SHOOTING DEER BY NIGHT. 217 



Fresh life came with the new arrivals : Rutkin brought 

 a quantity of wares with him, which were all stowed 

 in a house we had built for the purpose. They con- 

 sisted chiefly of coffee, sugar, salt, powder, lead, cot- 

 tons, &c., &c., all to be sold for ready money ; but as 

 ready money was one of those things which were very 

 scarce in Arkansas, a system of barter was opened, 

 and cattle, pigs, horses, salt meat, butter, poultry, eggs, 

 skins, and smoked venison, were exchanged for the 

 said articles, and conveyed to Little Rock, to be again 

 sold or exchanged. Tliis part of the business was 

 intrusted to me. 



Rutkm took on some more workmen, and the land 

 was prepared for corn. I was again passionately fond 

 of shooting, and had capital sport. As my days were 

 generally occupied, it was carried on at night, as fol- 

 lows: the handle of a frying-pan is lengthened to 

 about four feet by means of a narrow board ; the pan 

 is filled with kindlers and set alight — then taking it on 

 your shoulder, and your rifle in your hand, you are 

 ready for sport. If alone, you must take a store of 

 kindlers to replenish the fire. For the sake of a better 

 aim, a small crutch is cut in the end of the wooden 

 handle, to rest the rifle. The fire being kept behind 

 your head, the eyes of the game wiU glow like balls 

 of fire : the deer, accustomed to the frequent fires in 

 the forest, are not alarmed. When first discovered, if 

 at about 100 paces, the eyes will look like a single 

 ball, but the two become distinct on a nearer approach, 

 which the sportsman must make with as little noise as 

 possible, and, if possible, against the wind. When 

 near enough, he lays his rifle in rest, and aims between 

 19 



