a little searching, it was found under the top of a
fallen hemlock, but in a sorry condition. A large piece had been split
out of one end, and a fearful chink was visible nearly to the water
line. Freed from the treetop, however, and calked with a little moss,
it floated with two aboard, which was quite enough for our purpose. A
jack and an oar were necessary to complete the arrangement, and before
the sun had set our professor of wood-craft had both in readiness.
From a young yellow birch an oar took shape with 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 make 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 candles 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 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 middle 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-pa