"You will have to shoot very well, Mynheer Allan," said Retief to me,
"if you want to beat that. Even if I rule out one of the two birds that
fell to a single shot, as I think I shall, Hernan has killed five out of
six, which can scarcely be bettered."

"Yes," I answered; "but, mynheer, be so good as to have those geese
collected and put upon one side. I don't want them mixed up with mine,
if I am lucky enough to bring any down."

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