THE ADIRONDACKS 77 



marvelous rapidity, — trimmed and smoothed with 

 a neatness almost fastidious, — no makeshift, hut 

 an instrument fitted for the delicate work it was to 

 perform. 



A jack was made with equal skill and speed. A 

 stout staff ahout three feet long was placed upright 

 in the bow of the boat, and held to its place by a 

 horizontal bar, through a hole in which it turned 

 easily : a half wheel eight or ten inches in diameter, 

 cut from a large chip, was placed at the top, around 

 which was bent a new section of birch bark, thus 

 forming a rude semicircular reflector. Three can- 

 dles placed within the circle completed the jack. 

 With moss and boughs seats were arranged, — one 

 in the bow for the marksman, and one in the stern 

 for the oarsman. A meal of frogs and squirrels 

 was a good preparation, and, when darkness came, 

 all were keenly alive to the opportunity it brought. 

 Though by no means an expert in the use of the 

 gun, — adding the superlative degree of enthusiasm 

 to only the positive degree of skill, — yet it seemed 

 tacitly agreed that I should act as marksman and 

 kill the deer, if such was to be our luck. 



After it was thoroughly dark we went down to 

 make a short trial trip. Everything working to sat- 

 isfaction, about ten o'clock we pushed out in ear- 

 nest. For the twentieth time I felt in the pocket 

 that contained the matches, ran over the part I was 

 to perform, and pressed my gun firmly, to be sure 

 there was no mistake. My position was that of 

 kneeling directly under the jack, which I was to 



