The Land of Footprints by Stewart Edward White
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page 2 of 340 (00%)
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a matter of fact: rather with thanksgiving and a certain amount
of surprise. The gentleman of whom I speak mentioned getting an eland at seven hundred and fifty yards. By chance I happened to mention this to a native Africander. "Yes," said he, "I remember that; I was there." This interested me-and I said so. "He made a long shot," said I. "A GOOD long shot," replied the Africander. "Did you pace the distance?" He laughed. "No," said he, "the old chap was immensely delighted. 'Eight hundred yards if it was an inch!' he cried." "How far was it?" "About three hundred and fifty. But it was a long shot, all right." And it was! Three hundred and fifty yards is a very long shot. It is over four city blocks-New York size. But if you talk often enough and glibly enough of "four and five hundred yards," it does not sound like much, does it? The same class of writer always gets all the thrills. He speaks of "blanched cheeks," of the "thrilling suspense," and so on down |
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