Formorethanamonthin1895,aBritishgarrisononIndia'sNorthwestFrontierwasbesiegedbyChitralitribesmen.Thereliefforcesenttothedefenders'rescuenoticedanativestandingonahighpeakwithasignallingflag.PrivateGeorgePridmoregaveanaccountofwhathappened:"Ashewatchedouroperationswiththebatteries,hesignalledtheresultofeachshotforthebenefitofhiscomrades.Thuswesawhimmakingtheusualsignalsfor'toohigh','toolow','ontheright',andsoon.Ofcoursethatsortofthingwasnotconvenient,sowesentashellandblewthesignalleralltopieces.Themomenthewashit,anothernativesprangtothespot,caughtuptheflag,andsignalledabull'seye!"
一八九五年,印度西北邊區一支英國駐軍被奇特拉利族人圍攻了一個多月。奉命前去解圍的軍隊,看見一個土人手持信號旗站在高山上。二等兵喬治.普里莫爾描述了這件事:「他望着我們操縱大砲,用信號把每次射擊結果通知他的同袍。我們見到他發出『太高』、『太低』、『落在右邊』等常用信號。這當然很不好,我們於是發砲把那信號員炸得粉身碎骨。他才被擊中,另一個土人就跑上前,拾起信號旗,發出『正中靶心』信號!」
【附注】Bull'seye也作bull's-eye,直譯是「公牛眼」,一般解作「靶心」,原因難考。Tohitthebull'seye是「擊中靶心」,可引伸解作「正中要害」或「達到目標」,例如:(1)Myarrowhit(outsideof)thebull'seye(我一箭射中靶心/射在靶心外)。(2)Thenovelist'snewworkhitthebull'seye(那小說家的新作十分成功)。