It looked so simple that the Doctor thought he had mastered it without any trouble at all.
The negro, however, was not so confident and eyed the gun in the Doctor's hands with great suspicion.
"Ise not sayin' nun' Cap'en" he remarked to Paul, "but that man aint been rised aroun' whar da do much shootin', suah's yo' libe.

Dar aint no tellin' whar he gwine fur to pint that weepin' an Ise running chances in hyah wid him.

Dat's right, Cap'en." He was assured that there would be no danger; but he was far from being satisfied and kept an anxious eye on the Doctor's movements.
After further instructions and admonishing the Doctor to be very careful, Boyton resumed his paddle and was soon ploughing ahead of the boat.

He had not proceeded a mile when he heard a report of the gun and turning, saw both the Doctor and the darkey gazing intently into the sky at a gull that was sailing leisurely around a half mile or so above them.

The Doctor nervously rubbed his glasses and looked again, at a loss to determine why the bird did not fall.