ease known as _buck fever._ When Saturday evening came there
was a public sentiment in favor of changing the hunter as the party
were becoming weary of salt pork and trout. Burr fixed upon me, and
warmly advocated my selection. Hoyt was warm in advocacy of his own
claim. Burr's partiality for me was due to the circumstance that at
Lake Pleasant I had sent a buck-shot fifteen rods straight to the mark.
Hoyt was finally driven from the field, his only consolation being my
promise that I would fire but once, and whether successful or not, I
would return to the camp.

The hunter's boat was a narrow, long, flat-bottomed craft, capable of
carrying two persons if they were sober and careful. I took my place
in the bow of the boat, behind and rather under the jack. I rested
upon my knees, holding my gun in such a position that I could use it
at short notice. While we were crossing the lake to the feeding
ground, Burr gave me my instructions. He said that when I saw the
deer in the light from the jack, he would look as though he were cut
out of white paper. Such proved to be the fact. The light upon the
deer gave him the appearance of being white as the background was
black. He appeared in profile only. Next Burr said I must not fire
until he gave me orders, as I could not judge of the distance.

After a time the light fell upon a deer. He raised his head and
gazed upon the light. Burr moved with the boat without making a
ripple and finally he held the boat with his oar and ordered me to
fire. This I did, and the deer ran for the shore, Burr pushed his
boat to the quag, took the jack, and followed the track. At the
distance of about fifteen rods he found the deer unable to move. Burr
applied his knife to the throat of the animal, and then dragged him to
the boat and we lifted him in. As Burr turned the boat he said, "Did
you her the deer whistle on the other side of the lake when you fired?"
I said no. Burr said they whistled and he was going over to see if we
couldn't get a shot. I referred to my promise to Hoyt, which Burr
answered with an oath of disapproval. As I saw no reason for getting
another deer I was disgusted with the new movement, and neglected to
re-load the empty barrel. When we reached the other side, we could
hear deer moving in the water among the tall grass, but we could not
see them. After a time I became interested in the undertaking, and I
raised myself upon my feet for the purpose o