"You're not doing your best, Merry.
Badger may beat you." Merriwell was cleaning out and cooling his gun--Bart's gun--which both were using, and which had grown hot and foul from rapid firing.

The first round of twenty shots was nearing its close.

Only four more shots were to be fired in it, at two pairs of birds.

Badger had to his credit thirteen hits and three misses, and Merriwell the same.
"If you should miss one of the four and Badger should hit them all you would be beaten!" Bart urged uneasily.

"And I don't want you to be beaten by him.