"By shots!"

[matraf9799]

Stan Barstow uses the exclamation "By shots!" in "The Desperadoes".

What does this expression mean?

matraf9799

[Casiopea]

Welcome, matraf9799.

What's the context By shots! is in?

[matraf9799]

....Two pages to go. The younger son was telling his brother about the accident. The row was just beginning and at the very height of it he would make his entrance. He began to feel excited. What was it Mrs Bostock had said? 'From the second you step on you dominate the stage. Your entrance is like a thunder-clap.' By shots! He realised vaguely that Mrs Bostock had left his side, but he didn't care now. He felt supreme confidence. He was ready. He'd show them. By shots he would! ....

By shots! I just can't make head or tail of it. Neither can my friends.

matraf9799