During the American Revolutionary War，Daniel Webster's father went out every morning with his regiment for target practice.

As the mark was quite a distance away，it was difficult to determine when a bullet struck it. However，a bullet that did not hit the mark would land in a lake and cause a visible splash.

So it was decided that if no splash followed， it would be taken for granted that the marksman had hit the target.

Day after day the elder Webster took aim，fired and never the slightest ripple disturbed the lake his fellow troopers were amazed at his accuracy.

Finally， one man askeed him his secret. "I never use bullets in my gun，" said Webster with a smile.


미국 혁명전쟁 때의 일． 다니엘 웹스터의 아버지는 아침마다 그의 연대와 함께 사격연습을 하러갔다．

표적은 꽤 먼 곳에 있었으므로 명중여부를 확인하기가 어려웠다．

그런데 표적에 명중하지 않은 탄알은 호수에 떨어지면서 확연하게 물을 튀겼다．

그래서 물이 튀지 않으면 명중한 것으로 하기로 했다．

날이면 날마다 웹스터는 조준을 해서 사격을 하곤 했는데 물이 튀는 일은 없었다．

마침내 누군가가 비결을 물었다．

“난 실탄을 사용하지 않는다네”라며 그는 빙긋 웃었다．


△splash : 물을 철벅 튀김
△take for granted : 당연한 것으로 여기다
△Daniel Webster : 노예제도, 텍사스 합병에 반대했던 미국 정치인