_ 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.
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