106 ADIRONDAC. 



After it was thoroughly dark, we went 

 down to make a short trial trip. Everything 

 working to satisfaction, about ten o'clock we 

 pushed out in earnest. 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 light at the word. The night was 

 clear, moonless, and still. Nearing the mid- 

 dle of the lake, a breeze from the west was 

 barely perceptible, and noiselessly we glided 

 before it. The guide handled his oar with 

 great dexterity ; without lifting it from the 

 water or breaking the surface, he imparted 

 the steady, uniform motion desired. How 

 silent it was ! The ear seemed the only 

 sense, and to hold dominion over lake and 

 forest. Occasionally a lily-pad would brush 

 along the bottom, and, stooping low, I could 

 hear a faint murmuring of the water under 

 the bow: else all was still. Then, almost 

 as by magic, we were encompassed by a 

 huge black ring. The surface of the lake, 

 when we had reached the centre, was slightly 

 luminous from the starlight, and the dark, 

 even, forest-line that surrounded us doubled 



