killed the next three birds one after the other, and I verily believe could have killed a dozen more without a miss, for now I was shooting as I had never shot before.
"Say, nephew Allan," asked Retief curiously in the pause between the fifth and sixth shots, "why do your geese fall so differently to Hernan's?"
"Ask him! don't talk to me," I answered, and next instant brought down number five, the finest shot of the lot.
A sound of wonder and applause came from all the audience, and I saw Marie wave a white handkerchief.
"That's the end," said the referee.
"One minute before you stir," I answered. "I want to shoot at something else that is not in the match, just to see if I can kill two birds with one bullet like the Heer Pereira."
He granted my request with a nod, holding up his hand to prevent the audience from moving, and bidding Pereira, who tried to interrupt, to be silent.
Now, while the match was in progress I had noticed two falcons about the size of the British peregrine wheeling round and round high over the kloof, in which doubtless they bred, apparently quite undisturbed by the shooting. Or, perhaps, they had their eyes upon some of the fallen geese. I took the rifle and waited for a long while, till at last my opportunity came. I saw that the larger hen falcon was about to cross directly over the circle of its mate, there being perhaps a distance of ten yards between them. I aimed; I judged--for a second my mind was a kind of calculating machine--the different arcs and speeds of the birds must be allowed for, and the lowest was ninety yards away. Then, with something like a prayer upon my lips, I pressed while every eye stared upwards.
Down came the lower falcon; a pause of half a second, and down came the higher one also, falling dead upon its dead mate!
Now, even from those Boers, who did not love to see an Englishman excel, there broke a shout of acclamation. Never had they beheld such a shot as this; nor in truth had I.
"Mynheer Retief," I said, "I gave you notice that I intended to try to kill both of them, did I not?"
"You did. Allemachte! you did! But tell me, Allan Quatermain, are your eye and hand quite human?"
"You must ask my father," I answered with a shrug as I sat myself down upon my stool and mopped my brow.
