The advantages of the bow over the gun are chiefly its
noiselessness, its cheapness, and the fact that one can make its
ammunition anywhere. As the gun chiefly used in Quonab's time
was the old-fashioned, smooth-bore flint-lock, there was not much
difference in the accuracy of the two weapons. Quonab had always
made a highclass bow, as well as high-class arrows, and was a
high- class shot. He could set up ten clam shells at ten paces
and break all in ten shots. For at least half of his hunting he
preferred the bow; the gun was useful to him chiefly when flocks
of wild pigeons or ducks were about, and a single charge of
scattering shot might bring down a dozen birds.
But there is a law in all shooting -- to be expert, you must
practise continually -- and when Rolf saw his host shoot nearly
every day at some mark, he tried to join in the sport.
It took not many trys to show that the bow was far too strong for
him to use, and Quonab was persuaded at length to make an outfit
for his visitor.
From the dry store hole under the rock, he produced a piece of
common red cedar. Some use hickory; it is less liable to break
and will stand more abuse, but it has not the sharp, clean action
of cedar.
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