Speaker 1: A crack shot. Professor Fordney was hunting in the Rockies
Speaker 1: when informed of a tragedy at one of the camps.
Speaker 1: Thinking he might be of some help, he went over, and,
Speaker 1: after introducing himself, Butler, the victim's companion, told him of
Speaker 1: the accident. When Marshall hadn't returned to camp at nine
Speaker 1: o'clock last night, I was a bit worried because he
Speaker 1: didn't know these mountains. There wasn't a star out, and
Speaker 1: it was dark and moonless, so I decided to look
Speaker 1: around for him. Were five miles from anyone, you know.
Speaker 1: Putting more wood on the fire, I set out. After
Speaker 1: searching for an hour, I was coming up the slope
Speaker 1: of a ravine when I saw a pair of eyes
Speaker 1: shining out at me in the dark, calling twice and
Speaker 1: getting no answer. I fired, thinking it was a mountain lion.
Speaker 1: Imagined my horror when I reached the spot, struck a
Speaker 1: match and saw I had nearly blown the head off Marshall.
Speaker 1: A terrible experience. I carried his body back to camp
Speaker 1: and then walked to the nearest house to report the accident.
Speaker 1: How far from camp did you find Marshall, asked Fordney,
Speaker 1: about a quarter mile. I see your right hand as bandaged.
Speaker 1: How do you manage to shoot with it? Oh? I
Speaker 1: use either hand? Mind if I look at the gun,
Speaker 1: not at all, said Butler, handing it over. Hm European,
Speaker 1: make I see had it long? No, it's rather new.
Speaker 1: Why did you deliberately murder? Marshall, demanded Fordney abruptly, For
Speaker 1: that's what you did. How did the professor know Butler
Speaker 1: had murdered his companion? It was a dark, starless, moonless night.
Speaker 1: The nearest habitation was five miles. The eyes of no
Speaker 1: animal ever shine in the dark unless there is a
Speaker 1: light by which they can be reflected, and a man's
Speaker 1: eyes never shine under any circumstances. Therefore, Butler could not
Speaker 1: possibly have seen any eyes shining at him in the dark.
Speaker 1: It was clearly murder, and thy deep eyes amid the
Speaker 1: gloom shine like jewels in a shroud, Long Fellow, and
Speaker 1: of a crack shot by H. A. Ripley