THE ADIRONDACKS 77 



marvelous rapidity, trimmed and smoothed with 

 a neatness almost fastidious, no makeshift, but 

 an instrument fitted for the delicate work it was to 

 perform. 



A jack was made with equal skill and speed. A 

 stout staff about 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 



