HUNTING BY TORCHLIGHT. 93 



the box is turned forward, and a common japan lamp placed 

 in a socket prepared for it in the box. This of course 

 throws the light forward, while the occupants of the boat 

 are in the shadow. The hunter sits, or more commonly lies 

 at length on a bed of boughs in the bottom of the boat, 

 with his rifle so far in front that the light will fall upon the 

 forward sight. An experienced boatman will paddle silently 

 op to within twenty feet of a deer that may be feeding along 

 the shore. The stupid animal will stand, gazing in aston- 

 ishment at the light, until the boat almost touches him. 



" That Hank Martin," said Cullen, one of the boatmen, 

 as the hunters disappeared into the darkness, " is a queer 

 boy in his way. You will notice that when he straightens 

 up, and takes the kinks out of him, he stands six feet and 

 over hi his stockings, and his arms hang down to his knees. 

 He's the strongest man in these woods, and tolerably active 

 when there's occasion for it. He is a droll, good-natured, 

 easy tempered chap, and don't get angry at trifles. He is 

 fond of a joke himself, and will stand having a good many 

 sticks poked at him without getting riled ; but when he 

 does get his back up, it's well enough to stand out of his 

 way, and not step on his shadow. He never struck a man 

 but once in real earnest, and that was over in Keeseville, 

 and on that occasion the people said the town clock had 

 struck one. The fellow he struck tfent eend over eend, and 

 then went down, and when he went down he laid still he 

 didn't come to time. 



" But what I was going to tell you is, that Hank and I 



