As they looked they heard the faint report of a shot and a cry of death, and saw a brown body shoot down from the green cone of the tree to the ground, where it lay still.
"There is a marksman among us who can beat them at their own trick," cried the schoolmaster in exultation.

"Who did it?
Who fired that shot, Tom ?" Ross did not answer.

First a look of wonder came upon his face, and then he began to study the forest, where all but nature was yet lifeless.

The faint sound of a second shot came and what followed was a duplicate of the sequel to the first.

Another brown body shot downward, and lay lifeless beside its fellow on the grass.
The master cried out once more in exultation, and wished to know why others within the palisade did not imitate the skillful sharpshooter.
But Ross shook his head slowly and spoke these slow words: "A great piece of luck has happened to us, Mr.Pennypacker, an' how it's happened I don't know, at least not yet.