UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
'OUT LEAPED ROGUE.
THE
YOUNG MOOSE HUNTERS.
A BACKWOODS-BOY'S STORY.
I1Y
C. A. STEPHENS,
AUTHOR OF "KNOCKABOUT CLUB IN THE WOODS," "KNOCKABOUT
CLUB ALONG SHORE," " CAMPING-OUT STORIES," ETC.
FULLY ILLUSTRATED.
' BOSTON:
ESTES AND LAURIAT,
299-305 WASHINGTON STREET.
1882.
Copyright, 18S2,
BY C. A. STEVENS.
rzv
r
CONTENTS
CHAP. i. THREE TEN CENT "SCRIPT," &c 7
" 2. OFF FOR THE LAKES, &c 14
" 3. OUR NIGHT IN THE "NOTCH," &c 24
" 4. STARTING UP THE UMBAGOG, &c. . . . 32
" 5. AN EARLY BREAKFAST, &c 41
" 6. A CROOKED RIVER, &c. ...*.. 48
" 7. A DESOLATE DWELLING, &c 60
" 8. FARR LABORS AT KEEL-HAULING, &c. ... 68
" 9. No DINNER. THE FIR FOREST, &c. ... 79
" 10. IN JOLLY SPIRITS, &c. 87
" n. "ON TO PARMACHENEE," &c. 99
" 12. A TOUGH DAY'S WORK, &c 109
" 13. WE FINISH SACKING SUPPLIES, &c 116
" 14. TRAPPING IN EARNEST, &c 127
" 15. WH HIDE OUR FUR, &c 138
" 16. FARR SMELLS SMOKE, &c 149
" 17. WATCHING FOR DEER, &c 155
" 18. WE TAKE UP OUR BEAVER TRAPS, &c. . . .163
" 19. A NIGHT LONG TO BE REMEMBERED, &c. . . 168
" 20. A GLOOMY PROSPECT, &c 178
" 21. A POOR CAMP FIRE, &c .185
4 CONTENTS.
PACK
CHAP. 22. A TRIP TO BOSE-BUCK COVE, &c 188
" 23. THE LITTLE RIFLE GONE, &c 199
" 24. OUR NIGHT WATCHES, &c. 206
" 25. MOOSE STEAKS, &c 220
" 26. A Muss. THOSE TEA GROUNDS, &c. . . . 229
" 27. AN INDIAN SUMMER, &c 236
" 28. FRED LAID UP, &c 250
" 29. THE HUNGRY MAN AGAIN, &c 264
" 30. A HEAVY SNOW-STORM, &c 273
" 31. FEARS FOR THE FISH-BOX, &c. . . . .281
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PACK
OUT LEAPED ROGUE Frontispiece
"THE YOUNG MOOSE HUNTERS" , n
SCREW-AUGUR FALLS 19
THE SLEEPING SENTINEL 24
LAKE UMBAGOG 32
" Now FOR IT ! OVER WITH YOU ! " 35
IT MADE A TREMENDOUS REPORT 46
IT WAS THE CHIMNEY 64
THE CARRY 74
"Hi! Hi! Hi!" 90
WE WALKED STEADILY UP IOI
CARRYING THE BATTEAU no
PARMACHENEE LAKE 119
THE MARTIN IN THE TRAP 136
HAULING THE MOOSE DOWN THE BROOK 148
FARR'S "CHANCE SHOT" 158
" LOOK OUT ! HE MAY MAKE A DIVE AT us ! " . . . 165
"AFYARSTAR!" . 169
SCOTT'S BIRCH-BARK JACKET 181
6 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
" HALT, THERE !" 195
FRED AIMED AT THE BACK OF THE MOOSE'S HEAD . 216
IN TIME TO SEE FARR DIVE IN AT THE " SHEEP-HOLE " 226
" UNDER THE TREE HERE " 232
" FELLOWS, I 'VE BEEN MORE THAN Two HUNDRED
MILES!" 243
PUNCHED OUT 252
" MOON TYKES" 268
A SPOTTED TROUT 274
, IT CAME OUT QUIVERING AND STRUGGLING .... 277
EN ROUTE FOR HOME 283
MOOSE-HUNTERS.
CHAPTER I.
Three Ten-cent Scrips. The Lexicon. Latin and Poverty. Seb"-
made Men. "Something Must be Done!" Sixty Lines ti
Virgil. The Logging Swamp. Fred BartietL Parmacheaee
Lake. A Trapping Scheme. Moose, Deer, and Trout. Prep-
aration. The Little Rifle.
MY chum took out three greasy, tattered ten-cent
"scrips."
"My whole pile!" said he, smoothing them out on the
bare table-leaf. "All I've got in the world, and this I owe
you, old fellow." And the writer of this narrative, dejectedly
watching him from the other side of the table, was not in a
condition to deny the debt.
" No matter about it this morning, Scott," I said, with a
sense of magnanimity. " I've got twenty-five cents left, yet.
Besides, the Lexicon is mine, you know."
"Yes," said Scott, brightening a little; "that's good for
two dollars, any day."
Then we mused.
8 THREE TEN-CENT SCRIPS.
A glance at us there, in our forlorn little room, would
have told the reader what we were ; a couple of impover-
ished youngsters students for the time being at the
village academy working every way to wrest an educa-
tion from Poverty's grim hands.
Ah ! those impecunious, starveling school-days of ours !
Thanks to Providence, and the steady revolution of the
earth, they are gone, forever, I hope. For one, I have
no desire to get them back.
America, meaning the United States, is a great
country for self-made men, so called. Our people rather
dote on that sort of man. It is a nice topic to fire the
juvenile mind with, this being a self-made man. When
the average poor boy comes to try for it, he is apt to find
it a stern task.
To fight his way against every thing, even hunger itself,
is doubtless an indication of pluck, yet is it any thing save
a pleasant pastime for the luckless youth who gives the
indication.
That little upstairs room, with its one window, bare
floor and rusty stove ; its two crippled chairs and starved
little cupboard, that rarely could show more than half a
dry loaf of wheat bread and a pint jug of molasses ; its
unpainted, uncovered table, on which lay half a dozen
second-hand text-books of Virgil, Caesar, Xenophon,
all intimately associated with a certain void within the
waistband : well, it is not quite an enjoyable recollection,
though a very vivid one. Those were times that tired
LATIN AND POVERTY. 9
not only our souls, but our stomachs as well. And with
youngsters of fifteen or thereabouts the stomach pleads
strongly.
To offset all these mortifications of the flesh, we had
before us the grand design of fitting for college, beyond
which lay the great glowing future, shining with profes-
sional honors, and the bright aureole of fame.
How many young Americans does ambition thus spur
to a long and sometimes fruitless struggle for higher and
better things ! Every college in the land is strongly rep-
resented by those who could have well understood our
case that morning; though I honestly hope there are few
who were ever quite so badly off.
Presently the academy bell rang, and we hurried off to
recite our sixty lines of Virgil.
But the grave and pressing questions of finance that
had obtruded themselves so imperatively upon our atten-
tion, soon recurred ; they were not to be put off. Rather
they had been put off till the last moment already.
" Something must be done," said Scott. " Right off,
too. Here we are only fifty-five cents and that Lexi-
con."
The Latin Lexicon (Andrews and Stoddards') I had
bought at the opening of the term ; five precious hard-
earned dollars had gone for it: five of the twenty-seven in
my pocket on the last day of August, earned at sweaty toil
1 haying ' by the day.
" I suppose I can get a school to teach, up in Newry,
10 THE LOGGING SWAMP.
this winter," Scott observed, at length. " I have partly
had the promise of it. But the pay is only seventeen dol-
lars a month, and it is but for seven weeks. That would
not be worth waiting for."
For my own part, I had not even this resource in view.
The most of School Committees would have deemed us too
young for pedagogues; and so we were.
Nor was it of any use to go home a few miles out of
the village. Our folks were not able to assist us. In-
deed, if any assisting were done, it must come from us to
them.
" We shall have to shoulder our axes and go into the
logging-swamp," I exclaimed, at last. " No other way.
Twenty-five dollars a month and board. It's hard and it's
low ; but there's nothing else for us."
"And live in an old lousy shanty all winter long, with
a crew of profane, drunken, tobacco-chewing fellows ! "
groaned Scott. " Such company degrades one. We
should come out next spring rough as files, ourselves. I
don't like it ! "
No more did I ; yet we must do something. Scott ad-
mitted that there was no other way in which we could
earn so much ; but he shrank from the companionship of
loggers. Before the war, when his father was alive, Scott's
family had been in better circumstances. I call him Scott
from long habit; his name was Henry Scott Whitman.
All that day we were in perplexity, and studied but idly
The question of the morning pre-occupied us.
THE YOUNG MOOSE HUNTERS.
PARMACHENEE LAKE. II
"Let's go over and talk with Fred," Scott proposed
that evening.
Fred Bartlett was a classmate and kindred spirit, in like
circumstances : that is to say, he had nothing save what
his own hands got for him. Fred was seventeen. His
home was in Andover, Me. (one of the northern towns of
Oxford County). This was his second term at our acad-
emy. He had worked at river-driving, in the logging-
swamps, and during the previous summer had been a
guide to parties from the city camping-out about the
Umbagog Lakes. A downright good fellow was Fred,
wiry and tough as a rat, and full of a rough worldly wis-
dom, born of hard knocks.
We knew him to be nearly out of funds, and on the verge
of some expedient for raising more.
So we went over to talk with Fred.
"What are you going into this fall?" Scott asked, after
some preliminary conversation.
"Well," said Fred, "I have about concluded to start up
the Magalloway for Parmachenee Lake."
"What doing?" we asked.
" Trapping ; and I shall hunt some."
" Ever up there ? " Scott inquired.
" No ; but I've heard all about it. Good place. I calcu-
late I'm sure of a hundred dollars there."
"You do ! " we exclaimed.
" I do," said Fred, confidently.
"And then," he added, after a pause, "if I don't find
12 MOOSE, DEER, AND TROUT.
mink and otter, why, I'll dig a big pack of spruce gum : that
sells well, now."
" Going alone ? " I asked.
" Well, I've nobody engaged for certain."
" But what will you live on up there ? " Scott demanded.
"What will you do for grub to eat? "
"Oh, I'll find enough to eat. I shall take along some
flour and meat. Then there are plenty of deer and moose
and trout up there. I'll live like a king, I tell you."
Then we talked of other matters.
At last, as we were going out, Scott said, " I suppose you
wouldn't care to take us along with you, Fred ? "
Fred reflected a moment ; then he said that he should like
to have us go well enough, if we would like to go.
Yet we presumed he did not care much for our company ;
in fact, Scott had asked him more in jest than in earnest.
The next morning, however, Fred asked us if we thought
of going, and gave us a more cordial invitation.
Then we began to consider the matter more seriously,
and, indeed, talked of little else between ourselves for the
next two days. It seemed a wild project, yet in want of
any thing else to do we were much disposed to try it ; and
at length we told Fred definitely that we should go.
On that, he set the day for us to meet him at Upton, at
the foot of Lake Umbagog, and at once started for home to
get ready.
Being now fairly in for the expedition, we began to make
our own arrangements.
PREPARATION. 13
We settled the rent of our bare room for the week
forty cents.
We sold the Lexicon for two dollars and a half; also a
Common. School Arithmetic (Greenleafs) , a Smythe's Alge-
bra and a Cooper's Virgil for three dollars more. (It was
no uncommon thing with us in those days to dispose of our
books at ruinous discounts toward the end of a term.)
I swapped my best (tweed) coat at the store for two old
army blankets.
Scott made a similar exchange for two rubber blankets.
It got out that we were going moose hunting ! Everybody
poohed at us; and our friends croaked dismally, but in
vain.
We bought ammunition, sparingly. Scott had an old
double-barrelled gun that had been his father's ; and a young
sporting man in the village whose name I will not need-
lessly drag into this Iliad of our fortunes loaned us, by
his own offer, a little breach-loading rifle, the skeleton stock
of which could be taken off when desired. It was of the
pattern popularly known as "The Hunter's Pet." And with
it he let us take two boxes of metallic cartridges. This was
a windfall, indeed.
Another friend in need gave Scott a pair of rubber boots.
Vainly I wished for a similar friend.
By Saturday night of that week we had completed our
slender outfit. We were to meet Fred at Upton Monday
night or Tuesday morning of the following week.
CHAPTER II.
Off for the Lakes. A Ten-mile Walk. A Short Ride by RaiL
Bethel. $2.50 to Upton. "Frogging it" The Androscoggin.
Heavy Packs. Bear River Tavern. Wild Scenery. Screw
Auger Falls. " The Jail." Grafcon Notch. Our Night Camp.
WE started at six o'clock Monday morning, October
3rd, and walked ten miles to " Locke's," a station
on the Grand Trunk Railroad. Our packs were heavy : but
we were fresh then, and full of vim, to quote from our late
Latin exercises. Bethel was the next point to make, dis-
tant five miles ; and as it is on the railroad, we concluded to
indulge ourselves in the luxury of a twenty-five-cent ride, by
way of saving up our strength.
The Canada express train whistled in, ten minutes after,
and was signalled to stop for our benefit, Locke's not
being one of its advertised stations. We took passage for
Bethel with our packs and guns, where we arrived fifteen
minutes later. From the depot we caught sight of the high
wooded mountains of the northern lake region, looming up
grandly across the Androscoggin valley. Adown their long
slopes rested the soft autumn haze ; and the rich tints of the
foliage gave to the whole country a warm, dreamy look,
OFF FOR THE LAKES. . 15
which I recall with a sense of enjoyment, though our minds
were intent on more practical matters.
Our next point was Upton, on Lake Umbagog, distant
twenty-six miles, where we were to meet Fred with his boat.
From Bethel to Upton there is a stage twice a week. This
much we had learned and had come on the right day for it.
We had thought the fare would not be more than fifty cents
apiece, and were prepared to give that. Judge, then, of our
dismay when we were told that the charge was two dollars
and ffty cents per head ! This announcement struck us
speechless. We drew back into the depot to take counsel of
each other. Meanwhile the stage drove off.
"Well, let it go!" exclaimed Scott, gazing evilly after
the departing vehicle. "We never could have afforded it.
Two dollars and a half ! Only think of it ! "
"But what shall we do?" said I, with a despairing
glance at our heavy packs.
" Do ! why, we've got old Shank's mare left us ! " ex-
claimed my stout-hearted comrade. "If a fellow hasn't
money, he must frog it, that's all."
But to frog it twenty-six miles and carry a pack of thirty-
five pounds and a gun, is a severe experience for most
boys of sixteen. There was now no help for it, however.
We summoned up our resolution, but first sat down on
the wooden settle in the depot and ate a substantial
lunch of the crackers and cheese we had taken along
with us from home that morning; thereby lightening our
packs a little and stowing the weight where it could be
more comfortably carried.
1 6 A TEN-MILE WALK.
This done we slung the packs across our backs, and
taking our guns in our hands, set off. It was rather
warm. By the time we had crossed the long covered
bridge over the Androscoggin, we were in a lively per-
spiration, and drew up to take a " rest " in the shade of
the farther end of it. There had been a heavy rain a
few days previously. The river was high and had only
the day before flooded the road at both ends of the
bridge, which is elevated high above the stream to with-
stand the tremendous spring freshets. The Androscoggin
is the outlet of all those northern lakes toward which we
had now set our faces. At this place it is near two hun-
dred yards in width, with a swift, black, arrowy current
surging against the strong granite piers. In seasons of
drouth, however, the Androscoggin can sometimes be
forded.
It is a pieasant road beyond the bridge. Many well-
to-do farmers live along the intervals. Their residences
evince good taste and considerable wealth. The hills
and slopes, on the west and north of these farms, abound
wkh sugar maples. And all these were now in their
autumn glories of red and gold. The folks were getting
in their corn, load after load of dry shocks ; and as we
trudged on, we caught many a glimpse of cosy husking-
parties merry boys and rosy girls through the open
barn doors.
Steeling our hearts against these alluring pictures, we
huiried forward, crossed the bridge over Sunday River, a
THE ANDROSCOGGIN. 17
tributary of the Androscoggin, and a little later the Bear
River bridge, and entered the town of Newry a region
chiefly noted for its snow squalls, which are said to begin
early in September.
The scenery had grown wilder. The mountains seem
nearer, higher and more rugged. The road leads up the
narrow valley of Bear River.
But I must not omit a little incident which associated
Bear River bridge with that day's tramp. Just across the
stream, and at the very entrance to the covered bridge,
there is a little weather-beaten tavern that has evidently
seen all of its best days and the most of its worst ones.
Every thing about it bespoke neglect, decay and shiftless-
ness. Our packs oppressed us ; and we sat down on the
steps of the tavern to take breath. Presently the land-
lord came out. He was a rather fat jug-shaped man of
sixty, or rising; he smelled of liquor and was evidently
well-soaked with it. Yet in the corner of his light gray
eye there dwelt a gleam of good-humor, a lingering gleam,
that even the blight of alcohol could not quite kill out.
He addressed us cheerily, and it took not many explana-
tions on our part to make him fully understand our case
and the hardships before us. And he did not discourage
us as everybody else had done. He chuckled and told
us to "keep a stiff upper lip."
" Oh, you'll sup sorrow and rue the day you started, a
good many times, I'll warrant ye," he chirped. "But if
you stick and hang you'll bring back a clever pack o*
furs, like 's not."
1 8 BEAR RIVER TAVERN.
Then he limped back into the tavern and soon came
out with a pewter pitcher.
"Take a swig o' this," said he. "It'll wash the dust
out o' yer throats. Oh, it's nothing but cider ! " he ex-
claimed, seeing us draw back a little. " Nothing but
elderberry cider. I don't keep any thing stronger. Law
won't let me. 'Twon't hurt ye."
We first tasted it, then took a few swallows. It was a
very pleasant drink: sweet elderberry juice sweetened and
lightly fermented ; not so thick and strong as elderberry
wine, nor yet so smart as apple cider. I suppose the old
fellow thought it was the best thing he could offer us ;
and I am not sure whether it injured our morale as Good
Templars or not. We thanked him and shouldered our
packs.
" Call when you come back along if you come this way,
and let me know how you've made it," was his parting
salutation to us.
" Well, all old drunkards are not monsters ; and I sup-
pose that most everybody has some good in them, some-
where," Scott remarked as we walked on.
Consider it as I will, I never can feel any thing but a
kindly sympathy for the old soaker who keeps the Bear
River tavern : so powerful is a kind word when a boy is
tired and half discouraged.
We went on up the valley. Off to the west towered the
" Sunday River Whitecap ; " to the east rose the " Great
Ledge," a bare, rough peak, cone-shaped and of great
SCREW AUGUR FALLS.
WILD SCENERY. 19
height. The river is here a mere torrent, broken by fre-
quent falls, and rushing along a bed full of boulders and
ledges. The road in many places was half washed away
by the recent flood ; and high up amid the alder branches
were lodged grass and leaves, showing to what a height
the stream had risen. Often after heavy rains the stage
cannot get up for the water ; there is no stream in New
England more subject to great and marvellously rapid
rise.
Still wilder and narrower grew the valley. The dark
green twin peaks of Mt. Saddleback were directly ahead
of us ; while the loftier side of Speckled Mountain shut us
in on the west. A single narrow gorge opened before us.
"This must be 'Grafton Notch,'" said Scott; and so it
proved.
There are few localities in New England that for wild
scenery can compare with this famous " Notch," through
which Bear River foams and roars to its own confused
and hollow echoes.
About a mile farther up the gorge we came to a very
singular cataract, or rather canon, called " Screw Auger
Falls." It was but a few yards from the road ; and we
laid down our packs to examine it. An extensive granite
ledge fills the whole bottom of the gorge ; and through
this the stream has worn a mighty auger-shaped channel,
which is of itself a curiosity well worth a visit. This
miniature canon is about a hundred feet in length, and
so narrow that at some points one can leap across it ;
20 SCREW-AUGER FALLS.
while its depth toward the lower end cannot be less than
sixty or seventy feet : a chasm grooved out by the rush-
ing waters, and smooth as if polished with sand-paper.
Its vast spirals probably suggested the name of Screw-
Auger.
Its sides disclose some remarkable veins of white quartz,
with which there seems to be intermingled other minerals,
which we had not the time to examine ; but which we con-
fidentially recommend to mineralogists as well worth their
notice.
As an example of the wearing power of running \\fater.
these falls are indeed remarkable.
" There's a good ten thousand years' work ! " exclaimed
Scott, peeping cautiously down the chasm. " The water
didn't wear this hole in one century, nor five ! "
It was now four o'clock, and the sun had already gone
behind the great mountain on the other side of the stream.
There is a little shed on the side of the road opposite the
falls, where teams have been hitched up to rest.
" We might put up here for the night," Scott suggested.
But we concluded to go on.
A little way beyond the falls another curiosity drew our
attention. On the very verge of the road, though half
hidden by the shrubbery, there is a semi-circular abyss
known locally as " The Jail," from the fact that there is
but one way into it, which, if secured, might make it possi-
ble to use it as a place of confinement. The sides are
smooth and of great height. It would be quite impossible to
"THE JAIL." 21
climb out. Formerly the river ran through it for many ages,
till it wore this great cavity. But an earthquake, or perhaps
its own wearing waters, have now given it a new channel
some rods to the westward.
After a peep at the Jail, we went on again for a mile or
more, till coming to where some belated wanderers, like our-
selves, perhaps, had made a little bark shed near the road,
we decided to camp for the night. The shed had not been
used of late ; but the old shake-down of hemlock boughs lay
just as its former occupants had left it. It felt dry, and to
our tired bodies, looked inviting. Near by stood the flayed
hemlocks, from whose trunks the bark had been stripped to
furnish the roof of the shed. While I unpacked the blankets,
and counted out five crackers apiece for our supper, Scott
gathered sticks and pulled bark from a neighboring white
birch. Three smutty stones and several old brands marked
the place wheYe our predecessors had built their fire. We
followed their example, and soon had a crackling blaze. Ah !
what so cheery, when twilight and the wilderness are about
one, as the red gleam and cheerful snapping of a camp fire !
Blessings on the man who struck the first spark of fire, be
he Prometheus or ugly old Vulcan 1
In the light of our fire, which gleamed brighter as dusk fell,
we ate our crackers and cheese, then gathered, ere darkness
closed in, several armfuls of wood, to last through the night.
The stars came out. The night was clear, with the sugges-
tion of a frost. A very small new moon showed itself for a
few minutes on the wooded crest of the mountain, then went
22 GRAFTON NOTCH.
behind it, leaving it not perceptibly darker. We sat beneath
the shed and watched the sparks darting up, and the slower
wreath of black smoke rising toward the stars, momentarily
clouding their silver sparkle.
Just then the cry of some animal was heard from the
mountain side above us. It was not loud nor startling, but a
lonely cry of discontent or hunger. Such sounds impress
one strangely in the forest at night. We listened to hear it
again, and soon it resounded anew ; rather more distinctly
this time, or else it was because we were hearkening with
intent ears.
"Do you know what that is?" Scott asked.
I could not even guess. It is often very difficult to iden-
tify animal cries heard in the woods at night time. The
forest echoes change the character of the note. This
sounded somewhat like a man shouting rather disconso-
lately at a distance. We continued to hear it, at intervals
of ten or fifteen minutes. But it did not alarm us much.
We gradually grew sleepy.
" Had we best both go to sleep ? " queried Scott.
It did not seem just right to do so.
"Tell you what we will do," said Scott, at length. "You
roll up and go to sleep. I'll take the little rifle, and sit
leaned back against the side of the shed. I won't go to
sleep ; but I can sit and doze till one or two o'clock. Then
I will wake you, and you can take your turn at it. It will
rest a fellow almost as much to sit so as it would to lie
down."
OUR NIGHT CAMP. 33
I had nothing to urge against this arrangement, and was,
in truth, very glad to get the first nap. We had walked,
carrying our packs, not less than twenty-four miles that day.
So utterly weary had I become, that I wrapped my two
blankets about me, and despite the novelty of the situation,
was soundly asleep in less than fifteen minutes.
CHAPTER III.
Our Night in the "Notch." A Drowsy Sentinel. Rather Chilly.
On Again. " Moose Caves." Still Wilder Scenery. In Sight
of the Umbagog. We meet Fred. His Catamount Story.
Farrour New Partner. "Spot" Godwin of the Lake House.
Our Outfit A Siren of the Lakes. " Canada Plums."
~T IT T H ATEVER went on about our camps, and what
V V savage eyes may have stared at us lying there
as the stars moved westward and set behind the mountain
wall, is no part of my story. When I woke it was broad
daylight. Indeed, the sun-rays had begun to glint the tree-
tops. So profoundly had I been aslaep that it was several
seconds before I knew "who I was or where I came
from." Scott was half sitting half reclining against one
of the stakes that supported the shed,, his head rolled on
one shoulder and his mouth open, sound asleep. The
little rifle had slid from his grasp, and lay with the dew-
drops clinging to the muzzle. The fire had long gone out.
It did not even smoke. Outside, the ground and the
grass in the road were frosty. I got upon my feet, feeling
pretty stiff and not a little chilly. Then I gave my recu-
sant comrade a poke, several of them. He started with
a great groan of discomfort. It was with difficulty that
THE SLEEPING SENTINEL.
A DROWSY SENTINEL. 25
he got his neck out of the unnatural position it had held
for so many hours.
" You're a nice fellow to keep guard," I exclaimed.
Scott winked painfully.
" I suppose I must have got to sleep ," said he, staring
at his legs and at the dewy rifle.
It looked like it.
" But why didn't you wake me ? " said he.
"Why didn't I wake you!" I indignantly repeated.
" That's a pretty question for a sentinel to ask ! "
" Well, as long as we're all right this morning, there's no
great harm done," was my comrade's philosophic reflection.
I was not for letting him off so easily, but contented
myself by remarking that this sort of thing must not hap
pen again.
We did not think it worth while to rekindle the fire : it had
got so late how late we were uncertain, for Scott had
forgotten to wind his watch the night before; it had run
down. We had eight crackers left, and the rinds of the
cheese. Hastily devouring these refreshments, we took a
hearty draught from a little rill which ran across a ledge a
few rods away, then rolled up our packs and went on.
In a few minutes we were in the narrowest part of the
Notch; and though we were not at all poetically disposed
this morning, yet the grandeur of the scenery compelled
us to pause frequently to gaze up at the overhanging cliffs
and crags. Bear River, now dwindled to a noisy brook,
brawls and murmurs hoarsely along the ravine. The road
26 "MOOSE CAVES."
crosses the stream as many as six times; the bridges are
of logs, covered with hemlock boughs and earth. At one
point the road is made along the side of the gorge, which
sinks to a great depth below. The only railing beside the
wagon track is a log.
" Shouldn't care to drive a skittish horse here," was
Scott's practical observation, as we looked into the abyss
beneath. To which I recollect replying that I only wished
we had a horse to drive : for the packs were growing fear-
fully heavy again.
Near this place there is another wonderful exhibition of
the wear of the water through a ledge. It is known as
" Moose Caves," from the circumstance of a wounded
moose once taking refuge in the cavern which the stream
has worn. Those with whom I have spoken concerning
it, say that it is more wonderful than Screw-Auger Falls
even. It is at some little distance from the road ; we
did not go out to it.
A mile farther on the road emerges, from the Notch,
disclosing a less mountainous country to the northward,
heavily wooded with evergreens chiefly. The ground
here begins to descend toward the Umbagog. Near by
are the headwaters of a stream which, oddly enough, some
settler has named Cambridge River. There are clearings
along the road. On one of the barn doors we saw a fresh
bear skin stretched and nailed to dry. Scott wanted to
shoot at it, but was deterred by the suggestion that there
mighf be somebody husking in the barn.
WE MEET FRED. 2"J
We were now in the town of Grafton.
We followed the " Cambridge " down as we had followed
Bear River up, and about one o'clock came in sight of the
blue Umbagog, stretching away to the north-west Before
us a long hill led down to the white " Lake House," which
we espied on the very shore. The sight of it gave us new
life. We re-shouldered our packs and hurried down the
hill. A hundred rods from the tavern we saw two young
fellows and a dog coming to meet us.
" That's Fred, one of them ! " Scott exclaimed.
There was no doubt of it, for a moment later that worthy
young backwoodsman gave us his ordinary salutation.
" Money ! " he shouted, presenting an imaginary revolver.
" Hands up ! Drop that rifle ! "
"You're badly sold this time!" replied Scott. "If
money's what you 're after, you've stopped the wrong party."
That was but a grim joke too true to be pleasant.
"We will have some money, though, if there is any fur
round these lakes ! " cried Fred. " But why in the world
didn't you come last night? Looked for you till eight
o'clock in the evening. Thought that catamount down in
the Notch had got you, sure ! "
"That what? "said I.
" Why, that catamount down there ! Haven't you heard
about him ? "
Certainly we had not ! Scott looked rather uneasily at
me. Then I told them how we had camped there in the
Notch and both slept like logs.
28 FARR OUR NEW COMPANION.
" Well, well ! " exclaimed Fred, and laughed heartily.
" It's a wonder he had not gobbled you up ! Folks don't
dare go through there nights, lately."
" Is that true ? " exclaimed Scott.
" Honest true. But no matter, as long as he didn't get
ye. This long-legged chap here (with a nod toward the
stranger youth) is going into partnership with us. His
name is Farr, Charles Henry Farr ; and this quadruped
is his dog. Come here, Spot ! He isn't worth any thing
for small game, but he is good for chewing up panthers,
lions, bears, and bug-bears."
Farr was a rather tall, frank-faced fellow of seventeen
or thereabouts. We liked him at sight ; and if the reader
does not, it will be our fault, not his. As for Spot, he
was an average sized dog, black and white. He appeared
remarkably inoffensive, and did not look like a dog ad-
dicted to " chewing up " any thing livelier than a crust of
bread.
"We shall not be able to get started up the lake to-
day," said Fred. " But let's go to the house. You must
be hungry and tired."
He and Farr seized upon our packs. It was a relief
to walk without their weight.
Landlord Godwin, of the Lake House, is as good a
host, at bottom, as lives in that whole region. It takes a
day to get fairly acquainted with him. He has a way of
hesitating when he speaks that makes a stranger feel a
little uncertain for a moment. But when you once come
GODWIN OF THE LAKE HOUSE. 29
to know him, you know a good fellow, in our humble
opinion. His table is a very enjoyable one. (A person is
always hungry up there.) That day we dined off the
breasts of six partridges: there were other eatables, of
course, but the partridges were the attraction for us.
Perhaps I am hasty though in saying that the birds were
the attraction for all of us. For a certain black-eyed,
raven-tressed table-girl took Scott's eyes captive. During
our stay there he managed to get up a speaking acquain-
tance with her. Afterwards he seemed to be somewhat
distressed to learn that this siren of the lakes had a
"young man" whom she kept happy company of a
Saturday eve : one Llewellyn Moody, a youthful Atlas
of the region, with whom it would be advisable to remain
on the most civil terms.
Fred and Farr had brought with them and bought of
Godwin all the raw provisions that they deemed neces-
sary, together with a complete kit of camping-out
utensils.
(A complete kit of camping-out comfortably embraces
more than would at first thought be deemed necessary.
We had, I remember, a kettle for making pudding and bak-
ing beans ; a kettle for heating water ; a deep frying-pan
or spider with a very long handle, three feet, such as
can be used over an open fire without burning the hands ;
and a large iron baker-sheet for cooking partridge breasts
and biscuits. Then there was a coffee-pot and a tea-pot,
half a dozen tin plates, as many pint dippers, four tin
30 OUR OUTFIT.
spoons, with the same number of knives and forks, a
hatchet and an axe. There were also two butcher knives
for cutting meat, one a sort of bowie knife with a dog's
head handle, loaned us by Godwin. Add to these an old
japanned tin powder-case for the sugar, a bucket for
butter, a tin box for coffee and another for the tea.
In addition to all this " kitchen ware " were the two
rubber blankets and the two wool blankets, and an old
"puff," that Farr had brought; also an A tent, seven by
seven, i.e., seven feet square on the ground.
Some of these articles might, perhaps, have been dis-
pensed with ; yet the most of them were really necessary.
And on account of this amount of necessary luggage it is
better for a party whether going for pleasure or other-
wise to go as much by water as possible, in a good,
roomy boat.)
An account was kept of every thing bought, so that in
the end each could pay his proportionate part of the
expenses ; this was what we had agreed upon at the out-
set. Fred's boat, in which they had already stowed al)
the luggage, lay in the river a few rods from the house.
It was a sort of bateau, about twenty-four feet long by
four feet in width amidships. Once it had been painted
white with a red lapstreak, but hard service and stormy
waters had much defaced it.
Fred had brought with him two dozen of traps, and
Farr had a dozen. Of guns we had a great supply, more
guns than ammunition, as it turned out. Fred had a
"CANADA PLUMS." 31
long single-barrelled shot-gun, and Farr had a double-
barrelled shot-gun and a Sharpe's army (cavalry) car-
bine, one of those clumsy breech-loaders in which the
barrel is connected and held to the chamber by an
iron strap in front of the trigger guard. In loading,
this strap acts as a lever to slide the barrel forward
from the chamber, into which it fits rather loosely. The
chamber is then filled with powder, and the bullet is
thrust into the base of the barrel. The strap is then
snapped into position, bringing the barrel with the ball
down against the chamber and the powder. A percussion
cap is then placed upon a nipple and tube entering the
chamber, and the piece is ready for firing. All these
weapons besides our own !
For provisions Fred had got a sack of flour, some pork,
a half bushel of corn meal, a bushel of potatoes, three
pounds of coffee, a pound of tea, four pounds of sugar, a
quantity of butter, and two papers of Horsford's " Bread
Preparation," this last for making warm biscuits.
In the little garden attached to the Lake House
there was a thicket of plum trees ; of the kind called
" Canada Plums," similar to pomegranates. To these we
helped ourselves liberally ; for they grew in liberal quan-
tities. The ground beneath the shrubs was literally red
with the plums. Everybody ate all they wanted, and
no questions.
CHAPTER IV.
Starting up the Umbagog. Somebody's Handkerchief. A Gale on
the Lake. Moments of Peril. A Drenching. Birch Island.
Fred's Match-box. Tea, Pork and Crackers. Metallic's Is-
land. " Old Metallic." Our Camp at " Moll's Rock." Buried
Ducks. A Cosy Night.
AS soon as it was fairly light next morning, we were
astir. Breakfast was eaten. Godwin's bill against
us was a very light one. He charged us not half the usual
hotel rates. It was well he did, or we should have been
utterly bankrupted then and there.
Some minutes before sunrise we went aboard our boat and
took our places for the long pull up the lakes. There were
two sets of row-locks, with oars to match. Fred took one
pair and Farr the other. Spot laid down on Fair's coat be-
hind his master. I took the stern seat and steering oar.
3cott had the bow seat and a paddle.
"All ready!" cried Fred, cheerily. "Give way! one-
r, r o-three and away we go ! "
Following the crooked channel of the Cambridge, it is
STARTING UP tME UMBAGOG. 33
nearly a mile out to the lake proper ; yet when the gates are
down at Errol the Umbagog flows bacfc to the very yard
fence at Godwin's. The flats were now in part overflowed.
The morning had been clear and calm ; but directly after
sunrise the wind began to blow from the south-west. By the
time we were fairly out of the Cambridge on the lake, there
was quite a " sea."
Fred kept glancing uneasily at the sky.
"No danger, is there?" said Scott.
"No danger here," replied Fred. "But if this wind
keeps rising, we shall have it rough up toward the Nai-
rows ! "
This prediction rather dampened the jolly spirits in which
we had embarked. We grew less talkative, but rowed the
harder. A few minutes later we rounded B. Point and
saw the whole southern half of the lake before us. Rather
rough and windy it looked, too.
" No white caps, yet ! " said Farr, turning on his seat for
a look ahead. " Guess we can go through, Fred."
" Can't tell that yet," said Fred. " It's a thing you can't
count on, this lake. Gets up quicker than Jack-in-a-box
if a puff of wind blows. My opinion is, if we want to get
through those Narrows this forenoon we have no time to
lose."
On this hint we all began pulling with a will. To avoid
the trough of the waves, we kept the boat headed north-west
till we were within three-fourths of a mile of the west shore,
then turned her squarely to the north-east, with the wind
34 A GALE ON THE LAKE,
at our backs, and heading straight into the Narrows, four
miles distant
For the first ten minutes we rode as lightly as a duck, and
shot ahead rapidly. The boat was not heavily loaded for
its size. But soon white caps began to show, and the
swells grew larger. The boat began to bounce on them
and the spatters to fly. We kept steadily at our work,
however, and under our united strength the bateau went
about as fast as the waves, though a few big swells combed
into the stern, making my seat far from comfortable.
Ten minutes more and we were within a mile of the
Narrows. All about, the waves were running white. The
boat was plunging heavily. The spray flew in upon us.
The roar of the dashing was so great that we could scarcely
hear each others' voices. Spot howled dismally. I confess
to being considerably scared. For the wind blew smartly ;
and all down through the Narrows the lake was as rough
as a cataract. Just then Scott's hat flew off and was dashed
out of sight several rods ahead !
" Never mind that ! " he shouted. " Let it go ! I've got
an old cap in my pack."
" Steady ! " shouted Fred. " Hold her steady, Farr ! "
Then he turned for a look. We were bouncing prodig-
iously.
" I fear for her backbone ! " groaned Scott.
" Take a look, Farr, and tell me what you think of it ! "
said Fred, resuming his oars.
Farr looked.
MOMENTS OF PERIL.
35
" Never saw it worse," said he. " I don't know, but I'm
afraid it will be too much for her. I should say, go foi
Birch Island."
" Birch Island it is, then ! " exclaimed Fred. " Head
her for that island off to the right of us ! " he added to me,
pointing to where a clump of white birches and a few
" NOW FOR IT I OVER WITH YOU ! "
evergreens seemed to rise out of the waves about a hun-
dred rods away.
I had all I could do to hold the boat steady with the
steering oar. The swells threw us about amazingly.
There is a strength and friskiness in these fresh water
surges that is never felt on the more staid salt water.
Those were wild moments. Fred, Farr and Scott were
36 A DRENCHING.
pulling with might and main. The spray flew over us ; the
spatters drenched us. I expected every moment that we
should be swamped. And as we drew near the island, our
case seemed not much improved. The waves broke against
it fiercely.
" It won't do to let her run on there ! " exclaimed Farr.
" It will stave her ! "
" Yes," said Fred. " But it is not deep water. Sit still
and pull till I give the word, then jump out everybody,
and ease her ashore."
" Now for it ! Over with you ! " he shouted, a moment
afterwards.
We leaped out, and carried the boat by main strength
high upon the sand.
It had been a sharp tussle. Never was I so glad to
set my foot on firm earth. We were drenched to our
skins. The rubber coats and blankets had protected the
flour and meal and sugar; but ever}' thing else was
soaked and the boat was a third full of water. The wind,
piercing our wet clothes, made us shiver despite the exer-
tion. As soon as we could secure the boat we ran to the
lea of the birch and cedar thicket that occupied the
middle of the islet.
"Let's have a fire and dry ourselves 1" exclaimed
Scott "We shall have to stay here till the wind
lulls."
Farr got the axe from the boat and fell to splitting up
dry cedar; a rather large cedar (for the island) had blown
TEA, PORK AND CRACKERS. 37
down some years before and now lay dry and broken
among large stones. He soon had a great pile of it
split.
" Who's got a match ? " he cried.
Scott took out his little tin match-box and opened it,
but stopped short with a loud exclamation :
" Wet ! every one wet as sop ! " and he poured water
out of the box!
Fred laughed. "Let me see if my match-box is as
bad off as yours."
He pulled out a flat bottle tightly corked.
" This is my match-box," said he. " Takes more than
one soaking to wet that inside."
And his were the only matches that had escaped.
We soon had a fire going, a rousing one, about which
we stood and steamed in the shelter of the thicket. The
roar of the agitated lake came to our ears from the wind-
ward side of the islet ; but on the lee-side the water was
not very rough. Up at the Narrows it looked white and
tumultuous ; and against the rocky side of Metallic Island,
half a mile above, we could see the surf leap up eight and
ten feet, white as milk. I vowed inwardly not to put
out on the lake again till the wind went down, if I had
to stay there alone two weeks. Farr kept asking us how
we should like to be " out there now," pointing toward
the weltering Narrows.
We began to feel like having dinner. Fred brought
round the frying-pan and a piece of pork. This was cut
38 METALLIC'S ISLAND.
into slices, and " sizzled " in the pan. The fat looked
very clear and good. At home, neither Scott nor I ate
salted pork, or the fat. But when Fred brought round a
dozen crackers and Farr had made a pot of strong tea,
we felt a good appetite to sit down round the " spider,"
each with a fork to break and dip pieces of cracker in
the fat and sip dippers of sweet tea without milk. We
seemed to need the fat after our drenching.
" I begin to understand how the Esquimaux can drink
train oil," remarked Scott. " It's the cold and the rough
life they lead that makes it relish."
The wind continued to blow all through the middle of
the day. It always does here, when once it gets started.
We began to think we should have to spend the night on
the island ; but toward four o'clock, afternoon, it subsided
considerably and the swells fell with it.
" Let's start," said Fred. " We can get as far as Moll's
Rock, and have time to camp before dark."
We bailed out the boat, then got in and pushed off.
" What's ' Moll's Rock ' ? " inquired Scott.
"It is a ledge on the west shore about a mile below
the outlet," (Androscoggin) Farr explained. ''They call
it Moll's Rock from old Mollocket, an Indian squaw, who
used to live there. She had a wigwam on the ledge, a
little up from the water, for a good many years. It's a
pretty place. Old Metallic was her husband, it is said.
He was a chief. That is where they get the name of
Metallic's Island from him."
OUR CAMP AT MOLL'S ROCK. 39
From Birch Island to Moll's Rock it is not far from
three miles, as I judged. The upper portion of Lake
Umbagog the part above the Narrows is by far the
most picturesque. All about the northern and western
sides there are fine bold peaks, with dense unbroken
forests, clothing their slopes to the very shores. The red
and gold of the birches and maples was contrasted finely
with the black green of the spruce thickets. A pleasanter
scene can hardly be imagined than when the bright glow
of the setting sun rested warmly on all this autumnal
splendor, and on the broad lake, now quiet as a mirror.
It seems incredible how soon this tumultuous white-
capped expanse sinks to repose when the wind falls!
Its calms succeed as rapidly as its bursts of wave-lashed
wrath.
Just as the last rays of sunset were burnishing the
waters, we pulled into the little cove to the south of
Moll's Rock. This is a favorite camping place for sports-
men on these waters. The place was strewn with the
debris of broken boxes, tin cans, and, I regret to say,
broken bottles. One bit of board nailed to a tree said
that " Warren Noyes and party camped here eleven days,
from September 2$th, 18 , till October yth;" another,
driven into the ground like a headstone, informed the
passer that thereunder rested the bodies of one hundred
and fifty-six ducks, being the surplus above table use
shot by the above party.
We kindled a fire in a stone fireplace built by formei
40 BURIED DUCKS.
occupants, and pitched our tent Fred got out the " Hors-
ford " and proceeded to knead up a batch of biscuits,
using a piece of butter for "shortening." Scott under-
took to make tea ; and it was my duty to prepare coals
and roast for the party two potatoes apiece and one for
Spot.
While we were thus engaged, a flock of black ducks
went whirring over, flying very low. Farr, who was stand-
ing by, seized his shot-gun and let both barrels go among
them ; and he had the good fortune to wing one of them.
It fell into the lake at a hundred yards or less from the
shore. Farr immediately pushed off to pick it up. But
it swam and dived so expertly that he was obliged to
shoot it again with Fred's long-barrelled gun. It was a
fine large bird, and would have weighed eight pounds, we
thought. Farr dressed it and put it on to parboil for
breakfast. Fred cut armful after armful of boughs and
made a very comfortable bed inside the tent. On this
we spread our rubber blankets and then rolled ourselves
up in our wool blankets. The flap of the tent, on the
end next the fire, was pinned back to let in the cheerful
glow. We lay and talked a long time, planning what
we should do when we reached Parmachenee and got
into the wild region to the north of it.
Ah, we little knew what was before us, or how many
hardships and perils must be braved before we should see
Moll's Rock again. Loons with their plaintive wild
voices sang us to sleep.
CHAPTER V.
An Early Breakfast. A Duck. On the Androscoggin. A Dead
Forest We Enter the Magalloway. Flocks Sheldrakes.
"Bottle Brook Pond." A Duck Hunt An Exciting Moment.
Hundreds of Them ! The Carbine Bursts. A Bursted Fin-
ger. Three Ducks.
^"^ COTT woke the rest of us sometime before sunrise by
k_} firing at a loon sailing near, with the little rifle. It star-
tled us rather suddenly ; but it was high time we were up.
The fire was rekindled. Fred made fritters (' flippers ' he
called them) out of flour, using some of the bread preparation
and stirring them thinner than for biscuit. Farr finished
cooking his duck. I boiled potatoes ; and Fred made coffee
the first we had.
We hurried things, and had breakfast ready a few minutes
after sun-peep. And we ate as speedily as possible, for the
wind began to blow a little, rising with the sun. We had a
mile and a half to go before getting into the outlet ; and we
did not relish the thought of being cooped up there all day
again. Twenty-four hours had passed since we left God-
win's; and we were still only eight miles above the Lake
House. From Upton to the head of Lake Parmachenee it
42 ON THE ANDROSCOGGIN.
is eighty miles. It would take us ten days to get up there, at
our first day's rate. We all chafed under this estimate.
" But we will do better to-day," said Fred. " The wind
can't swamp us on the river."
"We shall have the current to row against after we get
into the Magalloway," suggested Farr ; " and a pretty strong
old current, too, after all these rains."
Persons do not usually perceive the full magnitude of an
enterprise until after they have entered upon it ; that was our
case, at least.
Spot had what was left of the duck. We struck our tent
and packed up without loss of time. In less than an hour,
we were embarking again : and an hour is quick time to get
breakfast, eat it, and break camp. They who have tried it
will say so.
Though the wind had risen considerably, we had no trou-
ble in crossing to the outlet. Off Reed Point the swells made
the boat bounce a little; but immediately on making the
Point we were in smooth water and at once pulled into the
river.
The Androscoggin, where it first leaves the lake, is very
crooked, winding about through a shrubby, alluvial meadow
of its own making. It is not more than fifty or sixty yards
wide here on an average, with a sluggish and hardly percep-
tible current.
We passed, hereabouts, what Fred called the headvvorks
of a raft of logs, itself a raft, upon which was planted a
capstan for pulling the greater raft to which it may be
WE ENTER THE MAGALLOWAY. 43
attached. It lay high and dry on the bank. About it
were scattered heavy levers, capstan-bars and " thorough
shots," just as the last gang of drivers had abandoned it.
Going on, we entered among a heavy growth of maple
and elm, dead and half-fallen.
" The big dam at Errol did it," Fred explained. " Wa-
ter rose over the roots and killed the trees."
From the place where the Androscoggin leaves the lake,
to the mouth of the Magalloway it is about two miles
The latter comes in at nearly right angles from the north.
We reached the forks at half past eight precisely, and at
once turned our prow up the stream toward Parma-
chenee. Hitherto we had gone with the current. Now
we had to breast it. For several miles, however, this
current is hardly noticeable. At the confluence, the Magal-
loway looks to be as large as the Androscoggin, and is
very deep. Ducks rose in flocks ahead of us and went
smartly off up stream.
"This is about as far as I have ever been," Fred
remarked. " I have been out here to the mouth of the
Magalloway twice, but never any farther. It will be new
territory now for the whole of us."
"Well, all we shall have to do will be to follow the river,"
said Farr. "The stream leads up to the lake; and we
cannot very well lose the stream."
Flock after flock of sheldrakes rose one after the other.
It was agreed that Scott should ship his paddle and sit. in
the bow with the guns cocked and ready for them.
14 "BOTTLE BROOK POND."
The shores were wooded almost exclusively with firs;
the stieam was eight and nine rods wide, very dark and
seemingly very deep. About half an hour after entering
it, we passed a great swamp on the west bank, which the
overflowing waters had now changed to a pond. Here
at some distance we saw fully fifty black ducks sailing and
splashing about. They were too far off to hit with shot.
We did not care to turn the boat into the swamp among the
many snags and roots. Scott sent a slug from the rifle
skipping amongst them, at which twenty-five or thirty rose
with a great spattering and whirring of wings.
Captain Perkins, of the little lake steamer " Diamond,"
at Upton, had told Fred to be sure to try " Bottle Brook
Pond," for ducks, going up ; and he described the place
where we should need to land to go to it so well that we
had no trouble in recognizing it. It was about three miles
above the mouth of the Magalloway.
The guns were reloaded and plentifully shotted. The
secret of shooting well with a shot gun is to put in a good
lot of shot. If you put in a whole handful, they will be pretty
sure to knock over something. Bottle Brook Pond lies
abreast of the river, from which it is separated by a bank not
more than ten feet above high water and twelve or fifteen
rods in width. But this bank is so densely wooded with firs
that no glimpse of the pond is obtained from the stream.
The pond itself is of no great extent : eight or ten acres,
perhaps.
Carefully securing our boat to a root in the bank, we
A DUCK HUNT. 45
landed, guns in hand, and cautiously made our way through
the firs. Farr, in order to have all the available shooting
power ready, had made an experiment one he will not
care to try again, I fancy : he loaded his Sharpe's carbine
with shot; pretty heavily, too, it would seem : at any rate, he
admitted afterwards that he had put in a "good dose" of
shot, and powder enough to a little more than fill the chamber I
Perkins had predicted rightly. Our first glimpse of the
pond through the firs showed it to be alive with both black
ducks and sheldrakes. There they were, paddling about,
diving, flapping, and spattering the water, with an occasional
low quack ! The sight of them so near, made Scott fairly
wild with excitement.
" More than five hundred of them ! " he muttered. " We
will have them, sure ! "
Not daring to disclose ourselves, we crouched under cover
of a fallen fir-top, ten or fifteen yards back from the water,
amid the shrubbery. We could see them plainly enough ;
but they had not espied us. It was fun to watch them at
play. They were not more than twenty yards from the shore
not a hundred feet from where we lay in ambush.
They were darting first one way, then another, on the water,
but mainly in little groups of three, four and five together.
" We'll just everlastingly pepper 'em ! " whispered Farr.
" Five guns seven barrels. Get good aim now, and when
I count three, blaze away 1 Ready, now one two
three."
Whang bang whang! went six barrels.
40 AN EXCITING MOMENT.
There was a great smoke ! loud quackings of alarm and
terror from the pond ! involuntary shouts from the whole of
us ! Spot barking loudly !
Farr leaped up with the carbine for another shot. Through
the smoke we could see the air black with ducks going up
IT MADE A TREMENDOUS REPORT.
off the water with a mighty flutter and rumble of wings. Farr
aimed into the flock and fired the carbine. It made a tre-
mendous report, and I saw him reel backward against a tree.
The piece itself jumped out of his hands, as if thrown. Fan
recovered his legs, but began to shake his hand.
THREE DUCKS. 47
" Hurt ye ? " we cried out to him. " Did it burst ? "
"Oh-h-h ah-h-h ! " moaned the carbiner, dancing about.
" It it just burst my forefinger ! ! "
Fred ran to pick up the exploded weapon. The iron strap
had burst, throwing the barrel and chamber apart at full
stretch ! It was this broken strap that struck his finger,
bruising it badly. The tube, too, had spit the powder and
spattered his other hand, burning it slightly.
Leaving him to shake the agonies out of his aching finger,
the rest of us turned our attention to the pond. One duck
was splashing about close in to the shore ; another lay still on
the water a little farther out ; and far over on the other side
of the pond we could see still another fluttering near the
shore.
"Three down ! " cried Fred. " Not so very bad, though
we might have done better."
The one near the shore was immediately secured. But we
could not reach the other, and tried in vain to make Spot go
in after it. No use. All he would do was to put his tail
betwixt his legs and slink off : he wasn't a water dog. Finally,
by going back to the boat for the hatchet and cutting a very
long pole, we contrived to pull in the second one.
Meanwhile Scott and Fred had gone round the pond after
the third duck, which they knocked over with a pole and-
secured without much difficulty. Thus closed our first duck-
shooting exploit. We were greatly elated except Farr.
We had three ducks and a shattered gun and a shattered
fiagts.
CHAPTER VI.
A Crooked River. The Magalloway Lower Settlement A School
Mistress. Two Coy Maidens. The Diamond Forks. Partridge
Bluffs. A Hasty Meal. More Ducks. The Game Escapes
Swifter Water. " Alder-Grab Rapids." A Sharp Fight with
the Current. " Sneaking up." Tired out. A Deserted House.
r I THE most crooked stream in the world is the Magal-
JL loway. There are crooks about which one may pull a
boat two miles without getting ahead twenty rods. At one
place, which we reached an hour later, the river is " three
double" ; so that really we had to row past a given point three
times to get by it for good.
We presently emerged from the fir forest into clearings.
Here and there a low, weathered house or barn disclosed
itself. This is what is known as the Lower Settlement of
Magalloway. It is in the edge of New Hampshire. The
district is called, on the map, Wentworth's Location. It is
not a town, nor yet a plantation. How the people stand re-
lated to the great body politic, generally, I am sure I don't
know. But however their political situation may determine,
it must be a blessed nice one, for they have no taxes to pay
not even poll tax or school tax ; and yet they have a
school thanks to the State Treasury ; for we presently passed
48
THE MAGALLOWAY LOWER SETTLEMENT. 49
a house a little up from the bank, where during the noon re-
cess fifteen or twenty children were disporting.
"Too many for one family," commented Fred. "This
must be the place where they have their school."
It looked like that. And there was the schoolmistress (it
could be none else) standing in the door. Having a great
respect for education, Scott raised his hat to her. She
frowned, and being of a dark complexion, the effect was so
depressing that we redoubled our efforts and made off without
loss of time.
The clearings and cots are on both sides of the river.
There are no bridges. In winter (which means eight
months of the year here), the folks cross on the ice. In
summer they wade it. In spring and fall and after heavy
showers they swim it.
A little farther up we passed a two-story house with very
comfortable out-buildings. There were also two large bateaux
moored to the bank. This is "Spencer's," the headquarters of
the Berlin Mills (N .H.) Lumbering Company. Here one
may spend the night, or a week if desirable, and have good
board at two dollars per day. Tourists now and then get up
as far as this place. There is fine trout fishing at Escohos
falls, five or six miles above this point.
Shortly after passing Spencer's, we espied two maidens at a
place where a cart track led down the bank to the water
in wading time. They were waiting and casting wistful looks
toward the opposite bank. Evidently they wished to get
across. There was no boat. They were very pretty girls
50 THE DIAMOND FORKS.
from where we were. Fred hailed them politely and asked
if they would like to have us set them across in our boat.
They regarded us thoughtfully a moment, then precipitately
retired into a sweet elder-bush. Modest. But it hurts one's
feelings to have well-meant offers received in that way. Again
we plied our oars.
Off to the west Mount Dustin, with dark slopes of spruce,
walled in the river valley. Due north the great round white
peak of Escohos one of the highest mountains in Maine
rises almost to the snow-line. To the north-west the " Dia-
mond Peaks " display their brown rectangular crags, disclosing
a wild, narrow valley, down which comes the Swift Diamond
Stream. The valley resounds to the roar of its cascades. It
joins the Magalloway at this place.
A little above the forks, the Magalloway bends from the
base of a high hill covered with poplars and white birches-
Here we found a strong current. Fred stopped rowing.
"Isn't it getting about time for grub?" he demanded.
" One o'clock," said Scott, looking at his time-keeper.
" I move we land and get up a dinner," said Farr.
We all felt that way. The boat was laid alongside the bank
and made fast to a birch. We jumped ashore, glad to
stretch our legs. They felt badly kinked after sitting so
long.
We had not taken half a dozen steps before a fine birch-
partridge flew up to the limb of a poplar.
"Pass the gun, Farr," said Scott, "the double-birrelled
one."
PARTRIDGE BLUFFS. 51
It was handed to him. He fired. Down dropped the
bird. But at the report there flew up another from the
ground near by and alighted on one of the lowest limbs of a
neighboring fir. There it stood motionless, close up to the
trunk.
Scott discharged the other barrel and secured her.
The first one was as large a cock partridge as I had ever
seen.
" Looks as if we no need to starve," said Fred. " These
ducks and two partridges the first half day on the river."
Near by were the ruins of an old logging camp : a rude
structure, consisting of a frame of stakes and poles covered
with broad "shingles " of hemlock bark. It was nearly forty
feet long by twenty in breadth. Heavy snows, accumulating
on the roof, had broken it in. This furnished us fuel. The
dry bark burned readily. Nothing save coal makes a
hotter fire than dry hemlock bark.
Fred set up a " spunhungen " (a pole with one end stuck
in the ground and extending out over the fire : an Indian
device, hence called by the Indian name), and soon had
potatoes boiling and meat sizzling.
Farr meantime had fallen upon the partridges and was
making the feathers fly like a goshawk. Very soon two plump
breasts were in the fry-pan, which was filled partially with
water. His way of cooking birds was to first parboil them a
few minutes, or a few hours, as time permitted, then brown
them in the same pan and make a gravy of flour.
The breast of a partridge is the only part worth eating,
52 MORE DUCKS.
in my opinion. We came to eat nothing but those white
breasts. The remaining parts we threw to Spot, raw. Un-
less we were unusually hungry, a breast apiece would be
about what we wanted ; and unless we had four birds, it was
hardly worth while to have a partridge dinner.
In twenty-five minutes after Farr began to pick them, he
announced them " done ; " and indeed they tasted very well,
though Scott pronounced them "a bit too rare."
We stopped an hour here. Considering the fact that we
shot, dressed, and cooked our dinner, it was not a long halt.
From the circumstances, we named the place Partridge Bluff.
Just as we were embarking, a large flock of ducks came
humming down the stream. There was a scramble for the
guns. Fred fired among them; but they had got a little
past. None of them stopped with us.
The current was more rapid, on turning the bend, beyond
the bluff. We had to work steadily to make fair progress
against it, two miles an hour.
A second flock of ducks went up from the water a few
rods above the bend. Scott let two barrels go among them.
One tumbled back.
" Good shot ! " we shouted.
But the wounded duck dived next moment ; and though
ive waited and watched five or ten minutes, we saw nothing
more of it. Possibly it got entangled in the brush beneath
the bank, under water, and being severely wounded, drowned
there and never rose. Or it may have swam to some dis-
tance, and just raising its head above water under cover of
THE GAME ESCAPES. 53
some bush or bunch of grass, thus eluded our notice. Old
sportsmen tell many stories of the cunning displayed by
ducts when too severely wounded to fly off.
There were occasional clearings and old camps along the
banks, where lumbering operations had been previously car-
ried on, but no cultivated clearings for a space of six or seven
miles above the Lower Settlement. The current for this
whole distance is disagreeably strong to a party going up.
It was not till toward sunset that we sighted an open field and
a barn on the left bank, at the foot of a very dark, steep moun-
tain. But long before getting up abreast the building, we
struck a current so swift and strong that our former experi-
ences of it were at once belittled. The river curved sharply
to the right, disclosing a visible incline, down which the water
poured with a steady sweep, swift, black and arrowy. Several
rocks rose above the surface. About these the divided
current foamed and threw up white jets. There was a very
perceptible roar. Both banks are rather steep, and densely
packed with black alders, rendering it well-nigh impossible to
land a line to tow with. At the end of our long day it looked
disheartening enough. And yet we did not like the idea of
camping below it, and having it before us for next day.
For as much as ten minutes we hung in the eddy at the
foot of the rapid and studied it, how to get up best. Fred
thought we had better take the mid-channel, where there wa&
ample room between the rocks. We all drew breath, spat o
our hands, set our teeth, and at the word from Fred, went at
it with a will and under a full head of muscle. The bateau
54 SWIFTER WATER.
shot out of the eddy, cut into the strong water, and went up,
yard after yard, through it, but kept going slower and slowei
as we drew toward the top.
" We're gaining ! " Fred shouted. " We shall do it ! "
We struck quick and with all our strength. So strong
was the impulse and so great the resistance of the current,
that the boat settled into it almost at the gun-whales.
Still we gained, inch by inch, and were within ten yards of
the top ; there we came to a standstill.
" Harder ! We're not gaining ! " Fred yelled, panting
and buckling to his oars. " Harder ! Harder ! "
" Harder ! Faster ! or we shall go on the rocks ! "
Every nerve now! But we could not gain. The
mighty strength of the current held us stark and stiff.
We sprang and struck and surged with might and main.
The water rose round us and roared at us or seemed to.
It overmatched us.
" We're losing ! " Fred cried out.
Inch by inch we lost a yard, then by a strong spurt re-
tained it, but could not get a foot higher. Our strength
was out of us quite. Farr and Scott both stopped pulling.
Instantly we were swept back. An eddy caught the
stern. Despite the steering oar, the stern was carried to
right. Round came the bow broadside to the stream. In
a moment we were end for end, and shot past a great,
black slippery stone, within six inches of it. It would
have staved our boat like an egg ! A moment more and
we were back in the eddy, whence we started, completely
winded and spent.
"ALDER-GRAB RAPIDS. 55
"Oh-h-h! Such a current!" panted Scott. "But
wasn't that a close shave ! that rock ! "
" Touch and a go ! " muttered Fred. " Made my hair
stand ! We should have gone out of her in a hurry if we
had struck it ! There in that awful current, too ! Seven
or eight feet deep there ! "
We got breath and eased our aching muscles.
" No use to try it up the middle there again," said Farr.
" But we may possibly get up between the rock and the
alders, on the left side. One thing I'm going to try a
setting-pole instead of the oars this time."
" A good idea," said Fred.
We landed a little below and cut a strong ash sapling,
which Farr cut off at twelve feet or thereabouts. With
this he took my place in the stern, and I took his oars.
" Now be ready to do your prettiest this time," said
Fred. " Keep her going if you can. Don't let her stop
and hang in the current. Let's see if we can't go up at
the first spurt, and have it done quick. Ready now.
Every time I yell "Hi/" every man dip his oar, sharp.
Now for it once more ! Hit Hi! Hi!"
We went at the rapid again with fresh courage.
"Hi! Hi! Hi!"
Up we went. Again the boat settled into the water.
Farr sent us on with long shoves with his pole.
" Hi I Hi I Hi! Quicker ! "
Up, up, yard after yard. We were almost to the crest of
the rapid when the bow swerved a foot to left : this side
56 A SHARP FIGHT WITH THE CURRENT.
was full of cross currents. Scott in the bow put out his
whole strength to force it back. So did Fred and myself.
Too late ! It turned side to the stream in a twinkling,
and went round, nearly pitching Farr out with his pole.
Before we could dip our oars or Farr could regain his
t balance sufficiently to set the pole, the current swept us
among the alders which projected out over the water, a
perfect hedge-row of them. They were clogged and laden
with dirt, grass, and dry leaves, lodged among them by
the recent freshet. Many of the stalks and twigs were
dead and dry. We went smash amongst these, brushing
off our hats, scratching our hands and faces, and filling
our eyes with dirt, and the boat with grass and leaves !
The water was deep six or eight feet clean under the
bank. We went round and round, first one end, then the
other, smashing through the alders, and brought up with
a thump against a fir-trunk that had fallen out into the
stream. The current still pushing us sharply, the boat
tipped to one side. The water slopped in. We were
stranded. Somebody let fly a few rather bad words, as
we went through the alders, of which I, for one, felt
ashamed afterwards. This swearing over a mishap is a
wicked waste of breath, and a very vulgar, foolish
waste, to boot. But it was aggravating, as well as peril-
ous.
" Worsted us again ! " muttered Fred, winking the dirt
out of his eyes. " Only look at the grass we've shipped.
Hay enough for a shake-down."
"SNEAKING UP." 57
" And alderbrush enough for a camp-fire," add< d Scott.
Farr was bailing out the water.
" Well, what are we going to do now ? " he demanded.
"Here we are beached."
" We never can get up this rapid in the world ! " exclaimed
Scott, as if fully convinced of it. *
" I think we might do it next time," said Fred.
" Oh, we never could ! " cried Scott. " It's too strong for
us."
" It would be about all we could do, any way," Farr ob-
served. " But I believe we can sneak up beside these alders."
"How's that?" I said.
" Let two of us grab hold of the bushes and pull the boat
along, foot by foot, while the others fend off," exclaimed Farr.
" I think we can work along up in that way. If we can't do
it so, we can't at all."
"We can but try that," said Fred. "We can't be much
worse off."
Scott and I took each an oar, in order to hold the boat off
from the brush as much as possible. Fred and Farr lay hold
of the green alder twigs that hung out over the water. First
one would pull, then the other ; each being sure not to let
go his hold till the other had got a new one. It was slow
work, but tolerably sure. We gained foot after foot, and
did not lose. It was not a very stylish way, but like many
another not particularly stylish method, it succeeded. We
got up after a while past the brink of the rapid, into
smooth water.
58 TIRED OUT.
In commemoration of our exploit, we called the place Al-
der-Grab Rapids.
Fifty rods farther on, we came out to cleared fields on both
sides of the river ; but a few minutes later, and on rounding
a bend, we found ourselves at the foot of another rapid, so
much longer and rougher than the one we had but barely
conquered, that we immediately gave up the idea of going up
it. There was heard, too, the roar of a heavy cataract not
far above.
"That must be Escohos Falls," said Fred, stopping to lis-
ten. "We might as well land here. We can't go much
farther, anyhow. We shall have to carry round it."
Accordingly we landed at a place where there was a cart-
track leading down to a ford, at low water, and drew up the
boat. It was time, too. The sun had set. Only its last rays
shone on the bald cap of Mount Escohos, that towered to the
east of us. We were tired out. Our hands were badly blis-
tered, particularly Scott's. We felt cross.
We meant to camp on the spot. While Fair and Fred
were setting up the tent, however, Scott and myself went to
attack an old pine stump for fuel on the hill above, and from
that point espied a house about three-fourths of a mile away.
It was immediately determined to go to the house and see
what could be done there. We had no romantic nonsense
about camping out. We much preferred a house when there
was one to be reached, and set off at once, following the old
cart-road. Fred took his gun.
There was a barn as well as a house, both enclosed by a
A DESERTED HOUSE. 59
fence of rails and. logs; altogether a very dilapidated estab-
lishment. The house was a sprawling, one-story affair, only
partially shingled. There were no curtains to the six-pane
windows ; and we found, as we had suspected while yet at
some distance, that it was deserted, empty, but neither
" swept " nor " garnished." The yard was full of tall thistles,
with down blowing about in the wind. The door, hah un-
hinged, stood partly agape, and among the thistles not a yard
from the log door-step, a partridge began to " quit " at our
approach. Fred shot it promptly.
CHAPTER VII.
A Desolate Dwelling. We Camp in the Old House. Hay Shake-
downs. A Bloody Axe. The House Afire! A Spoiled Sup-
per. A fresh " Spread " Another Fire Alarm. The Chimney
Afire. Fireworks on a Grand Scale! Some Mysterious Explo-
sions! Pour on Water. The Chimney Subsides. We go to
Bed on a Hay-mow.
r I THE house inside was a picture of desolation. Dirt,
JL soot, and old bricks lay about in quantities. There
were two rooms on the ground floor. One of these had been
plastered, but the plaster was half off it and covered the floor.
There was a queer odor about the place, the odor of that
irregular combination of ingredients known as " gurry." Some
ruffian had smashed the chamber stairs with an axe ; (we knew
it was with an axe, for there lay the axe, a particularly rusty
and ugly one, with blood stains on it) . So we did not at
once go up chamber.
The out-look was not inviting ; no more was the /-look.
Nevertheless, we at once decided to camp in the house.
" But somebody has got to go back to the boat after stuff,"
Fred remarked.
Nobody wanted that commission. Tired as we were, it
seemed a dreadful job. Each one, even Spot, looked glum.
THE OLD HOUSE. 6l
" Must be done," Fred argued.
Everybody looked glummer. [Glummer may or may
not be good English.]
" Draw lots for it, then," urged Fred.
" That's fair," Scott admitted : generally his luck is won-
derful.
Fred broke four bits off a straw of herdsgrass.
We drew.
Greatly to his disgust Scott got the short one. He mut-
tered evil things. At that, Fred magnanimously offered to
go with him. They set off on a tired trot, charging us to
kindle a fire ; for it was already dusk.
There was a fireplace, but no andirons. Farr remedied
this deficit, however, by setting up loose bricks. Fred had
left us two matches. We broke up three or four rails from
the straggling fence with the bloody axe (I hope it was the
blood of nothing nearer man than a yearling), and soon had
the deserted hearth aglow. I then started for the barn, to
get hay for a bed before it should grow quite dark.
The old barn-yard was also filled with thistles, only
these were bull thistles instead of Canada thistles ; and
here I started up two more partridges. I might have shot
them as well as not, for they ran a rod or more before
flying.
That's always the way. If you want to see game, leave
your gun at home.
Hearing the gun when Fred shot the first, these two had
probably hidden here.
62 THE HOUSE AFIRE.
Somebody had cut and stored several tons of hay in the
barn the previous summer. I helped myself, bringing
along as much as I could get in my arms at two loads.
It filled the whole back side of the room, and considered
as a bed, looked tempting.
Fred and Scott came back, toiling under the weight of
kettle, frying-pan, meat, meal, flour, and potatoes. Fred
had also taken along our four woollen blankets.
Water was then brought from a spring and rill, where
an old barrel had been set in days past. While Fred and
Scott rested on the hay, Farr and myself got on meat to
fry and potatoes to boil, and we were meditating a hasty
pudding, when Scott cried, " Hark ! what's that rumbling
and roaring ! "
The old house had got afire up chamber, about the
ill-constructed chimney ! Then there was a lively to-do !
" Fire ! fire ! " Farr began to roar.
We had to take the potato-kettle, with all in it, to throw
water. It was blazing like mad up through the roof on
the outside. Fred got a rail and climbed up by it upon
the roof (the eaves were low), and we passed up to him
kettleful after kettleful of water.
He put it out without much difficulty. But that was
not the worst of it. On going inside again, we found that
the water had run down, well nigh extinguishing the fire
in the fireplace, and filling the spider of meat with wet
cinders and soot. There was a dismal puddle on the
floor, and it had run under the hay, thereby spoiling our
bed utterly.
A SPOILED SUPPER. 63
However, we had faced worse disasters than this.
Fred fell to work to reproduce supper. Farr and I
mopped up, using the hay, which we threw out and then
got a fresh supply from the barn. Scott watched the
house.
These mishaps delayed us so much that it was towards
eight o'clock before supper was cooked, including the
hasty pudding, which we ate with sugar only ; for Scott
was forever preaching against eating so much grease. He
thought it highly injurious ; and perhaps it was. It had
been long since our noon lunch, and we had labored so
smartly, that we were ravenous, and stuffed ourselves so
industriously, that together with our fatigue we nearly
dropped asleep over the last potato. Scott, however, had
been in jeopardy lest the damp floor should give us our
death. He roused up and strenuously insisted on a good
rousing fire to dry up the moisture. None the rest of us
would stir an inch to break up more rails. So he went at
it himself, and built what he called a "good rousing-"
one, I suppose, for I was already in a drowse. And an-
other nice fracas that cost us ! Old Scratch himself was
in our luck that night. We were not ten minutes asleep,
when another " rumbling and roaring " began. First
Fred, then all of us, jumped up, suddenly disturbed by it.
" House's afire again ! " Fred shouted.
But it wasn't the house this time ; it was the chimney.
The old thing was foul as a blackguard, no doubt. Very
likely it had never been burned out and was chock full of
soot. Scott's rousing fire had touched it off.
6 4
THE CHIMNEY AFIRE.
How it roared ! We sat aghast at it. A big freight
train rumbling over a long bridge was all I could
think of. Perceiving a mighty illumination outside, we
ran out. There was a sight for a dark night ! The place
'IT WAS THE CHIMNEY.
was light as day ! A column of fire was going out the top
of that old chimney, twenty feet high, if it was an inch !
I never saw any thing like that before. And the air fairly
sung in through the old door, it drew so hard. It was
FIREWORKS ON A GRAND SCALE. 65
clazzlingly bright, and gained strength every minute. The
column eveli grew in height. Great red clots of soot flew
up like rockets ; and a shower of sparks and cinders was
falling. Before we knew it, the old roof was blazing in
three or four places. Farr ran for the potato-kettle, and
we threw water fast and hard. We soon put out the
fire in the shingles. Fred meanwhile had climbed up
into the chamber by the ruins of the old stairs, and
was calling to bring water at the top of his voice. It had
caught all around the chamber floor, and about the roof
beneath. Then we worked again. Water in the kettle,
in the frying-pan, and in both of Scott's rubber boots, as
fast as we could all three run with it ! and Fred up cham-
ber dousing it on the fire ! The chamber floor leaked like
a thunder shower, and there was a stench of soot so pun-
gently powerful that it was like facing a pepper mill to
enter the door.
Fred put out the fire.
"But this chimney's red hot !" he shouted down' to us.
" Hisses like a demon, when the water touches it ! Pass
up another ke'ttleful ; I'll stand ready to throw."
Farr had run to put out another blaze on the outside of
the roof ; and Scott and I were hoisting up the kettle to
Fred, when there came a report as loud as a gun from
near the fireplace ! It was from inside the old brick and
stone oven ; and it blew the oven door off its leather
hinges clear across the room !
Whether there was powder, or any thing of that sort, in
5
66 SOME MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSIONS.
the oven left there, or whether it was gas from the soot
that exploded, we could not find out. Fred came down
the staircase at a jump.
" If this old shebang is going to blow up ! " said he,
"I'll be getting down. I believe it's haunted, or be-
witched I "
The oven was aglow with soot-coal that had tumbled
down the flue ; but we could detect nothing else ; and yet
we had hardly turned away before there came a second
explosion, that blew the glowing coal out the mouth and
all over the room. We did not know what to make of
that, never have known. Scientific students, perhaps,
can account for it.
This thing disturbed us worse than all the rest. We
kept well out of the range of the oven-mouth after that.
It went off once or twice afterwards, but not so loud.
Gradually the pillar of fire from the chimney went
down ; though it burned an hour or over in all. If any-
body saw it at a distance, it must have been an astonishing
spectacle. Once or twice while we were carrying water, I
heard the surprised cries of wild animals from the side of
Escohos. Poor Spot had retreated out to the water-barrel,
where he greeted us each time we came out with imploring
wags of his tail ; and once when the thistles in the yard
had caught fire, he howled dolorously.
The flames subsided, but for a long while the inside of
the chimney remained in a bright red coal. It shone up
into the air ; and the great draught continued to set up
THE CHIMNEY SUBSIDES. 67
the flue. It had got so hot that we did not dare to leave
it, and so sat up and watched it.
Finally Fred climbed up from the outside and threw a
fry-pan of water into it, at the top. This raised a prodig-
ious hissing ; and a vast volume of steam flew up. But
a few fry-panfuls sensibly cooled it, or at least, blackened
it ; for the fierce glow died out. Darkness gathered in.
The fire place was drenched with water, the hay soaked
ten times worse than before ; and the chamber floor
dripped like a subterranean cavern. The house was
quite unhabitable.
" Let's go to the barn," said Farr ; " and try that."
" It's long past midnight," Scott declared.
We brushed through the bull-thistles, shoved the lean-to
door open, and felt our way to the mow. Into ttis we
crept, and burying ourselves in the hay, soon dropped
asleep.
Altogether that was an exhausting day.
CHAPTER VIII.
Farr Labors at Keel-hauling. A Venerable Darn-needle. Mount
Escohos. Wilson's Mills. A Big Dog! Mrs. "Spoff."
The Escohos "Carry." French Pete. " fferret Jinny!"
Three Dollars to Pay. The Half-moon. A Rough and Mud-
dy Trail. Slows. Pete's Ruse. " Watch ! " Escohos Falls.
A Wild looking Place. Jack Abram's Spruce. Pete Shakes
Hands.
WHEN I unglued my eyes next morning, it was
broad day-light out of doors. Farr was sitting
dn on end, very busily engaged. I had to look twice be-
fore Ifully comprehended the extent and design of his
labors, and so would you, reader.
He was keel-hauling his pants. He had ravelled out
about four inches of the leg of one of his knit stockings, and
was darning the seat of his pants with the yarn. There
was ingenuity and resource !
Seeing me awake and attentive, he grinned sardoni-
cally.
" What's the use of legs to stockings ? " said he, with a fine
scorn in his tone, " unless you use them for repairs. They
do no good. Always getting wet, and then staying wet
around your shanks."
FARR LABORS AT KEEL-HAULING. 69
" But they're handy things to have about one," he added,
after a pause filled with long stitches.
"Wherever did you get that darn-needle ? " I inquired.
" Oh, that's the one I've always had," replied the repairer.
" That's another handy thing to have, a darn-needle \
good for splinters, good for mending, good for picking out
the tube of your gun, good for a hundred things. I
wouldn't travel without one. Why, a darn-needle's a thing
you can fall back on most any time."
Ah, it was grim business to stir and get up that morning.
We were sore, lame, stiff, and felt old all over: we had
over-exerted ourselves. Too much exercise is not quite
so bad as none at all, however ; it leaves one tougher for
next time.
Scott got up cross and grumbled at every thing, till Farr
sung out to him, " Look o' here, you man that fired the
chimney, shut up ! "
Fred, too, was rather quiet that morning, but busied him-
self getting breakfast. We built a fire out in the yard ; we
had had enough of the house. Our wet blankets we hung
on the fence to dry in the brisk morning breeze.
Fred made another batch of " flippers ; " and those,
with coffee, brightened us up a good deal.
Leaving our kitchen property at the house, we all four
set off in the direction of the falls to " prospect " for a
team to draw our boat across the carry. There was what
the Magallowayans call a road ; though it might have
found difficulty in passing as such almost anywhere else.
70 WILSON'S MILLS.
We followed it confidently. Wilson's Mills were some-
'where ahead.
The path crooked about among spruce and fir thickets.
Quite suddenly, we met a dog a monster so big
that we all involuntarily shied from him. He was brin-
dled and had a mighty pink muzzle and fine surly eyes,
out of which he merely threw us a passing glance. Spot
cut out into the bushes and made a great circle around
him.
"Heavens! what a dog! " Scott exclaimed, glancing civ-
illy back after him. " The biggest dog I ever saw in all
my life!"
" Brought up on bear's meat," Farr suggested.
Another turn brought us out in sight of two red houses,
three barns and a school-house, the latter so small that at
first we took it for a corn-crib. We made for the first red
house, and a very comfortable sort of house it was, for the
region. A bright-looking little fellow stood in the door-
way ; but before we had got quite near enough to accost
him, three more dogs rushed out, each larger than the
other ; though none of them quite equalled the one we had
met. Catching sight of Spot, they made for him, barking
and growling like furies. Spot wedged himself betwixt
Farr's legs, and having no farther retreat, growled defiance.
Fred clubbed his long shot-gun, and whirling it around in
a lively manner, knocked the smallest one over, and put
the others to flight.
The little boy looked on dispassionately. I was glad to
"MRS. SPOFF." 71
see that he appeared to regard it as a proper thing
to do.
Said Scott, "What's your name, my boy? "
" I'm not your boy," said the child. " I'm papa's boy."
"Right. What is your papa's name?"
" His name is Spoff."
"Yes, and is Mr. Spoff at home ?"
Something about this prefix of Mr. seemed to strike the
boy as not being just right, but he got over it and told us
that " Spoff " was gone up the Diamond.
At this juncture a young woman came to the door. A
glance indicated that it was the boy's mother. Scott
raised his cap.
" Good-morning, Mrs. Spoff," said he. " The little boy
tells me that Mr. Spoff is not at home."
A little to our surprise, the lady first smiled, then laughed
merrily.
"Did Frankie tell them papa's name was Spoff?" look-
ing with arch reproof into the little fellow's upturned face,
while she playfully rumpled his hair.
Then she explained to us, " My husband's name is
Flint, Spofford Flint. But persons sometimes call him
Spoff, for short. That's what Frankie has got hold of."
Scott begged pardon.
" Why, it was Frankie's mistake," she said.
A very pretty woman was Mrs. Flint. Finer eyes I
have rarely seen. Her air and manners were those of a
lady She was frank and agreeable. We supposed, at
72 THE ESCOHOS "CARRY."
the time, that she had not always resided on tho Magallo
way ; but I have since learned that we were wrong in out
surmise. Well, Nature can make a lady as wel/ as good
society, and now and then does.
Scott explained that we were wishing to pass the falls,
and had hoped to be able to make a bargain with Mr.
Flint to draw our boat over the carry.
" I can have it done for you," said she, promptly " Do
you wish to go over immediately ? "
We did.
" Very well ; walk in, please, and wait a few moments,
till I can send our man."
But we thought it better to return at once to the boat,
to get it out of the river and pack up our luggage. This
we did, and had hardly done so, when the man, " Pete,"
(whom we had heard Mrs. Flint call) made his appearance,
leading a strong black mare harnessed to a long cart.
Pete was a French Canadian, of the prevailing pattern ;
and the black mare was a veritable Tartar, bearing the
pretty name of Jenny.
'Twas a round load for her : that heavy boat with all
our traps and bags. All the time we were loading and
lashing the boat fast with many turns of the rope, Jenny
kept turning the white of a vicious eye round to us. She
highly disapproved of the whole proceedings. On getting
the word to go, the gentle brute instantly let fly her heels
high over the load, and went the wrong way, to wit, back-
wards, and came near depositing the cart in the rapids, at
the outset.
FRENCH PETE. 73
But Pete was not wholly unprepared. He clubbed the
white oak whip-stock, and laid the heavy end across the
recalcitrant Jenny. " Her ret, Jenn&y ! Herret!" he
screamed.
He knew only three or four English words ; but had
fully mastered our great national oath. This he bestowed
on ' Jennay " without stint.
" Isn't it strange that that is the first thing these fellows
learn of our talk ? " Fred said to me as we followed after
the cart. " Never saw one so green yet but that he knew
so much English."
Mrs. Flint was in the yard as we came along the road
past the house. We stopped to pay for the job of drawing
the boat
" Three dollars," she said, was what they had for taking
a boat over the carry.
With "Spoff '' himself we might have chaffered for less,
not with her. Fred and I paid it, with cheerful alacrity,
between us ; though it reduced our united capital to two
dollars, twenty-five cents.
A little beyond the Flints, the carry path diverges from
the road, and leads up through a pasture for a hundred
rods or more, then enters the woods. This pasture is the
extreme limits of the cleared land on the river. Beyond
it lay the great wilderness. At this place the Magalloway
falls over a long succession of ledges down 'the ravine be-
tween Escohos and " Parker Hill," so called. I do not know
th?t the entire height of the fall has ever been calculated.
74 A ROUGH AND MUDDY TRAIL.
For a guess, I should place it at from two hundred to two
hundred and fifty feet.
It is a great place for trout-fishing.
The carry is two and a half miles in length. As you go
up through the pasture from Flint's, there is a good view
of the river valley below, and of a great semi-circular
black mountain to the west of it, called the " Half-moon."
From the top of Escohos, there is said to be one of the
best views to be had from any mountain in New England.
Some tourists think it superior to that from Mount Wash-
ington.
But we had no time to climb mountains for fine views.
Our business was of a much more practical character. It
was not, however, without some regrets and secret misgiv-
ings that we turned for a last look at the houses in the
valley below us, then entered the woods. From this point
to the head of Parmachenee it is forty-six miles. The
vast wilderness before us was not without its charm, nor
yet its aspect of peril and mystery.
Feelings of this sort were straightly banished by the
more exciting details of the way. On entering the forest,
the trail at once changed from a dry, though rough, cart-
road to an exceedingly wet and muddy one. Sloughs of
muck began to disclose themselves. Roaring brooks
which dashed across the path had dug it asunder in the
midst, leaving great stones plump in the way. About,
among, athwart and over these Jenndy leaped and
plunged like a wood-demon. Every thing not lashed in
THE CARRY.
PETE'S RUSE. 75
the strongest manner, was speedily shaken off. At inter-
vals of six or eight rods we would have to re-bestow the
load. That the cart held together was a growing
wonder !
Pete drove when he could keep up. Farr and Scott
ran on the off side, to hold the load on. Fred and I
sought to do the same thing on the other side. Some-
times we did it, sometimes we did not. The mare went
by starts and jerks ; and there was no knowing when she
meant to start, or when she meant to stop, after starting.
She had, moreover, a most peculiar and effective way of
hurling the mud from her hoofs. It was impossible to
dodge it ; so we hung to the load and took what came to
us. But there was spitting! I recollect that one lump,
large as one's two fists and soft as pig's grease, took Scott
olump on the mouth. He' let go, sputtered, and fairly
At length we came to a slough so soft and long that
Pete stopped.
" No passeY' he said. " Hattie (Mrs. Flint) not know
dees ! "
Scott and Farr argued, urged, and raged at him. Pete
would not start the horse. It did no good to tell him we
had paid to be carried across. He did not, or else would
not, understand it.
"Let's take the reins away from him and drive through
ourselves," Farr said.
But that seemed a rather summary way of behaving.
76 " WATCH."
Besides, if we should get Jenny irretrievably mired, the
responsibility would lie with us. Fred quietly drew Pete
aside and took out his wallet. First he showed him twen-
ty-five cents. Pete brightened a little, but shook his head.
Fred judiciously hesitated awhile, then took out a fifty
cent bill. Pete was shrewd. Having seen that Fred had
a fifty and a twenty-five cent scrip, he at once set his
price.
" Seventy-five cent ! " he said, and stuck for that.
Fair was for pitching him into the slough without
further ado.
Scott thought we had best go back to get authority from
Mrs. Flint. But the distance was nearly two miles ; and the
road was fearful. We shrank, too, from involving her in
the fuss, though it was clearly one in which she was inter-
ested.
On the whole, we concluded to give Pete his " seventy-
five cent " ; but Farr declared that he would thrash him
as soon as we came out to the river. Peter was more or
less of a swindler. On getting the money, however, he at
once started Jenny into the slough. And in the tussle
that followed, we nearly forgave the Frenchman : that was
a slough such as John Bunyan might have parabled.
If Jenny had not been a most remarkable animal, we
should have stuck there for good.
Once out of this slough, however, the way improved.
We had reached the height of land, and now turned down
the heavily-wooded slope toward the river. But we had
A WILD-LOOKING PLACE. 77
lost a lynch-pin from the hind axle ; and while in full ca-
reer, the wheel rolled off ! It was put on again ; but the
wooden pins we substituted kept breaking.
" Watch ! " Pete admonished, pointing to it. " Watch ! "
Fred watched, with fresh pins ready.
The upper end of the falls, where we came out of the
carry road a few minutes later, is a very wild-looking
place.
The stream, black as ink and overhung with straggling
spruce, rolls tumultuously down over huge stones. The roar
is heavy and continuous. Some of the "pitches" show a
perpendicular fall of twenty feet or more. In one of
these a lumberman had been drowned the previous spring.
His name (Jack Abram) is cut in a spruce trunk at the
foot of the pitch.
Above this point there is smooth water up to "The
Narrows," ten miles.
The boat was taken off the cart and launched, and the
luggage stowed as before. Jenny's head was then turned
homeward. She was covered with mud, a complete crust
of it. Scant as was our stock of potatoes, Fred gave her
a couple. Used to nothing but abuse from Pete, the
mare was manifestly astonished. She looked at Fred in
a singular way, but took the potatoes.
Pete came to shake hands with us at parting.
" Good-by," I said to him.
" Goo'-by," said he.
But Farr would not shake hands with him.
78 PETE SHAKES HANDS.
" He's a skunk, any way," quoth our comrade ; bu tie
did not put his threat of thrashing him in execution.
For my own part, I fancy that both Pete and Jenny
well earned all the money they got from us ; though Pete's
ruse to raise the price was a little irregular.
CHAPTER IX.
No Dinner. The Fir Forest. Fairly Afloat in the Wilderness.
Herons. The Pretty "Round Woods." A Canada Jay. A
Clearing and a Loggers' Shanty. We Resolved to Camp in it
A Bear. Night in the Woods. A Nocturnal Disturbance.
Scott Shoots through the Roof. Spot's Fright The Prowler
Decamps. A Morning Nap.
T T was half past two, afternoon. We had eaten nothing
JL since breakfast. On the carry we had felt hungry; but
now that noon had past, we were less so, and decided to
go on for a couple of hours, then camp for the night. So
much for a well-established habit of taking our dinner at
noon.
Above the falls the river averages from six to ten rods
in width. It is deep and black, an aspect enhanced by
the fir forest on either bank, dark green, sombre, and pro-
foundly quiet. There were few birds here at this season,
or, as I am inclined to believe, at any season. The most
noticeable feature about the stream is its silence. ,The
current creeps on steadily. If you stop rowing, it drags
8o FAIRLY AFLOAT IN THE WILDERNESS.
you slowly back ; and you would not know that you were
drifting unless your eye caught sight of a twig, or a bit of
bough, coming slowly to meet you. The crooks and bends
are numerous; but the forest is so dense here that one can-
not see just how much he is the sport of them ; and that is
one comfort.
As we paddled on, following all these meanderings, the
impression grew that we might get so involved that to
get out would be impossible. In an hour we had faced
every point of the compass. The general course of the
stream is from north to south. But a stranger could never
have guessed it, that first afternoon above the falls. The
peaks of moderately high mountains on both sides of the
river valley were from time to time to be seen over the fir
tops. Escohos was alternately behind and fronting us ;
then to left or right. A tall, dark hill, known as Emery's
Misery, played similar tricks. We conjectured at random
as to the origin of this odd name. Beaver Hill, a pine-
clad ridge to the east of the valley, was more easily ac-
counted for.
Above Escohos we saw but few ducks, and these at a
distance. Not a duck was shot till we arrived on the
lake. Occasionally a great blue heron (Ardea Herodias)
would start up, breaking the silence with its heavy flap-
pings. Several times we shot after them in the air, but
never brought down any thing.
At rather unfrequent intervals, a kingfisher would spring
his ratt?e, and go noisily up the stream in advance of us.
A CANADA JAY. 8 1
But Fred assured us that they were not nearly so plenty
here as on the upper course of the Androscoggin.
Here and there a sluggish brook made in through the
bank, showing a slim channel fringed with melancholy
alders. Another shrub, however, began to attract our
attention, and from henceforth made one of the most
agreeable features of the river scenery. Clinging to the
bank and leaning out over the water, we now began to
note the vivid red clusters of mountain ash, or round-wood
berries. With every mile they grew more and more plen-
tiful, till sometimes both banks presented a bright scarlet
border, often reflected in the still dark water with wonder-
<ul fidelity.
Here for the first time we saw a Canada jay, sitting
observant of our progress on a fir stub. It is a bird not
common in southern Maine ; not so handsome as its con-
gener, the noisy blue jay, though of about the same size.
Its note is even less agreeable, which is saying little
enough for it as a musician. Its colors are brown and
white. The lumbermen call it the carrion bird, and have
also bestowed upon it two other names, even less ornate.
Scott shot at the first one we saw, with the rifle from
the boat. The slug struck into the stub directly under
where it had perched, and this, together with the report,
set it a-scolding at a great rate. It rose a yard perhaps
from where it had sat, but immediately resumed its place.
The bird is not nearly as shy as the blue jay.
It was already past four o'clock. We were bethinking
( 2 A LOGGERS SHANTY.
ourselves of stopping to camp, when Fred called our at-
tention to what seemed an opening a little back from the
river on the east bank. We drew in ashore ; and Farr
mounted the bank, which was higher than usual, to recon-
noitre.
" Yes ; there's a clearing," he called down to us. " It's
where they've been cutting out spruce. And there's a
shanty."
" What say, shall we go out to it? " Fred queried.
I was afraid that it might be lousy ; but the others did
not agree with me. We tied the boat to a fir trunk, and
took out our ducks and the partridge, which we supposed
had been kept about as long as they should be, together
with our guns, the inevitable and never-to-be-left-behind
potato kettle, fry-pan, etc. [These utensils are always un-
derstood to be present unless forgotten.]
The shanty was on rising ground about a hundred rods
from the stream. It was built of spruce logs with a shed
roof of pine "splits," the usual shanty of the backwoods,
with a split door, secured by a wooden pin. Farr was
ahead, and had the first peep.
" Here's luck !" he sang out to us.
There was a cooking-stove all set up, just as the last log-
ging gang had left it. Possibly they intended to use the
shanty during the coming winter ; for there was a barrel halt
full of salt pork, in the brine, and a barrel containing beans ;
also a small quantity of tea in an old salt-box. And what
we liked better still, they had nearly half a cord of wood
NIGHT IN THE WOODS. 83
cut stove-length. It was tiered up at one end of the shanty,
and was dry as tinder.
To get supper with such accommodations, seemed nothing
but fun.
In another barrel, Fred speedily unearthed a whole set of
tin plates, cups, basins, and baker-sheets.
Half an hour later we had a duck and a partridge par-
boiling, potatoes cooking, and a batch of Horsford biscuit
baking. The old stove, with its front doors and top red hot,
had a most home-like aspect : we felt quite happy.
That was one of the most enjoyable suppers on the river.
I say on the river, since it could not, of course, compare
with some of those sumptuous barbecues after we got fairly
established at the head of the lake. No meals that I ever
ate could indeed compare with those. For then we had
grand living and grand appetites together.
It had never seemed like really camping in the wilderness,
till that night. Before, when we had camped at Moll's
Rock, we knew that there was a settlement not ten miles
above us ; but here we knew we were fairly launched in the
forest, a forest that extended even into Canada and to the
Gulf of St. Lawrence. The woods, too, had a different
seeming. A wilder quiet rested over all, broken now and
then by wilder sounds.
While we were eating, a bear cried out from the hill-side,
back of the shanty : a plaintiff cry, like that of some forlorn
and benighted maiden wandering in the darkening forest.
Neither Scott nor myself would have known what it was, but
for the ready interpretation of Fred's practised ear.
84 * NOCTURNAL DISTURBANCE
" 1 would aot wonder if we might get a shot at mm, by
all starting out with our guns and getting around him," said
he. "As soon as he heard any one of us he would run, and
make such a. noise in the brush that some of us might get a
shot."
We were all tired, however ; and to tell the truth, did not
much relish the idea of such a hunt in the night. Besides,
there was some danger of shooting each other by mistake.
As the evening advanced, other cries, generally at a con-
siderable distance, broke the stillness. Various prowlers
were abroad. A sharp, raspy screech resounded on a sudden,
seemingly from near where we had tied up the boat. It
made us start sharply, it was so near and ugly. The next
moment it was followed by a deep tu-whit-tu-whooo-oo !
" Nothing but a screech owl," said Fred.
These dense fir and spruce forests on the river seemed a
populous haunt of owls.
There was a long bunk, bedded with boughs, on the back
side of the shanty. We closed and pinned the door ; then
rolling up in our blankets, lay down and talked till we fell
asleep.
But along in the night we were awakened by a great
racket on the roof of dry splits over our heads. Something
was digging, scratching, and tearing them up. They rattled
prodigiously. We all jumped up into sitting posture.
" What on earth is that? " demanded Scott, in an alarmed
whisper.
" I don't know," says Fred.
SPOT'S FRIGHT. 85
" Means to dig down to us ! " Farr said. " Smells us ! "
"Thinks there's something hurting down here," said
Fred.
" I'll fix him I " Scott whispered. " Keep quiet."
We got out of the bunk and fumbled out one of the
guns, Fair's double-barrelled one. We heard him cocking
it.
" Don't hold the muzzle too near the splits," Fred cau-
tioned.
But he did hold it too near, and fired both barrels at once.
It made a stunning report, and recoiled violently out of his
hands. So great was the pressure, that the splits were blown
up off the poles, for they were not nailed down.
Almost at the same instant, I heard something leap off
on to the ground. Fred opened the door and shouted st
boy I to Spot. Out bounded Spot, barking furiously. But he
didn't run far. Before we had even time to step out, he
came back with a yelp and scooted into the door, betwixt
our legs !
Farr struck a match and lighted some dry splints. The
blaze disclosed Spot glaring out at the door, the hair on his
back raised and stiff as bristles, and his tail straight as a cob.
Fred began to laugh.
" You'll get eaten up, Spot, as sure as fate," said he.
We went out and listened. It was too dark to see much ;
and the cleared space was full of old spruce tops and low
shrubs. We heard once what seemed the stealthy snap of a
twig. Farr let fly a slug fiom O.vc rifle. The light of the
86 THE PROWLER DECAMPS.
discharge lit up the brush ; but we saw nothing and heard
nothing more.
" Lucivee, I guess," said Fred. " Smelled our cookery
and so jumped up on the splits to sharpen his claws."
It took some little time to get quieted down enough to
go to sleep, after this rouse-up. But we had a good morning
nap.
CHAPTER X.
fn Jolly Spirits. A Fine Morning. " The Narrows." A Struggle.
"Hi!! Hi!! Hi!!" "Wake up! " Worsted. The Tow-
line. The Beautiful Mountain-ash. " Lincoln Pond Brook
Camp." Metallic Pond. Some Profane Trees. <f The Mead-
ows." Glowing Plans. The Story of some Young Farmers.
Robins. A Winter Haunt of Robins. Our Camp on the Bluff.
High-bush Cranberries.
IT was after sunrise before we were astir ; and nearly
eight before we started for the boat.
We left the old shanty as good as we found it, save for
the blackening of the splits and several buck-shot holes
through them, where Scott had fired at our nocturnal dis-
turber. We took along enough buttered Horsfords (bis-
cuits, the reader must understand) to serve for our noon
lunch; so as not to have to delay to kindle a fire and
cook.
The morning was beautiful, cloudless and mild, with a
lingering breath of summer in the breeze. The sun shone
warmly, yet softly. We were in uncommon spirits, and
sang and whistled for pure love of the thing. Times
came when we had to do it to keep up our spirits. But
none of those things troubled us that morning. We made
88 "THE NARROWS."
the old bateau shoot through the water, and laughed at
the puniness of the current. But currents are things that
hold their own better than exuberant spirits.
We had rowed perhaps two miles, when a low roar of
rushing waters began to be heard. It grew more distinct,
till rounding a bend, we saw where the stream pours force-
fully between two ledges, not more than forty feet apart.
" The Narrows," said Fred. "Now for something like
work."
At the foot of the cascade there is a great eddy, flanked
by reaches of- dead water. We pulled up into the eddy
within a hundred feet of the bottom of the rapid, then
stopped to take a look and deliberate.
The ledges mark the difference of level between the
lower and the upper portions of the river valley. The
length of the rapid is not over twenty yards, at most, and
the descent not more than four or five feet. Yet the cur-
rent was wonderfully swift, and sucked through the narrow
passage with a strength that we had not quite expected.
" Can we run it ? " said Farr, doubtfully.
"Well, we can try," Fred replied. "We're fresh this
morning. It's a mere question of muscle. There are no
rocks in the way and it isn't a long pull."
" All right," Scott exclaimed. " Draw wind for it ! "
As usual, I had the stern seat and steering paddle.
" Head her right straight into it," Fred advised. " Don't
let her swerve a hair. Punch her nose right through it I
All ready now. One ONE ONE 1 "
A STRUGGLE. 89
We struck, every one together and with full strength on.
The bateau went into it like a steam ram. We could feel
her head going up.
" She's mounting ! " Fred shouted. " At it ! "
Plash plash ! dipped the oars.
The downward current gurgled loudly against us and
put out all its mighty strength to drive us back. We struck
hard and fast to conquer it, and gained, though more and
more slowly, till we got into the narrowest place. There
we stuck as in a vice.
A minute of utmost exertion, then back we went,
turned in the eddy, and lodged in the dead water under the
right bank.
Then there was panting and puffing, and cooling of burn-
ing palms in the water. I had raised a blister in less than
two minutes !
" Gracious, isn't that a strong draft ! " Scott exclaimed.
" A regular suck-hole," said Farr.
" What think of it now, Fred?" I queried.
" It seems as if we ought to do it," said Fred. " The
place is so short, we ought to get up it."
"Yes, it's short but, oh, Moses!" laughed arr.
" There's one way, and only one way : that is, to get up full
speed before we strike into the sluice-way there. We must
back her down below the eddy, then start and get the boat
under full headway. If we do that, and pull like all pos-
sessed, we may go up."
This seemed reasonable.
9
"HI! HI ! HI!"
We rested some minutes and got breath, then dropped
down with the current fifty or sixty yards.
"We'll drive her up this time," Farr said, confidently.
But first we shifted the load somewhat, in order to bring
the nose higher in the water.
" Are you all ready ? " Fred demanded of us.
" All ready."
" Well, then, -- Hi ! Hi ! Hi /" .
" HI ! HI ! HI ! "
We dashed through the eddy, at full jump, went into the
rapid again, and climbed up, up, up, almost to where
the smooth black stream bent downward. Every muscle
now !
" Wake up ! " yelled Fred. " Wake up ! One yard more !
One more ! "
WORSTED. 91
We should have done it, I am sure we should. We were
doing it, when I let the nose swerve a foot, no more. I
couldn't help it It was done quick as a wink. Another
moment and we were over-matched, and swept back into the
eddy, and into the selfsame place under the right bank.
"That was almost, but not quite," exclaimed Fred, du-
biously.
" If you had only kept her head straight," lamented
Scott.
Yes; I knew that as well as anybody. Such a blunder
cuts a fellow awfully. Neither Fred nor Fair found a word
of fault. But the thing spoke for itself.
"What say to trying the line?" Farr proposed. "We
don't want to lay on too many blisters at one heat."
We had a sixty-foot line, taken along for such emergen-
cies. It was got out We then pulled up to the foot of
the rapid on the left bank, and landed Farr and Scott. One
end of the line was now knotted into the ring in the bow,
and the other end thrown to them. They climbed round
the base of the ledges, and straightening the rope, began to
draw on it. It was a rather ticklish business. Fred and I
had our hands full to fend off with our oars, and hold the
boat from being dashed against the jagged sides. But "slow
and steady " did it.
Once in the smooth water above the rapid, we recoiled
our line and went on, a little chagrined, however, at hav-
ing had to use it. When a fellow sets out to go by water, he
naturally wants to do so.
92 SOME PROFANE TREES.
It was ten o'clock. We thought the current a little swift-
er above " The Narrows " than below ; not much. The fu
forest continued ; but there were higher banks, with occa>
sional rocks. The profusion of round-woods increased
rather than diminished.
A little past twelve we stopped at a pole camp, on a low
bluff, to eat our Horsfords and drain off what coffee there
remained over hi the coffee-pot from breakfast.
This camp is known as " Lincoln Pond Brook Camp."
The brook that here makes in is the outlet of Lincoln Pond,
lying off to the east of the river.
A tree near by proclaimed this to be "a star-
vation country." But we had not found it so, thus far.
Not only do many of the firs along this river have a sylvan
language of their own, but they seem to have adopted the
language of men, and a very profane and ribald tongue we
found it. It at least shows what sort of company they have
kept. Trees that talk like those, have no business in good
society. And lest they should corrupt the morals of some
innocent and untutored tourist, we took the liberty of spot-
ting off some of their unblushing ribaldry with the axe.
This we did the more sedulously since we had heard that an
adventurous party of young ladies from New York were in-
tending to penetrate this region the next summer. That
they should fall in with such scurrilous trees, was not to be
thought of; and we could think of no better way to reform
them.
We gave ourselves twenty minutes for dinner.
THE MEADOWS. 93
Not long after, we passed Metallic Pond, a pretty little
expanse opening into the Magalloway by a broad outlet
on the west side. There are two Metallic Ponds. The
other is on the east side of the river, and is not in sight
from it.
An hour later we emerged from the evergreen forest, and
saw, stretching off to the north of us, a great tract of open
land set here and there with large elms.
" The meadows," said Fred.
We had reached the foot of those famous natural mead-
ows of the Magalloway, which extend for twelve miles along
the banks, and are of themselves well worth a visit. Origi-
nally, I presume, there may have been a lake here, the bed
of which the forest has not yet encroached upon. Some
enterprising farmer, with a few thousand dollars' capital,
might put this whole tract into good grass and make a for-
tune in hay. For hay in this region often sells for thirty
dollars per ton at the logging camps.
Cranberries, too, might be cultivated on many hundred
acres of this meadow, with profit, no doubt.
We talked of all these chances of gain, as we rowed on.
" If we cannot make money any other way, we will just
come up here and settle," Fred would say, after each argu-
ment of the chances.
We grew quite enthusiastic over the beauty and extent of
this great alluvial bottom ; and I still think it would have
been a nice opening for us four boys, to have got a permit
and settled there. I am quite sure that for every dollar we
94 GLOWING PLANS.
now have, we might have had five, if we had had the perse-
verance to carry out the plans we laid there that pleasant
October afternoon.
I am the more confident of this, that I have since known
four young fellows, from the city, who left town and took up
a similar plantation in the wilderness. Their adventures and
experiences (of which one of their number has kindly fur-
nished me some account) were so amusing, pleasant, and
sometimes so exciting, that I have often regretted not being
one of their party. I doubt whether four youngsters ever
had a better time than they had, and are still having. Add
to these pleasures of pioneer life the robust health they
have ever enjoyed, and the reader will agree with me that
they are really to be envied by the whole army of pale
clerks on their high stools, who still cling to the city and its
pitiful salaries. White hands and stylish coats are good
things enough in their way, no doubt, but not to be set
against vigor, fresh air, liberty, and plenty of cash, in my
humble opinion.
My four friends above alluded to have now a backwoods
farm, or rather, plantation, worth fifty thousand dollars, which
yields them a net profit of from twelve to fifteen thousand
a year. They come as near being kings as we tolerate here
in America. Nothing would tempt them to go back to
clerking. And when I consider how much unoccupied ter-
ritory we have, even in the State of Maine, that might be
taken up in the same way, and how full the cities are of poor-
ly paid young men, I really wish that more would do as
ROBINS. 95
these four have done. They would be happier, healthier,
and make more money ; and the country at large would be
the better for it. But everybody must follow his own bent,
I suppose, if he has one.
Even here the round-woods continued to fringe the
banks and hang out their profusion of red berries. There
were great quantities, too, of high-bush cranberries.
The current is swifter through the meadows than we
had generally found it below. It perceptibly increased
the labor of rowing, and at some points was about as
much as we could comfortably breast. Through the
meadows, too, the stream was seemingly more crooked
than below; the crooks were not so broad, but sharper
and more of them. Contrary to what would be expected
here, the bed of the stream is sandy in many places, often
disclosing sandy spits and beaches. At one of these latter
there was a board stuck up in the sand, on which was in
red chalked,
" This is Turkic Government."
But we saw no turkles (turtles) here, though somebody
has, no doubt. I think that it was nine herons Scott
saw along the meadows, and kept the account of.
But a more interesting ornithological fact came out in
connection with this locality. Soon after entering on the
meadows, we began to hear the " kiff " of robins, and saw
scores of these birds all about on the elms. It seemed a
robins' paradise. As we went on, the air fairly resounded
to their sharp notes. They were feasting on the great ban
96 A WINTER HAUNT OF ROBINS.
quet of round-wood berries which nature has here set out
for them, a banquet that to exhaust would be impossible.
There were hundreds, I may safely say, thousands, of rob-
ins about the meadows ; and it was their presence that
gave the locality so great a charm for us.
And now I have a fact for naturalists, one I hope they
will receive as given on good authority. When we came
back down the river on the ice, seven weeks later (about
the first of December), we still saw robins here, though not
in so great numbers. There was then nearly a foot
of snow. The weather was cold, and had been very cold
indeed. In a word, it was severe winter weather. The
round-woods were still red with the frozen fruit ; and the
robins were contentedly billing it off.
Two lumbermen at Errol, N. H., told me that on one
occasion they had seen robins here in February, and on
another, in January. He confidently asserted that many
robins winter here, whenever it is a good season for
round-wood berries. This fact acquires some importance,
when it is remembered that these " meadows " are in
about the latitude of Montreal. I know of no other in-
stance or locality where the robin has been known to pass
the winter so far north.
As we drew near the head of the meadows, we saw
numerous bluffs covered with fir and spruce, and occa-
sionally with pine. These were, no doubt, islands of the
old-time lake. It was getting near sunset, and we
resolved to camp on one of these, past the very foot
HIGH-BUbH CRANBERRIES. 97
of which the river ran. It rose fifteen or twenty feet
above the surrounding bottom, and was wooded with
a mixed growth of white birch, fir, spruce and horn-
beam.
The boat was hitched to a stout sapling of this latter
wood ; and while Fred and Scott set up the " A " tent, Farr
and I felled a white birch and slivered an old pine stump.
From the bark of the former and the fat splinters of the
latter, a cheerful blaze was soon crackling.
The reader can easily guess of what our supper con-
sisted. So I have no need to print the bill of fare, though
it was by no means a long one.
Fred took a dipper, however, while Farr was frying
meat, and going down the bank, gathered a dessert to make
our meal relish better, a dessert of high-bush cranber-
ries. I liked the taste of these pretty well. Scott de-
tested them. Thus do tastes differ.
After supper we cut more wood, built a glorious fire,
then sprigged a grand bed of the boughs. On this, with
the flap of the tent buttoned back, we lay enjoying an
after-supper hour of rest. But this is a luxury that only a
tired voyager can fully appreciate.
There was a glorious yellow twilight, glowing over the
black evergreen ridges and peaks to the west of the valley.
We watched it die off, and not very long after died off
ourselves in profound slumber. There were no dis-
turbing "lucivees " that night. If owls saluted our fire, we
7
98 OUR CAMP ON THE BLUFF.
heard them not. Whatever savage eyes glowered at us
in our white tent, we recked not of them. We were, to use
Farr's ornate phrase, "putting the slumber into our-
selves " ; slumber being an article that must be taken in.
like water and food.
CHAPTER XI.
Mild Weather. " On to Parmachenee ! " "1 owse Ahead ! " The
Great Rips. Tow-line again. Wading. The Forks. The
Little Magalloway. What the Trees Said. Parmachenee Car-
ry. The Carry Path. Heavy Packs. Windfalls. A Tire-
some Tramp. Parmachenee Gorge and Camp. The Dam.
A Stove with an " Elevated Oven. " Some " Sprung " Pork.
The Basin-lamp. ' ; What day is it?"
"TJ^RED kindly got up and built a fire that morning before
JL waking the rest of us ; and this was only one of his
fatherly ways.
It seemed like a late April morning. There was that in
the air that reminded us of Spring. The same light, gauzy
mists were rising from the ground ; and out on the elms the
robins sang, as in nest-making time. The illusion was almost
perfect. Only the red cranberry clusters and the bunches of
round-wood plums marred the fancy.
We breakfasted immediately and went on. The stream
had fallen several inches during the night. The high water
from the freshet was subsiding.
Two miles more of meadow, and we had again entered the
fir woods, leaving the meadow with its robins behind.
" Now bowse ahead, fellows ! " Fred exhorted. " On to
IOO ON TO PARMACHENEE.
Parmachenee ! We ought to reach the foot of the lake to-
night."
" Bowse ahead," I may remark, had been our motto all
the way up. It is not, I am aware, a very elegant one ; but
in tight places we had found it expressive, more forcible
than mere "go ahead."
And we had need to bowse; for immediately after leaving
the meadows we found ourselves in a very long and tiresome
rapid, though not a very violent one. Before we reached the
comparatively moderate water above, we had taken the morn-
ing kinks well out of our muscles.
A mile above are the "great rips."
These we reached twenty minutes later. The banks on
both sides are here very unfavorable for using the tow-line ;
and to get up without it, was quite out of the question.
" We shall have to take to the water," Fred declared, at a
glance.
The " rip," or rapid, is a hundred yards in length ; and the
water runs pretty roughly, with a clearly denned roar : all these
descents have each a distinct and peculiar voice ; some harsh,
gruff and ominous, others mellow, and still others cheery,
though brawling.
"How deep is the water?" Scott queried; "and will it
not take a fellow off his feet? "
" Pull up to the foot of it," Fred said ; " and we will soon
find out. It doesn't look deep."
|^e jumped out. It was about to his middle.
" I'll hold the boat," said he, taking hold of the nose.
" Fix the line, Fair."
Fair knotted one end of the tow-line into the ring.
" Now, then, pile out," says Fred. " We'll Indian-file it
up the centre."
This was our first experience of wading. Below, the stream
had been far too deep. Scott hesitated a little about step-
ping overboard, till seeing the rest of us laughing at him, he
leaped out promptly.
WE WALKED STEADILY UP.
Nothing like a little not too much ridicule, to bring a
fellow out.
Fred went ahead and picked the way. Fair followed next.
Scott and I brought up the rear. It did not draw very hard.
102 THE FORKS.
We walked steadily up. The water did not, even in the holes,
come above our waists. It was considerably strong. It took
Scott off his feet once ; but he supported himself by the rope.
We were not more than ten minutes getting up. After the
first chill, the water did not feel cold at all. On the whole, I
rather enjoyed it. Of course it left us with wet pants, etc. ;
but these are things one does not mind off in the woods,
if the weather be not cold.
A hundred rods above this place are the Forks, with the
Little Magalloway, which joins the main stream from the
north-west. The Little Magalloway is not more than one-
third the size of the main river. It is a very pretty stream,
running over bright yellow sand and pebbles. A boat can be
run up for a number of miles. We had been told that a boat
could be towed up the Magalloway proper as far as " The
Great Eddy," one mile above the Forks ; but the rips looked
so formidable and continuous, that we concluded to land here
and take to the carry-path. Accordingly, we pulled into the
Little Magalloway, and after proceeding from sixty to eighty
rods, for a guess, landed at the place where many former
voyagers seemed to have moored their boats, and where, in-
deed, Godwin had advised us to land at the outset.
Here were the traces of numerous camp-fires. Trees had
been felled for fuel. As it was near noon, we determined to
have dinner before attempting to cross the carry. From this
point to the foot of the lake it is four miles, so called. It
cannot be less. My own impression is that it is five, cer-
tainly. It seemed ten before we got our bateau across it
next day.
WHAT THE TREES SAID. 103
Above the " Big Eddy " there are continuous falls, clean up
to the dam at the lake. There is a fairly-defined carry-path
through the woods, though trees have fallen across it in many
places. This path was " bushed out " some years previously
by the lumbermen when the Berlin Mills Company logged on
the lake, and built the dam at the foot of it.
Here, as at other places, the trees had a good deal to say.
One large spruce declared,
" This is a fine wild country, but lacks good grub and
ladies' society."
Another fir put a query respecting the origin of the name,
Magalloway. It asked,
" Is Magalloway an Indian name, or simply from My-
gall's-away ? " Still another profane hemlock swore fearful-
ly about the length of the carry, and the tree-trunks across it.
Scott indignantly rebuked it with the axe.
As soon as dinner was got and eaten, we drew up the ba-
teau out of the stream, in order that it might get dry for to-
morrow's task of carrying it up to the lake. Our traps,
bags, etc., we then carried to a little distance and hid in a
thicket of firs. We did not deem it probable that any one
would pass, yet there might somebody come along; and
from the profanity of the trees we gained a poor opinion of
the morals of the place generally.
Our blankets, kettles, tin-ware and raw provisions for
several days were then packed up, each pack weighing
from twenty-five to thirty-five pounds. Of these, we gave
Scott the lightest one. Each adjusted his pack to suit his
104 A TIRESOME TRAMP.
own back. We took also our guns in our hands, and the
ammunition in our pockets.
By the time we were ready to set off, it was two o'clock
or after.
The path, which could only be followed by close attention,
wound in and out among a heavy spruce growth with an
occasional lofty pine.
"There's a hundred dollars in that tree," Fred would
remark, pointing to one of these forest monarchs, where it
towered high over the surrounding growth.
Often these pines were five or six feet in diameter, show-
ing a clean trunk for sixty or seventy feet. '
Immediately we began to find trees, spruce and fir, across
the path, just as they had fallen, lying at breast height.
Over the first of these we climbed without noticing the in-
convenience ; but after getting over a dozen or more it be-
gan to grow a very wearying business. If any reader wishes
a practical idea of it, let him take a weight of thirty pounds
on his shoulders, and a gun in his hand, and climb over a
gate twenty or thirty times. It takes a very fair allowance of
time to go a mile under such circumstances.
It was three o'clock when we reached the point where the
path from the "Big Eddy" joins the main carry-path.
Here a pine announced, in red chalk, that it was three miles
to the dam.
"Bowse ahead," Fred exclaimed. "It'll be pitch dark
before we get there ! "
We walked and climbed on. as fast as we could. It
PARMACHENEE GORGE AND CAMP. 105
was a tolerably dry path, however; there were but two
sloughs.
At intervals we could hear the roar of falls ; but the path
had diverged from the river, which comes down a ravine to
the east of it.
The latter portion of the way was not so badly cumbered
with fallen trees as we had found the first part, else we
should have got quite discouraged. Nevertheless, dusk was
falling over this whole wild region, and the deep recesses of
the spruce woods had grown dark enough, when a turn of
the path led us out to the brink of a great gorge, partially
cleared of trees.
" Parmachenee ! " shouted Fred.
The lake was not in sight ; but we could plainly hear the
ponderous plunge of the waters at the dam ; and' far down
at the bottom of the gorge, near the foaming torrent, we
could dimly discern a small log camp.
" Parmachenee, at last ! " Farr exclaimed. " Parmachenee
gorge and camp !"
The path led down the side of the gorge ; but it is amaz-
ingly steep and difficult. Half stumbling, half running, we
made our way down. The old camp was of spruce logs
chinked up with moss and mud, and roofed as usual with
"splits." It emitted a rather peculiar odor.
Like the camp above Escohos Falls, it contained a stove,
a very large, and withal, a very rusty one, with an "elevated
oven." There were two barrels of pork, a barrel of beans,
about a third of a barrel of flour ; tea, pepper and salt, in
proportion.
io6 SOME "SPRUNG" PORK.
These were the remains over and above the wants of
the last logging gang. The stores had been standing here
two years and over. The flour was musty. The beans
were caked ; and the pork was in that rather precarious
condition, which Fred terms "sprung" When fried in a
spider it frothed and foamed like a veritable wild boar ;
and the smell of it invariably put Scott to flight*
We had no lamp or candles with us that night; and
Fred had immediately set to work to provide a light, by
frying some of the pork to get the fat for oil. This lard-
oil he put in a pint-basin, then cut a button from his waist-
band, and through the holes in the button passed a bit of
string for a wick. This contrivance for a burner he first
floated on the fat, then lighted it ; and lest the fat should
cool and harden, he set the basin on the elevated oven of
the stove. It burned well and steadily, giving a fair
light.
We got our supper and ate it. Tired and hungry enough
we had become.
As in the lower camp, there was a long bunk across the
back side of the hovel. It was not without misgivings as
to the possible population of the old fir-bough bed, that
we turned in on it; yet we were too tired to get a fresh
supply of boughs.
I sincerely hope that none of our readers have be-
thought themselves that the day now just passed in hard
* It is customary for trampers in these wilds to help themselves to
whatever stores they find in these old camps.
THE BASIN-LAMP. 1 07
labor up the river, and harder tramping over the long
carry, was Sunday I It is almost incredible as well as un-
pardonable that we had none of us thought of it. We had
somehow, in the newness of the life we were leading, lost
a day. I thought it was Saturday ; so did the others. It
was not till we were rolled up in our blankets that this ir-
reverent fact came out. x
Said Fred, " Let's see, how many days have we been
getting up here ? Started Monday ; six days, isn't it ? "
" Yes," said Scott. " First night down there in Grafton
Notch, second at the Lake House, third at Moll's Rock,
fourth in the old house below Escohos, fifth in the shanty
above Escohos, sixth down therein why fellows!
this is the seventh night! ain't it? Hold on, let me
count again."
We counted again. It was the seventh night, sure.
" Then to-day's Sunday ! " cried Scott, self-convicted.
" Can't be ! " we exclaimed.
"Well, it is!"
" Blessed if it isn't, now ! " admitted Fred.
" Well, I declare, we're worse than a pack of heathen,"
I could not help saying. " We had better get a lathe and
make notches, if we can't remember better than this."
" What's to be done ? " said Scott, laughing in spite of
himself.
" I don't see as any thing can be done now" said Farr.
" The day's gone."
"Might keep to-morrow," I suggested.
io8 "WHAT DAY is IT?'*
My comrades reflected a moment.
"Oh, that would be mere fanaticism," said Scott, at
length. " The only thing to be done is to try to remem-
ber better next time ; for I believe in keeping the Sab-
bath as much as any one."
And so we went to sleep.
CHAPTER XII.
A Tough Day's Work. Squirrels. A Spruce Partridge. Moose
Tracks. Marten Signs. Carrying the Bateau up to the Lake.
Great Fatigue. Parmachenee Dam. Hoisting the Gates. An-
gling for Trout The Fish Law of Maine. Scott's Lame Stom-
ach. Sacking our Supplies Across the Carry. Glimpse of a
Woodsman. A Suspicious Circumstance.
I ^RED had potatoes nearly roasted in the "elevated
JL oven" next morning before I was awake.
For our breakfast, we had roasted potatoes and butter,
also a mess of " Horsfords," a bountiful mess, too, of
which Fred exhorted us to partake largely. " For," said
he, " we've got a tough day's work before us to get that
boat up here and launched in the lake above the dam."
We had no doubt of that.
At a quarter of eight we set off to re-cross the carry,
and, climbing the side of the gorge, entered the path again.
The woods were full of red squirrels, now in the midst of
their morning antics ; and so great a din did they keep
up, that little else could be heard. Scarcely had we
gained the top of the ridge, however, when Farr esp:ed
110 MOOSE TRACKS.
three spruce partridges running in the path ahead of us.
Scott had taken our little rifle. We fired at them and
killed one, tearing a fearful hole through its body where
the slug pierced it. Fred hung it up to a bough over-
nanging the path, that we might take it on our return.
About half way across the carry, Farr, who was ahead,
suddenly drew up.
" Look here," said he, pointing to a large hoof mark in
the mud : " moose track. A moose has been along here
since last night. Isn't that a moose track, Fred ? "
Fred said it was one, for certain.
That was the first moose sign we had seen. The animal
had walked along the path for some distance. The
track was as large as the track of a large ox. Fred also
pointed out to us where "saple" (marten) had dug in
the moss in several places. These signs rejoiced us
greatly.
" We'll have us a ' saple line ' on both sides of the lake,"
Farr planned.
Just before coming out to the Little Magalloway, where
we had drawn up our boat, we stumbled upon a second
flock of partridges five of them ; Scott fired, but missed
them.
At best, the bateau was a heavy boat, considered as a
portable one. I do not know how many pounds it
weighed, but should set it, for a guess, at four hundred ;
perhaps not more than three hundred and fifty pounds.
There were four of us to carry it.
CARRYING THE BATTEAU.
CARRYING THE BATEAU UP TO THE LAKE. Ill
At first thought, this does not seem a very heavy load
per man. But when the length and obstructed character
of the carry are considered, I imagine that the reader
will agree with me that we had any thing but an easy job
before us.
Two sticks were hewn from a fallen spruce, with han-
dles at each end. These were not more than three feet
long, and were nailed transversely, one across the nose of
the bateau, the other across the stern, near each end, so as
to allow the ends, or handles, to project far enough to
take hold of. The boat was turned bottom up. It was
then ready for carriage. We had only to take it up and
go on.
Fred took the left-side handle at the bow. I took the
other side, opposite him. Farr and Scott had the stern
handles, the former on the right and the latter on the
left. (We changed places afterwards.) Farr carried the
little rifle slung across his back. It was ten o'clock when
we were at length ready for a start.
" Pick him up," was the word from Fred.
We picked him up. I for one was not in the least de-
luded in my first impression. It picked up heavy at the
outset. I knew we had a big job on hand, and collected
my strength, and tried to use it economically.
" We won't make long heats," said Fred. " We won'*
go more than twenty rods at once, without resting."
" That will make sixty-four heats for the four miles,'
Scott reckoned.
112 GREAT FATIGUE.
But as a matter of fact, we had nearly two hundred
heats !
The path was barely wide enough to admit of our car-
rying it in the way that we had chosen. Often it grazed
against the rough trunks on either side. And then the
climbing over those countless windfalls across the path !
Ah, me ! that is a task long to be remembered. We
worked hard four hours, not including the half hour of
rest we took at a little after noon. It was nearly three
o'clock when at last we set the old thing down before
the camp door.
Scott had passed through all the different stages of
fatigue, from a profuse perspiration to a dry pallor. He
went in without a word, and laid down in the bunk. We
resolved to have something to eat, then carry the boat
above the dam and launch it. For my own part, I felt as
if I might drop at any moment, but determined to keep
my legs as long as possible.
Fred made some strong coffee, and baked more biscuits
and potatoes. It came on dark before we had finished
eating. So the boat lay over for next morning.
There is such a thing as being too tired to sleep well,
or even at all. Scott did not go to sleep, he told me, till
long past midnight. As for myself, I slept, but was still
carrying the boat till toward morning, when a good nap
succeeded.
But on getting up next morning, our stomachs were so
lame that it was agony to draw a long breath, or stoop.
PARMACHENEE DAM. 1 13
We were about used up, Scott especially; while Fair and
even Fred complained a good deal of lameness and sore-
ness. It made us wince and groan plentifully when we
came to carry the boat up to the dam, a hundred yards.
Scott declared that it was like putting a knife betwixt his
ribs to lift his side of the boat ; and he came rather near
profanity, on this wise: said he, "Do you remember
what that hemlock down at the forks said about the
carry ? "
We did, distinctly.
" Well," says Scott, " I wish I had let that stand as it
This peculiar mode of putting it set the rest of us
laughing, but hurt us so horribly that our guffaws were
speedily turned into howls.
The dam at the foot of the lake is built of spruce logs,
and has five gates, set in ponderous hewn frames. There
is a machine, consisting of iron cog-wheels and levers, for
hoisting these. The dam itself is not more than a hun-
dred and fifty feet in length. The site seems to have
been very advantageously chosen. It has a perpendicular
lift of about twelve feet. Brown, the agent of the Lum-
bering Company which owns the dam and the land about
the lake, had told us the gates were up. We were, there-
fore, somewhat surprised to find three of them closed.
Some one had either let them fall for mischief, or else to
better the trout fishing at the foot of the dam. The -next
<*-vy, before setting off up the lake, we raised the gates.
8
114 ANGLING FOR TROUT.
That forenoon, after launching the bateau, we unpacked
some fishing tackle, hooks and lines, and taking pork
for bait, went up to try our own luck at trout-fishing.
There were several long alder-poles lying about on the
dam. To these we attached our lines and dropped in.
The trout did not rise to the pork bait readily; though after
fishing for a half hour, Farr hooked a two-pounder. Fred
meantime put on a red " fly," of which he had brought
three from Upton. The trout rose to this in numbers, but
would not snap; after fishing for some time, however, he
caught one nearly as heavy as Farr's, and a few minutes
after, a larger still. There were plenty of trout under the
" apron " of the dam. We could see them rise, but the
high water was unfavorable.
This was toward the end of the trout-fishing season.
After the i5th of October the law protects them as
much as it can.
In the afternoon, we went down the carry again, to get
the remainder of our provisions and traps. (Scott, I should
add, was left in the camp, to get over his lame stomach.)
We brought up this trip every thing, save the pota-
toes ; and of these we had brought rather over a peck the
previous evening.
Scott surprised us, and rendered us not a little uneasy,
by announcing that he had seen a man a rough-looking
customer up at the dam while we were gone down the
carry. The fellow had a double-barrelled gun, and, as
Scott thought, a belt with a dirk-knife.
A SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE 115
Immediately on catching sight of Scott down at the
camp, he had made off. This looked suspicious; and
fearing lest he might steal the boat, Scott took his gun
and went up to the dam, in sight of where the bateau lay.
But he saw nothing more of the woodsman.
This information disturbed us all a good deal, and
Fred especially. He let out to us that the woods in this
section of the State had borne a bad name, as 1 being the
resort of a gang of rough fellows, who had made the set-
tlements too hot for them, on account of various tres-
passes.
" But I was in hopes we should steer clear of them,"
he added.
For fear the boat might be stolen in the night, we went
up, took it out of the stream, and brought it back to the
camp.
There was something very unpleasant in the idea of
being watched by such human beasts of prey.
CHAPTER XIII.
We Finish " Sacking " our Supplies. More Partridges. The Mon-
heimer Potatoes. We Set Off up the Lake. The Outlet. A
Fine View. Parmachenee Lake. A Great Flock of Sheldrake.
"Bose-buck Cove." The Upper Islands. The Upper Ma-
galloway. "Cleaveland's Camp." We Establish Ourselves at
the Head of the Lake. Musk-rat Haunts. Setting Traps.
Certain Cirumstances Render us somewhat Uneasy.
THE next morning, as soon as it was light in the
woods, Fred and I set off to bring up the pota-
toes.
Farr, meantime, took his double-barrelled gun and went
off up the side of the outlet and lake to reconnoitre. We
were desirous to know whether there was a gang camping
anywhere about. By going up to " Loon Point," where
the outlet leaves the lake proper, Farr thought he might
detect the smoke, if there was a party at the head of the
lake.
Scott remained in camp ; partly as guard of our property
there, and in part to recuperate and get better of his
lamed stomach.
Fred and I got back up the carry at a few minutes
before eleven. Farr had come in. He had seen no signs
THE MONHEIMER POTATOES. 117
of a party; but he had run among a flock of partridges,
of which he shot three at the first fire, and a fourth with
his second barrel. And he had come upon the last August
camp of a sporting party from New York city. A spruce
told the story, to wit, that " R. Monheimer and party camped
here from August igth to September 3d."
There was a raft drawn up near the camp. This party
had not taken their boat over the carry, but had preferred
to leave it down at the " forks," and build a raft for the
lake.
Farr had poked about and found a pile of potatoes
nearly a bushel at the foot of a tree, on which was
written, "A free gift to whoever wants them."
They were, to use a young ladies' adjective, splendid
potatoes, brought from Upton or Magalloway, probably,
localities noted for the excellence of their potato crop.
The rains had washed them clean and white. Farr had
at once determined to avail himself of Monheimer's offer.
There was little doubt that we should want all the pota-
toes we could secure. After being brought all the way
from Upton and " sacked " over the carry, they were very
precious, and really valuable.
Dinner was prepared and eaten. We then decided to
set off for the head of the lake without further delay.
That was the place where we wished to have our head-
quarters; and unless there was another party there, the
sooner we took possession the better. And if there was
another party there, we wished to find it out and keep
clear of them.
Il8 WE SET OFF UP THE LAKE.
The bateau was again carried up, put in the stream, and
loaded with all our effects. We took from the supplies in
the shanty, a few pieces of the " sprung " pork, four quarts
of beans, a paper of pepper, about a quart of salt in a box,
and a small quantity of tea. These articles we thought
we might need, and when we returned down the stream,
we could account for them to Brown ; this is a customary
procedure.
This done, we bade adieu to the camp in the gorge, and,
pulled off up the outlet above the dam.
Not more than fifty rods from the dam, a large brook
comes into the main stream from between two hills on the
east side. An old trapper at Upton had told us there
were beaver up this stream. We resolved to explore it
ere many weeks, after we got settled.
From the dam up to the lake proper at "Loon Point," it
is about a mile. This flowed portion of the outlet is a
broad " thoroughfare," fifteen, twenty and twenty-five rods
in width.
We stopped at the Monheimer camp to take in the pota-
toes. It was just the place for a picturesque camp. No
doubt Monheimer and friends enjoyed themselves. We
were grateful for the potatoes.
On the east side of the outlet, a forest fire had killed
the growth far up the ridge. The dead trunks were fall-
ing across each other. It was a picture of vegetable ruin.
Fire is the great devastator of our forests, and has de-
stroyed more pine in Maine than all the lumbermen have
cut off.
PARMACHENEE LAKE. . 119
When near the lake, the outlet bends sharply to the
west, around a bushy point. It was not till we had doubled
this, that the fine expanse burst on us. Farr had been up
here already in the morning. I saw that he was watching
the rest of our faces with a certain air of triumph.
"What say to this?" he exclaimed, as we rounded the
bushes and caught sight of the lake.
Involuntarily we turned, and sat gazing off for a long
time. This, then, was Parmachenee. I do not know
what the name signifies, but it ought to mean Beautiful
Lake. The "Indians named it; and I cannot but think
from the well-known fitness of their terms, that this silvery
word has a beauteous significance.
It is not so large as Moosehead, Apmoogenamook, Um-
bagog, and a score of others ; but to my mind, it is the
most beautiful of them all. Its whole length does not
exceed five miles ; and its greatest breadth, from the mouth
of Moose Brook on the east shore to the foot of Bose-buck
cove at the south-west corner, is not more than four miles.
The most of our Maine lakes are long and narrow;
Parmachenee is an exception. It fills a natural sink or
basin, walled about by high, wooded hills, some of which
are mountains of note. Bose-buck, for example, at the
foot of the cove of the same name, is one of the finest
cone-shaped peaks in New England.
Two hunters, with their dog Bose, were skirting the
lake, so the story has it. For some days they had shot
nothing, and were suffering for food. As they passed the
i2o "BOSE-BUCK COVE."
foot of the cove, Bose started a buck, which ran directly
up the side of the mountain, till the dog overtook and
pulled it down. So they named the peak Base 1 s-buck.
In the north-east, too, a very high blue mountain is visi-
ble over the nearer peaks. This is one of the Boundary
Mountains. Over all the hills which border the lake
shores, a heavy mixed growth comes down to the very
water's edge ; spruce, birch and maple, mainly, with here
and there a grand old pine rising head and shoulders
above every thing else.
On the west side, above the cove, there is a grand slope
leading up from the shore, for a mile, to the height of
land.
" What a place for a farm ! " Scott exclaimed, as we re-
marked it " A fellow might make a paradise for himself
on that slope ! And what a view he would enjoy all his
life long ! "
There are no islands in the lower part of the lake.
Toward the northern end and above " Indian Field Point"
there is a chain of three wooded islets extending down
in a line ; and above these there are numerous curious
floating islands, some of an acre in extent, which rise and
fall with the lake surface. They are covered with water-
grass and a few low shrubs. These are the favorite
haunts of the musk-rat ; the islands are studded with their
mud huts. The head of Parmachenee Lake is probably
the best place for musk-rats in the State of Maine. But the
poor little creatures are scarcely worth hunting ; for some
THE UPPER ISLANDS. 121
years their skins have brought no more than fifteen and
eighteen cents, and often not over twelve cents. The
afternoon was very pleasant. There was no breeze. The
lake lay smooth as glass before us. A soft haze rested on
the mountains ; and the sunlight was mellow and warm.
It was the poetry of October weather.
As we rowed on, we espied a very large flock of shel-
drakes, and gradually approached them ; but when within
a quarter of a mile, they saw us and began to swim off.
Fred took up the little rifle and fired after them. We
could distinctly hear the whizzing of the slug, so still was
the air. It struck a little short, and went skipping in
among them, at which there was a prolonged quacking and
flapping of wings ; but they did not rise.
Reloading quickly, Fred fired again and again, without
striking any one of the flock. It was not till the fifth or
sixth shot that they rose. There were not less than fifty.
They circled about for some minutes, then settled on the
lake again at a distance of a mile or over.
We were nearly or quite an hour rowing up to Indian Point,
which from the south side seems a part of the north shore,
but which in reality separates the lake from a roomy expanse
of a square mile or over, known as " Indian Cove."
We explored this cove pretty thoroughly, in search of the
inlet where the Magalloway enters the lake. But the inlet
is not through this cove, but off to the north-east. We at
length got into it by passing in between the second and third
of the wooded islands.
122 " CLEAVELAND'S CAMP."
We had heard that there was a logging camp on the Ma-
galloway at a little distance above the lake ; and there we had
had it in mind to take up our abode while at the lake. The
stream enters the lake through a marsh full of black alder.
It winds deviously about for a half mile or more. The whole
upper end of the lake is in process of filling up with alluvial
matter .brought down by the river. Probably the lake occu-
pied the whole space back to the woods formally. But even
after entering the woods, we found little current. There
were long stretches of dead water.
The camp of which we were in search is located on the
west bank of the stream, not quite a mile above the lake.
Farr was the first to espy it.
" Here we are ! " he sang out, pointing in, past a great
yellow birch trunk.
"Two camps," said Scott.
"One's the ox-camp," Fred explained.
"The other must be the man-camp," Scott reasoned.
We landed, to explore our prospective home. It was close
upon the bank of the stream, not more than twenty yards
from it : a great ark of a camp, big enough to accommodate
forty men, as thick as they usually stow them in a logging
shanty. We were a little dismayed to find the roof broken
in at one end. Heavy snows had done it. The end next
the door was sound, however, for twenty feet or upwards.
" Well, there is enough of it left for us, as it is," said Fred,
after we had surveyed the ruin.
This camp, unlike the most of them, had a double roof.
"CLEAVELANDS CAMP. 123
Evidently it had been in its day a sort of palace among shan-
ties. There was a floor of hewn planks, and a stove with
two broken legs lying partially under the wreck of the roof.
There was also a grindstone, where the men sharpened their
axes, and an anchor and anchor-line four or five hundred
feet in length, used in warping rafts of logs down the lake.
In one of the logs in the end of the camp there were cut
the words, " Cleaveland's camp." This Cleaveland, Fred told
us, had been a noted lumbering " boss " in this region.
We at once proceeded to set ourselves up in house-
keeping, in the habitable end of the camp. The roof had
broken down in such a way as to keep out the weather, even
from the ruinous end. It looked as if we might make
ourselves comfortable. The old stove was extracted from
the fallen splits, two stones substituted for its broken legs, and
a hole cut through the roof for the bruised and battered
funnel. It was not so good a stove as the one down at the
Gorge camp ; it did not draw so well, and it had no " ele-
vated oven." As cooks, we liked " elevated ovens."
In order to have bait for our mink and otter traps, Fred
and I went back down the stream to the lake (having first
unloaded the bateau), to set traps for musk-rats on those
floating islands where we had seen their huts.
In setting these traps for musk-rat, we took no pains to
conceal or cover them ; simply staked them down and left
them uncovered, in the paths made by the rats.
On some of the islands there was a perfect net-work of
these paths; and I counted not less than twenty huts.
124 MUSK-RAT HAUNTS.
These latter are on the same plan as those of the beaver,
only smaller and not so well finished. But the principle is
the same. In both cases the entrance is from beneath and
under water.
The musk-rat lives mainly on water-grass, roots and twigs.
It is not frequently seen out by day. We saw nothing of
them, not so much as a glimpse, that afternoon. Asleep in
their huts, perhaps.
Where the floating islands were of considerable extent, they
bore our weight readily ; but the smaller ones would begin
to settle gradually, deeper and deeper under the water, till
we were glad to leap into the boat to avoid going over boots.
The upper end of the lake, above Indian Point, was a very
curious place, with its floating islets, covered with waving
grass and populous with huts, inclosed in a dark border of
evergreen forest. By slightly magnifying the huts, in imagi-
nation, one could fancy that he had come upon some pre-
historic settlement of the early human times, a colony of
rude lake-dwellers, living here in utter seclusion and har-
mony. We had invaded their long-secure retreat ; and, alas !
we were bringing nothing but war and death for them.
But such ideas have no business in the minds of trappers
and hunters. We had come to slay and play, to get gain
from it. A new and terrible destructive enemy had come
upon the pigmy settlement, an insatiable foe, who would
never rest till the last skin was in his bag.
We set sixteen traps and went back to camp. It had
clouded over, and begun to rain a little after sunset.
SETTING-TRAPS. 125
Fan and Scott had got every thing under cover, and had
the stove hot and supper cooking. For variety, Farr had
stewed some beans and made a Johnny cake.
Before the shower had begun to fall, Scott had brought in
a great quantity of boughs, of both fir and spruce, for a bed.
We drew the bateau out of the stream, so that it could not
be stolen without our hearing something of it.
There were no signs of a party having been about the
camp here, and we had seen nothing more of the prowling
man at the dam.
" He may have been only some straggling hunter," Fred
said.
In the ox-camp, which was placed about a hundred feet
from the other, Farr had found as many as twenty axes
stowed away in a grain box. This ox-camp was a dreadful-
ly dirty hole, dark and stinking. It was roofed with sods
and dirt to the depth of two feet. In winter it may have
been warm, but now it dripped constantly.
As it grew dark, we heard the cries of many wild creatures,
some near, some at a distance. The wilderness clearly had
its dwellers. Night called them out. We were, as we now
began to feel, in the very heart of the wild lands. Not a
single human habitation within thirty or forty miles ! If
there were savage beasts in the forest at all, they were here,
no doubt, and these were their cries.
From up the river the roar of falls came borne on the
still air. The rain had ceased, for a time, though it was very
cloudy and the air was thick with mist. Objects had a wild
126 CIRCUMSTANCES RENDER US UNEASY.
gloom about them. We were not afraid, but this impres-
sion clung to us. Then there came the thought of the woods-
men, who had likely as not been observing our movements :
this was the only real dread we experienced. The presence
of man, or at least, of men of this sort, brought no reassur-
ing feeling of companionship. So far from the settlements
and the protection of law, crime knew no restraint. Deeds,
however dark, could not be punished. Here we must look
out for ourselves, and make our own rights good by force,
if necessary. So used do we grow to the protection which
the laws give us, that it is a bewildering thought to know, for
the first time, that one is beyond their reach, and that his
safety lies in his own strength and courage. At first it sends
a strangely insecure feeling over a person; afterwards he
comes to enjoy it and feel the freer.
There were plenty of owls here ; and as the evening ad-
vanced we heard a loud snort, followed by others from the
east bank of the stream. Scott took up the rifle, to fire in
the direction of them.
" I don't believe I would fire," Fred said.
" It will do no good, and it may do hurt. We had better
fire no more than is necessary here."
Scott desisted readily.
We fastened our door securely. As for Spot, we could
never get him out of the camp after dark ; he was the
most inveterate coward I ever fell in with for a dog.
CHAPTER XIV.
Trapping in Earnest. Early Astir. The Shyness of Wild Animals.
Eight Musk-rats. The Plain Prose of Trapping. " Little
Boy's Falls." Moose and Deer Signs. Mink Traps. Scents.
Otter Traps. Otter " Slides." Caution. Our " Saple Line."
The Pine Marten. Setting up " Dead Falls." Some Prime
Partridge Shooting. Our First Mink. Our First Marten.
T~^ RED waked me early.
JL " Let's go look at our traps," he said. " We must be
up early mornings, now. Time's precious. Farr and Scott
can get the breakfast."
We launched the bateau and paddled down the river.
The mist felt cold. It was barely light. There was frost on
the wet dead leaves and on the water-grass. I shivered till
warmed by the exercise of rowing.
Some creature swam the stream at a distance below us, and
partially around a bend. We heard the splashing, but could
see nothing distinctly. Fred thought it might be a deer, or
possibly a moose. There was a snapping of brush as it ran
off on the east side. Evidently there was game enough
about, if we were smart enough to take it.
It was the dream of young sportsmen, particularly those
from the cities, that in these wild regions game of all sorts
128 EIGHT MUSK-RATS.
is plenty, so plenty that by just going out and walking foi
a few miles in the forest, deer, bears, and eyen moose can be
frequently shot. But the fact is, that all these larger wild
animals are exceedingly shy ; and their senses are so acute
that an amateur sportsman might hunt in these forests weeks
together and never have even a glimpse of them. They hear,
see, or smell, and are off long before he is aware of their pres-
ence. It is only by the utmost caution and by overmatching
their natural keenness by successful stratagem, that game of
this sort can be taken : this, at least, is the rule, though it
sometimes happens that an animal is stumbled upon and shot
in a manner most unaccountable to one who appreciates
their natural shyness and acuteness.
It was with a good deal of expectation that we drew near
the musk-rat colony on the floating islands. We could see
them hopping about in the traps amid the grass, while yet at
a distance.
"I set it at six," Fred said.
I thought four would be nearer the mark.
There were eight of them, hard and fast by the legs,
leaping about and gritting their teeth. One was caught
round the body and squeezed to death ; it was a trap large
enough for an otter. In two traps we found only toes. " Foot-
ed themselves," Fred said, meaning that they had gnawed
off their legs to escape. Minks also do this frequently.
Some of the larger ones, the old male rats, jumped at us
ferociously when we approached to lap them on the head ;
and when struck they uttered a curious squeak.
THE PLAIN PROSE OF TRAPPING. 129
It seemed too bad, but then "business is business."
With as little waste of time as possible, we reset the traps and
pulled back to camp, keeping attentive eyes to every thing
stirring, or the least signs or sounds of game : this is the
hunter's art.
Fair and Scott were up and getting breakfast.
Fred began to skin rats at once. I made " stretchers " for
him out of the dry pine splits, off the roof. We took the
skins off whole, and immediately stretched them on the shin-
gles, as I prepared them.
Skinning musk-rats, or any other sort of game, is work, not
play ; very disagreeable work I call it. If the reader's nose
has never realized the odor that a musk-rat emits while under
the knife, he must imagine it, that is all ; for my own part, I
would much sooner imagine it than smell it. But it is a job
that has to be done, none the less.
We figured up our morning's profit at one dollar and twen-
ty cents, reckoning the skins fifteen cents apiece.
This was our first profit, too; hitherto it had been all
outset.
It encouraged us and filled us with zeal. We believed we
could make something, and determined to work. And from
that time forward we did work. I never labored harder than
during those weeks trapping and hunting at the head of
Parmachenee. We got up early and kept busy till dark,
then skinned game till bedtime. We neither loafed nor
played a moment that I can now recall. It was business,
steady business, every hour.
9
130 "LITTLE BOYS FALLS.
As soon as breakfast -was despatched, we set off up the
river, with traps and bait, to explore the falls, and put
down mink-traps, if there were signs of mink.
It is rather over a mile up to the falls, " Little Boy's
Falls," they are called.
An Indian with his family were once crossing above the
falls, when a pappoose tumbled off their raft and was car-
ried over. They got the little monkey out alive, however.
Hence the name of Pappoose, or, as it is more commonly
called, "Little Boy's Falls."
It is a pretty fall of about six feet. The locality and
the ledges which make the cascade are much like those at
" The Narrows."
A little below the fall there is a bark shed, built by
some trapper, perhaps. It is only large enough to shelter
two, at most. Past it runs a little brook, that flows into
the stream from a pond only a few rods from the brook ;
so near, indeed, that we drew out the bateau and carried
it across to launch it, but were deterred by what we saw
in the moss and in the sand on the shore. All along the
water's edge the tracks of deer were as plenty as are
sheep-tracks when a large flock have passed. Among
these, too, Fred pointed to more than a score of great hoof-
prints.
" Moose," said he, in a whisper.
We carried back our boat, without a word. It was a
too promising locality to be spoiled by premature hunting,
or even by showing ourselves on the shore.
MOOSE AND DEER SIGNS. 13!
On the west side of the falls, a bluff rises almost per-
pendicularly. There are shelving rocks and many old
roots with holes under them. These holes were nearly all
worn, as if by animals passing in and out. Here we set
five traps for mink, in the holes. We staked these, and
carefully covered them over with leaves and earth. The
bait Fred generally placed under the trencher, so that the
animal would dig for it through the dirt and leaves. The
entrails of the rats were also strung about, to make a
scented trail to the traps. Fred had also brought a bottle
of the oil of anise, with which he perfumed the traps them-
selves, to take away the odor of rusty iron, which both
mink and otter are quick to detect and instinctively avoid.
This occupied the forenoon.
In the afternoon, we went off to set otter traps we
had four large enough for otter at a little pond to the
west of the Cleaveland camp. Farr had explored it the
previous afternoon while we were setting for musk-rat.
He had found what he called two otter slides, and they
may have been such ; the bank, indeed, was worn smooth,
as if by something sliding down it. We set two traps
under water at the foot of one of these and another at the
second. All three were chained to poles such as trappers
call "sliding poles." If the otters should be minded to
slide here, we supposed that they might possibly slide a
leg into the traps. That was Farr's idea, at least.
Along the farther shore of this pond we saw, as at the
pond above, a vast number of deer tracks. In some
132 OUR "SAPLE LINE.
places the ground was trodden hard ; and there were occa
sional moose tracks here, too.
In all our movements here we used care to make as
little noise as possible, and refrained from all loud conver-
sation and from firing the guns.
It is a very easy matter to frighten off game from any
given locality. The more quiet the trapper keeps, the
greater are his ( chances for success. Animals do not
readily leave their accustomed haunts, unless rudely
scared. But a continuous discharging of guns will rout
them in a very few days. This is especially the case with
beaver, and to a less extent with otter.
The next morning we had seven musk-rats ; and on
going up to Little Boy's Falls we found that a mink had
been in one of the traps, set in a hole under a birch root ;
but the trap had not held him for some reason. We
knew it was a mink, from the hair left, on the trap jaws.
This was vexatious enough ; for a mink is now worth from
five to seven dollars ; and mink were our great expectation.
The day after, and also Monday and Tuesday the fol-
lowing week, we were employed in setting up a "saple
line," clean around the lake ; going down the east shore
and coming back up the west shore ; and keeping the
height of land on the hills above the lake, from half a mile
to a mile back from the water.
The pine marten is moderately plentiful in these forests,
though rarely seen.
Fred tells me that one day while hunting near the Rich-
THE PINE MARTEN. 133
ardson Lake he sat down to rest on a stone, and a few
minutes after saw a marten come out in sight, following his
track. He had a bunch of partridges in his hand. The
marten had smelled them and followed him. But the instant
it caught sight of Fred, it vanished like a sun-ray, before
he could even cock his gun.
They are very shy little creatures.
Our " line " consisted of a hundred and thirty-one traps, in
all, set at intervals of thirty-five and forty rods. These were
all wooden traps, of the kind known as " deadfalls," " squat
traps," "figure-four traps," etc. The entire length of the
line was from fifteen to seventeen miles. It was a pretty
good day's work to " go over the line," carry bait, reset such
traps as were sprung, and carry home the game, if there was
any. The.n there was the drag to draw.
Two of us always went together on this round. It was not
quite safe for one to go off alone for so long a trip, through
such a wilderness, even if he was sure of getting round before
dark.
To set up a hundred and thirty-one traps of this sort was
something of a job ; as much as we could well do in three days,
all four of us. Fair and Scott went ahead. At the place
where it was desirable to build a trap, they fell to work, and
either cut up a quantity of stakes from saplings of the required
length, about two feet, or else cut into the trunk of a fir
or a spruce, and split out thick slivers to serve as stakes.
It was my duty to make the cuddy of the trap, by driving
three stakes into the ground on three sides of a little square,
134 SETTING UP "DEAD FALLS."
a side of which would generally measure about fifteen inches.
Besides the stakes, it was the duty of Scott and Fair to pro-
vide two poles for the " fall," and two logs or heavy chunks of
wood for weights. Fred brought up the rear, drawing the
scented " drag " of musk-rat carcasses, and bringing the bait.
He carried also a pine " split," out of which he made with
his pocket-knife the spindle and " figure-four " arrangement.
With him rested the care of the baiting and setting the traps
ready for the martens. It was furthermore my duty to spot
trees at intervals of a hundred yards along the whole line, in
order that we might be able to follow it without difficulty in
future.
There was an enjoyment from this work such as I cannot
hope to make plain to the reader. It came to us out of the
free, boundless forest, from the exercise itself, as well as from
the hope of game to be captured. Yet were I to dwell on
all these minor incidents, the story might be deemed but a
tedious recital. I can only urge the reader to bury himself
for a few weeks in the woods, if he would experience it.
Down at the dam, too, and on the rapids below, we set
eight or ten more traps for mink.
In the wooded valley above Mount Bose-buck on the west
of the lake and on the hard-growth slopes farther up, we found
the partridges so plenty that a dozen could be shot by simply
walking the " line." Never in any other spot have I seen
them so numerous. This was about five miles below our
camp ; and we decided to do our bird-shooting here exclu-
sively, within the compass of a couple of miles. The firing
PARTRIDGE SHOOTING. 135
would not be heard at the head of the lake. A few martens
might be frightened off, but then we must have partridges.
During the time we were in camp there, I think we shot
rising a hundred and fifty in all, the most of them over here
among the hard-wood growth on this side of the lake. Some-
times we set off in the bateau on purpose to shoot partridges,
but generally they were shot while making the round of the
" saple line."
While making these trips through the forest, we had kept
a sharp eye to another possible source of profit, to wit, spruce
gum. Fair had even dug a few pounds experimentally. On
the ridge and mountain sides where the spruce form nearly
the entire growth, gum was to be found in abundance : of
this fact we soon satisfied ourselves. There would be no
great difficulty in digging a hundred weight.
Rough gum was worth, we had learned, from seven to
twenty cents a pound ; but pure " purple gum," all cleaned
and ready for chewing, would bring seventy cents, and even
a dollar a pound in the cities.
First we had resolved to try trapping and hunting thorough-
ly, then if game got scarce, we would go to digging gum, and
make what we could from that.
For the week in which we set up the saple line we took
forty-three musk-rats. I have little doubt there were a
thousand of them about the little islands at the head of
the lake.
Farrwas the first to bring in a mink. He found it in one
of the traps at " Little Boy's Falls." How we doted over
136 OUR FIRST MINK.
that slim mink! Almost black it was, with a beautifu 1
gloss on its fur, and a tail that fairly glistened in the light
of the basin-lamp, as Fred skinned it. This tail made to
our eyes a very fine contrast with the bare snake-like tails
of the musk-rats, of which we already had a long row hung
up on one side of the camp.
" Good for six dollars," said Fred, as he hung it up to
cure; "worth thirty-six of these rat-skins."
" Nearer forty," said Farr. " It don't pay to trap rats,
anyway."
Scott and I were the first to^find marten in the traps.
Fred and Farr made the first round, the second day after
we had set up the line. They found nothing, and were not
a little chap-fallen.
But two days after, Scott and I found two martens on
the east side and one on the west side of the lake. Ah,
that was a proud return to camp that night, three "sa-
ple " ! It made Farr shout like a Methodist Elder.
These martens were a third, yes, a half, larger than a
mink. Over the back and sides their color was much like
that of a fox. Beneath, they were a reddish white. Their
fur was very thick, and though lithe, they still had a chubby
look, with the nose and head wonderfully slim, sly and
beautiful.
The tails were much more bushy than that of the
minks.
Ah, there's no sport like trapping for youngsters of OUT
age then.
THE MARTIN IN THE TRAP.
OUR FIRST MARTEN. 137
We reckoned the three martens worth seven dollars and
fifty cents.
That night, while sitting in the camp, eating supper, I
think, we heard what sounded to me like the report of a
gun at a distance. It startled us.
" Gun, wasn't that ? " Scott exclaimed.
" Gun, or a tree broke and fell."
" There's no wind," said Scott.
We were puzzled.
Farr thought it was a tree. Fred declared he could not
tell which it was.. The more we thought it over, the more
readily we believed that it might be a tree. But our first
impression was that it had been a gun ; and first impres-
sions of such sounds are generally best.
" I don't believe we had better leave our fur here in the
camp days while we are off in the woods," Fred said, at
length ; " or our provisions, either. It would be a very easy
thing for some prowling party to come along and go through
us."
We had planned to go up the stream above " Little Boy's
Falls " the next day.
CHAPTER XV.
We Hide our Fur. An Expedition to Explore the Upper Magallo-
way. We See a Caribou. A Curiously Gnawed Stick. Beav-
er! The Beaver's own Retreat Rump Pond. "Hist!"
Two Moose. Some Eager Eyes. We Fire at the Moose.
An Exciting Chase. Blood on the Leaves. We find one of the
Moose Dead in the Stream. The other Escapes. Carrying the
Game to Camp. A Laborious Task.
EARLY the next morning, as soon as we had got break-
fast under way, Fred carried the flour, meal, pota-
toes, meat, etc., off into a thicket at some distance below
the camp, and covered them over with the tent and the
rubber blankets. The fur he then hung up on the back
side of the ox-camp. It was a dark hole in there ; and
Fred stood up old boards and piled up the grain-boxes in
such a way that a person would not be very likely to see
the skins, even if he went in. But our wool blankets and
the tin ware we did not think it worth while to remove.
Immediately after breakfast we set off in the bateau,
pulled up to Little Boy's Falls, and cut a path through the
bushes about them. Over this we carried the bateau and
A CURIOUSLY GNAWED STICK. 139
launched it in the stream above. It was a very short
carry, not over four rods long. We heartily wished all
the carries were as short.
There is dead water for half a mile above, or at least,
the current is not strong. Then come short rips, where the
stream is so very shallow that, had our bateau been loaded,
we could not have got up. As it was, we had to lift it over
two gravel bars. Generally there was water enough.
Two miles (for a guess) above the falls we came off
abreast another camp with its ox-shed, " Cleaveland's
Upper Camp." This is the upper limit of logging opera-
"tions. Above this point not even the omnipresent lumber-
man has penetrated.
At a place where there are black alder thickets border-
ing the stream, we saw a deer, but not in time for a shot.
It had started to bound away before Fred espied it. We
thought it was of the species known as caribou.
A more interesting matter immediately claimed our atten-
tion. A stick of hazel, green, and with the bark entirely
peeled off, came floating down. Farr grabbed it out of the
water. The ends were cut smoothly off.
"There's somebody not far above here!" he exclaimed.
" This stick wasn't cut many hours ago ! "
" Let me look at that," said Fred, pulling in his oars.
We examined it carefully.
" That somebody is beavers" he said.
" Beavers ! " Scott exclaimed. " Good ! "
" Yes, fellows," Fred went on, looking critically at the
140 BEAVER!
stick. " See the mark of their teetfh? broad teeth. Hard
telling it from a knife, at first. But it's beaver, fast enough ;
done last night, too. May be a mile or two above here,
though."
We pulled on, making just as little noise as possible, and
speaking in whispers.
Presently we came to where the stream winds through a
queer sort of tract, half open bottom, filled with wonder-
fully tall water-grass, and interspersed with thickets of
alder and firs : a place as singular in appearance as I ever
saw. The stream here grew so narrow that our oars would
sometimes stick in the banks on both sides, but the chan-
nel was very deep, with little current. And here, at a place
where some thick and shaggy firs leaned out from the
banks just after turning a bend we came upon the
beaver's own retreat ! There were no houses, but the bank
around the firs was worn and trodden smooth where it fell
off into six or eight feet of water ; and the stream had un-
dermined the roots of the trees. All the hazel and alder
bushes near the bank had been gnawed off, and the ground
was covered with bare sticks. Many of these were float-
ing about.
"They live under that bank," Fred whispered. "Bet
you there are half a dozen of them ! "
A little above, we saw where they had felled a poplar, six
inches across, so as to have it fall out into the stream.
The small branches of this were completely denuded of
bark.
RUMP POND. 141
During the summer and early fall, beavers are seldom
found at their winter houses. They wander about in fam-
ilies, and occasionally solitary individuals, visiting many
different streams over a considerable territory, till ice be-
gins to form, when they once more seek their homes.
We supposed this to be some such family which had
taken up their abode under this quiet bank for a few
weeks.
We had taken along our one large trap. This we
attached to a sliding-pole and set it on the bottom under
the ,bank. Quietly then, and without a loud word, we
pulled away and continued our cruise up stream. We
heard of a pond somewhere on the upper waters of the
stream. Lumbermen called it " Rump Pond " : a reference
to venison, perhaps. We hoped to reach this pond that
day.
We passed the mouths of numerous brooks, and indeed
the main stream showed unmistakable signs of dwindling
to a brook itself.
About an hour later, I judge, and after pulling per-
haps five miles above " Little Boy's Falls," we crooked
our way into a pond, which I doubt not is the " Rump
Pond " above mentioned. It was a rather pretty expanse
of perhaps a square mile in extent, set about with the
usual evergreen forest, and showing the tops of dark peaks
over the woods, at a distance.
There is a pleasure in exploring wild and unknown
ponds and streams. Something of this we felt as we
142 " HIST ! "
pulled out of the river and saw this new pond spread out
before^us.
In order to thoroughly explore it (from a trapper's point
of view), we went up the west shore, looking for mink and
other signs, intending to return down the east shore.
There are on the west side several little coves where
small brooks make in. Into the second of these, with
noiseless dips of the paddles, we were just turning, when
we heard distinctly several leisurely splashes, as of a cow
walking in a pool, just within the cove and around a
thick bunch of black alders.
" Sh ! " from Fred.
Momentarily we reversed the stroke.
Scott was in the bow. He peeped with eyes round as a
lynx's. But the alders were too thick. Fred crawled
along beside Scott. They both peered eagerly. Then
Fred's hand dipped cautiously in the water and paddled
us imperceptibly forward a yard or more : both staring in-
tently all the while, with Farr and myself craning our
necks for a glimpse, one hand on our guns.
Suddenly, Fred started and ducked his head. I saw
his hand feeling behind for his gun.
" Moose ! " he breathed to us behind his other hand.
Farr's eyes glistened. I presume my own fairly snapped
with excitement. But every other second, Fred would
turn us just the white of one of his, warningly and be-
seechingly. As for Scott, he had caught sight of the
game at last and stared rapturously, never once winking,
and evidently quite forgetful of the rifle.
TWO MOOSE. 143
Farr and I could not stand this. We were expiring for
a look. We began to crawl forward, regardless of the
prayers in Fred's eye. Seeing us coming, he cocked both
barrels ; and hearing the faint clicks, Scott grabbed for
his own rifle ; he had just thought of it.
" Look, if you must ! " Fred aspirated.
Like two clumsy snakes, Farr and I crawled over the
thwarts and partly on to Fred. Our four heads were now
all in the bow. We were all eyes then. Ah ! but wasn't
that a picture for a hunter's optics !
Up in the cove, close under a bunch of swamp maples
that hung out over the water, and standing knee-deep
among reeds and pickerel grass, and all in the shadow of
the tall dark firs behind, there they stood, two of them.
Perhaps it was sixty yards : not over that. They had not
heard us, or at least, they had not seen us. I could think
of nothing but two great donkeys, or rather, two enor-
mous rabbits.
Neither of them had antlers, but they had prodigious
flapping ears. They were nosing the water and the grass,
and as I looked, the larger raised its ungainly nose and
with its muffle and teeth cropped the twigs of the swamp
maple. They looked to me quite black, where they stood,
and seemed grotesquely* ugly ; ungainly in every part, as
we appreciate beauty.
But poor Farr had not yet got a good look. I doubt if
he had even got his eye on them, through the alder brush.
We made a fresh effort to get farther forward, on to Scott
144 WE FIRE AT THE MOOSE.
And in so doing he hit his toe against the tin bailer in the
bottom of the boat. It rattled.
" You've done it now," Fred whispered, in disgust.
Instantly both moose started sharply, raising their huge
ears. For an instant they stood cowering, trembling, I
fancied, their great eyes dilating toward the alders.
" Fire, Scott," Fred whispered. " Let drive ! "
One! spoke the little breech-loader.
A loud snort! A mighty splashing! Bang bang:
both barrels of Fred's gun. I had a long single-barrel,
and fired the same moment through the smoke at what I
took for the moose, one or both : and Farr let fly both
barrels of his shot-gun, at random, necessarily. There
was a smash of brush, a jar and pounding of the ground.
Almost at the same instant a singular sound, twice re-
peated, such as I once heard a young elephant at a mena-
gerie make through his trunk.
" Pull in ! Pull in ! " Fred shouted.
Under our excited strokes the bateau forged into the
cove and plunged through the reeds into the muddy bank.
We jumped out and looked for traces. There were deep
hoof-prints in the soft black muck. The water was turbid
with mud ; and on the slime and beaten-down reeds there
was a tinge of blood. *
" Some of us hit ! " Farr exclaimed.
"And look here," said Fred.
On the round withered leaf of an orchis there stood a
bright red drop, and against the trunk of a fir another had
AN EXCITING CHASE. 145
spattered and run down ; and still farther up the bank,
another had splashed on a white birch.
" Blood flew well," said Scott. " But they're gone."
Fred was hastily re-loading. Farr and I followed his
example. Whether one or both were seriously wounded,
we could only guess. They had gone out of sight and
hearing.
" Too bad we left Spot," Fred said ; for lest he should
bother us, by eating bait or frightening game, we had left
him shut into the camp that morning. Spot was not a
good trapping dog ; he had little knowledge of any thing
save of his own wants. It was a mistake from the outset
taking a dog. But just now he might have been of use.
The prints of their hoofs were plainly visible, however,
on the dead leaves. We followed in hot haste. Blood
drops here and there encouraged us. For a considerable
distance a mile, very likely the moose, ran off up from
the pond shore to higher land. They were keeping to-
gether. At places where the ground was moist, we
tracked both of them. The direction must have been
west or north-west ; though we paid little attention, in our
excitement. Soon, however, the trail veered. The moose
had tacked for lower ground again.
" Making for water ! " panted Fred.
We ran on, in better hopes.
" Good sign," Farr said.
But we were in nowise certain that they were going for
water.
10
146 ONE MOOSE DEAD IN THE STREAM.
A hundred rods farther on, we entered a great alder
bottom full of grass, bushes and cat-tails. Here there was
a very distinct trail ; but it was slow work beating through
the undergrowth. Tearing ahead, we came out upon a
big brook, and almost at the same moment heard a crash
of twigs, a snort, then another of those trumpeting squeaks.
Fred was ahead. He fired.
" One of them ! " he shouted. " Gone like a streak !
Come on."
We jumped into the brook waist deep, splashed through
it, and were climbing up the bank, when Farr stopped
short.
"Why! See there!" he exclaimed, pointing into the
brush and water in the bed of the brook, a few yards
above where we were crossing.
What seemed a great mass of wet hair and hoofs lay half
under water !
" By Jove ! " cried Fred. " If there isn't the moose!"
There it lay, sure enough, flat in the brook, dead as a
stone 1
The thing astonished us. After drinking, it would seem
to have fallen dead in the water. The other had stayed
about till we came up.
Farr thought that the smaller one was a calf; for this
one that we had shot was a cow-moose. For my own part,
I had not detected much difference in their size.
Fred was not at all sure that he had hit the second one.
We could see no blood ; and after looking along for twen-
CARRYING THE GAME TO CAMP. 147
ty or thirty rods, we gave it up ; we felt very tolerably
content.
This larger brook, as we began to suspect, turned out
to be the upper course of the main stream above the pond.
It was not over twenty feet wide here, with many sharp
crooks, but the depth was not much under two feet at
any place ; for the current was sluggish through the alder
swamps.
As soon as we had satisfied ourselves that the brook
was the inlet of the pond, we determined to take out the
moose in our boat. The carcass was so heavy that all
four of us could scarcely raise it. We judged it might
weigh toward seven hundred pounds. Farr and Scott set
off to take the bateau up the brook ; while to avoid
carrying a heavier load than necessary, Fred opened the
carcass to take out the entrails.
Wishing to be able to state the actual size of the moose,
I carefully measured its length, as it lay on the bank, with
the tow-line, and indicated the measurements by knots.
The entire length, from the roots of the tail to the end of
its muzzle, was (as I afterwards verified it by a rule)
eight feet, three inches. Its height, from the tips of its
forward hoofs to the top of its withers, was six feet and an
inch. Its girth about the body, just back of the fore-
legs and shoulders, was five feet and eleven inches. This
was a cow-moose, it must be borne in mind. The male is
said to be often a third larger.
Scott and Farr were fully two hours getting the bateau
148 A LABORIOUS TASK.
up the stream to where the moose lay. And the getting
back down to the pond with the heavy carcass aboard, was
a still longer task. We had to lift the boat over logs and
"jams " of brushwood ; wading ourselves nearly the whole
distance with our hands on the gunwale.
HAULING THE MOOSE DOWN THE BROOK.
CHAPTER XVI.
Farr Smells Smoke. Ugly Fancies. A Disagreeable Surprise.
We Find our Camp Burned Down ! Was it an Accident ?
Spot's Wound. The Fur Safe. Farr Discovers that the Grind-
stone, Anchor and Anchor-line have been Removed. The Burn-
ing takes the form of a very unpleasant Mystery. Our Blankets
and Whole Kit Stolen or Burned. We Camp in the Grain-shed.
AT the portage, on getting down to Little Boy's Falls,
we had another stint. The moose was much
heavier and more unwieldly to carry across than the
bateau ; indeed, we did not carry it, but dragged it per-
force.
These labors consumed the time. It was after sun-
set before we were clear of the falls ; and dusk was falling
as we drew near the camp.
We had, I recollect, turned the " big crook " and entered
the long stretch of dead water that led down past the
camp, when Farr stopped paddling and sniffed, quite on a
sudden.
" Don't you smell smoke ? " he exclaimed.
We all sniffed, at that.
There was a very perceptible odor of resinous smoke.
150 A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE.
" Pine burning," Fred said.
We looked at each other in great uneasiness, then
began to paddle in haste.
" You don't suppose " Scott began.
" Yes, sir ! " Fred cried out, standing up in the boat as
we came down past the last thicket on the bank. " It is
the camp ! Burnt up ! "
Where the camp had been, there was a bright bed of
coals and smoking logs !
The suddenness of this catastrophe, coming so closely
on our good luck, struck us quite speechless.
" Poor Spot ! " Scott exclaimed, breaking the silence of
our dismay.
" Burned up with it," said I.
But Spot was not dead. A moment later, we caught
sight of him standing out near the ox-camp ; and hearing
our voices, he came to meet us, limping, and with a blood
stain on the white hair just back of his left shoulder. He
wagged his tail in a sad sort of way when we spoke to
him. His whole appearance and manner seemed to
say, We've had an awful time here ! ''
Landing hastily, we went to look at the ruins. Not
much to be seen : only coals and a few logs not wholly
burned. Evidently the fire had taken place some hours
before. " What will Brown say to this ! " Fred exclaimed.
"Camp's gone."
" But I don't see how it caught ! " Farr said. " We left
scarcely a spark of fire in the stove ; and I shut it up close
and tight the last thing before I came out ! "
WE FIND OUR CAMP BURNED DOWN. 151
"Well, there it is in ashes," said Fred. " Of course it
must have caught from the stove somehow ; a coal may
have snapped out and got down between the. planks of the
floor, while we had our fire going for breakfast. But I
don't see how Spot got out. Here, Spot, come here.
He does not seem to be singed."
" Oh, he dug out somehow," said Farr. " You weren't
going to stay in there and be burned up, were you, old fel-
low?"
Spot looked volumes, but said little.
" And our blankets ! " said I.
" And all our plates and kettles and things ! " Scott ex-
claimed.
" Lucky we took out our fur," Farr said ; " and our pota-
toes and flour.*'
Fred ran down to the thicket where he had hidden the
provisions. " Yes, they are all right," he said, coming back.
Farr went out to the ox-camp to look to the skins.
" And there was that great grindstone, and anchor and
anchor-line," Scott anxiously enumerated. "Why, Brown
will raise Cain with us for letting this camp burn ! "
Fred was looking among the coals and logs.
" I don't see a sign of the stone or the anchor," he said.
" Now isn't that queer ? "
" Under the ashes and coals," Scott suggested.
" But there lies the old stove," said Fred. " It doesn't
seem to be broken up much, either."
Suddenly Farr called to us from the ox-camp.
" Just come out here ! " he said.
152 WAS IT AN ACCIDENT ?
We ran out.
" Fur gone ? " questioned Fred, anxiously.
" No, the skins are just where you put them," Farr said,
* But look in here ! "
There was a small side shed joining the end of the ox-
camp, where they kept the grain and other provender in
great boxes. The door had a huge wooden button on it.
Farr had opened it, and stood pointing inside. We took a
hasty look within. There lay the anchor-line and the anchor;
and there stood the grindstone !
" Did you bring those things out here this morning be-
fore we went off? " Farr queried.
" Why, no ! " Fred exclaimed.
" No, indeed ! " said Scott and I.
" Well, somebody has," Farr replied.
We felt confounded at this.
" Somebody was here when the camp burned, and took
these things out," Farr repeated.
" And set the camp afire themselves ! " Fred exclaimed.
" But I can't understand this at all," Scott said.
" Well, I can," said Fred. " You see, there's some one
half a dozen, perhaps lurking about. They came along
here to-day and found us gone. Like as not they are trap-
ping themselves, not far off. They want to drive us off.
So they set the camp afire. But I suppose they thought it
was rather too bad to burn up that anchor-line. It's worth
forty or fifty dollars. Perhaps they mean to use it them-
selves ; so they carried that and the anchor and grindstone
out here."
OUR WHOLE KIT STOLEN OR BURNED. 153
"But how about our blankets and tinware?" I said.
" Oh, they have stolen those," said Fred.
" And Spot?" Farr queried.
" I'll bet they tried to kill him," said Fred.
" Shot at him or struck him. Poor doggy ! did they try
to murder you, Spot? But you got away from them, didn't
you ? "
We looked at the bloody stain on his back again. There
seemed to be a cut through the skin ; but it did not look
like a shot mark. We could only surmise how he received
it, or with what sort of a weapon.
And explain it as we would, the whole affair was more or
less a mystery : there was something queer about it. Who-
ever had been there in our absence, they had left no trace ;
yet we knew that somebody must have been there.
" Well, shall we bring up the tent, or camp here in the
grain-shed ? " Fred at length asked ; for it was growing
dark.
As the grain-shed was a very comfortable little shanty,
we decided to bunk in it, and use the tent in place of our
wool blankets that had been either stolen or burned. The
only objection to this arrangement was that it was rather
too near the ox-camp ; but we were not over-fastidious.
Among the ruins I found the long-handled spider; but
the potato kettle was broken in halves ; and the other had
a big crack through it. Nevertheless, Fred cut some large
thick slices of moose meat to fry; and our potatoes we
roasted in the hot ashes and coals of the burned camp.
154 WE CAMP IN THE GRAIN SHED.
We also scraped together a great heap of the coals, and
cooked large " hunks " of the moose sirloin in a still more
novel manner: we thrust them through with a sharpened
stick of green maple, and then setting one end of the stick
in the ground, let the meat hang over the coals, a foot above
them. It cooked nicely so. It was fine eating. Despite
our vexation at the loss of the camp and our blankets, and
the continual feeling of anxiety as to who and what were
plotting mischief about us, we yet enjoyed that supper of
moose meat. We were hungry; and it was superlatively
good.
The hide we carefully took off the carcass, and hung it
up as a trophy of our first moose.
CHAPTER xvn.
Staniling Guard. A Trip to the Camp in the Gorge. Watching for
Deer. Farr's Great Chance Shot : the Way he Charged his Gun.
A Fawn. Moose Meat and Beef Compared. Spot and the
" Quill-pigs." A Mink. A " Lucivee " Surprised while in
Pursuit of a Marten. A Long Leap. The Lynx takes Refuge
in a Thick Hemlock. A Lively Scrimmage. The Game Es-
capes.
A FTER what had happened, we decided to keep
-JLJL- guard in future, not only by night, but by day.
That night we watched each two hours, in turn, as also
the next night. It would have been much better for us
to have stuck to this rule, as it turned out. But after
three nights, we knocked off watching, and all slept, as
before.
By day, however, we did not leave the camp unguarded.
One of us always stayed about, with a loaded gun ; and
this considerably interfered with our work, too ; though
Fred used to sometimes make a round of the " saple line "
alone. None of the rest of us went off so far alone. It
did not seem quite safe. Besides, seventeen miles through
the woods alone is not a pleasant ramble.
The next day after the burning of the camp, Farr and
156 STANDING GUARD.
Scott went down the lake, to the camp in the gorge, after
tin plates, knives, forks, etc. We found it quite impossi-
ble to keep house without something of this sort ; and
save the frying-pan, we had lost our whole kit ; for which,
I may here add, we had to give Godwin a six-dollar mink-
skin in payment.
That day I watched the camp with Spot. Fred went
over the " line " alone. I had the little rifle and one of
the double-barrelled guns, all loaded and ready. I kept
inside the grain-shed the most of the time, and turned it
into a fortification by cutting loop-holes through the sides.
If any of the supposed marauders came near, I meant to
cover them through a hole with the rifle, and bid them
stand and give an account of themselves ; and if their
account was not satisfactory, I meant to bid them begone
in a terribly bass voice. In fact, I even practised a vocal
series of " begones ! " and " clear outs ! "
If they did make an attack on the shed, I fancied I
could make it hot for them.
We felt terribly warlike for a few days after the fire :
we missed our blankets considerably nights, and had it
not been for the tent we should have laid cold indeed.
At night we talked of little else save what we should
do if we were attacked, or found any of them about the
camp.
For this week, we took thirty-four musk-rats, three more
martens, and toward the last of the week, a mink at the
falls ; and on Sunday following, a mink got into one of our
FARR'S GREAT CHANCE SHOT. 157
traps below the dam at the foot of the lake. Farr and
Scott found it there the next morning. But nothing was
taken in the otter traps, nor yet in the trap we set for
beaver up near Rump Pond.
We watched two nights for deer at the pond, off to the
west of Little Boy's Falls, but did not get a shot.
On the following Wednesday, Farr made a remarkable
chance shot. He had got in the habit of loading his shot-
gun one barrel of it with the bullets he had run for
the old Sharpe's carbine: the one that burst at Bottle
Brook Pond. The shot-gun had a large bore, and he
used (whether prudently or not, I shall not attempt to
say) to put in two and three of these bullets, with a hand-
ful of shot to keep them steady, and powder enough to
throw them. This barrel, thus loaded, he kept for emer-
gencies, doing his ordinary shooting with the other barrel.
Wednesday afternoon we set off in the bateau, Farr,
Scott and I, to shoot patridges down at" the slope on the
west side of the lake.
We had doubled Indian Field Point, and were making
our way down the shore, keeping close in, when Scott
espied something moving a long way ahead of us. It was
an animal standing partly in the water and in the shadow
of the spruces, which there leaned out over the lake.
Scott spoke to us of it We stopped rowing ; but he had
some trouble to make us see it, the distance was so great.
I cannot say just how far off it was, but do not believe
it to have been under fifty or sixty rods. Farr at length
158 A FAWN.
got his eye on -it, and stretching out at full length in the
bow, took aim and fired the three balls and shot at it.
Instantly the creature turned, bounded out of the water,
and went out of sight into the woods. Scott and I
laughed ; so did Farr.
" We might have got a little nearer," Scott said, humor-
ously.
We had no thought that the creature was hit. It took
us some little time to get down where the animal had
stood. We passed close to the shore, to see the track.
"It was a deer," said Scott, after a glance at the small
hoof-track in the mud.
" I will just get out and take a look," he added, jumping
ashore.
He went up the bank, and was gone not more than
three seconds when we heard him shout, "Farr, you
killed it deader than a nail ! "
We both jumped* out at that, and ran up the bank.
There, among a clump of round-wood, lay a small deer,
with its tongue out and one fore leg in the air, dead.
One of those bullets had gone through its body, striking
just in front and beneath its left hip, and coming out near
the right shoulder. Twas a purely chance shot, I sup
pose, but a very lucky one, certainly. Farr felt not a
little proud of it; though he owned that it was mere
luck.
We did not trouble to go farther after partridges that
afternoon.
I
PARK'S "CHANCE SHOT/
SPOT AND THE "QUILL-PIGS." 159
This was not a caribou deer, but one of the ordinary
species (Cervus Virginianus). We judged it to have been
a last spring fawn ; its color was unusually light for the
species ; and it was seemingly not more than half grown.
It would not have weighed over seventy-five pounds, un-
dressed.
Again we revelled in venison ; but the meat did not
have the body and flavor of the moose meat. This latter
was equal in quality to the best of beef, and to our palates
(while up there) far superior in flavor.
I think it was the next morning after shooting the fawn,
that Spot came in while we were eating breakfast, with
his nose full of hedgehog quills. In his morning stroll
through the woods, he had stumbled on a " quill-pig," as
Fred terms them. To get out these quills, Farr made a
pair of wooden pincers, by splitting a blunt stick of dry
ash at one end. With this he pulled out the most of
them ; but we had to hold the dog down by main strength
to do it. Next day his nose was badly swollen, and so
sore he would not eat.
It would appear that there are hedgehogs in this northern
forest, though we did not see one.
Not more than two mornings after, we had a very lively
adventure with a wild-cat, or lynx.
It was Scott's turn to guard the camp that day. Fred,
Farr and myself had gone down to the dam to look to the
traps there and on the rapids below. We were coming
back up the outlet toward the lake, when quite suddenly,
i6o A "LUCIVEE" SURPRISED
a great snapping of twigs and racing through dry brash began
up among the dead growth on the east side, where the fire
had run some years before.
" Hark ! " Farr said. " What's that ? "
It was about the liveliest snapping and scampering I ever
heard. It went tearing along the ridge-side. Presently there
was a sound of nails hi the bark of a tree ; and we saw, first,
a marten run up a dead hemlock, in sight from the stream,
over the other trees. After him came a largish gray animal
with a big head.
" Lucivee ! sure's ye live ! " Fred muttered, under breath.
The marten ran up to the very top of the hemlock ; but
the wild-cat durst not trust himself on the fragile topmost
limbs. He came to a stop while yet eight or ten feet below
the marten, and clung, glaring at it
Farr cocked his gun.
" No, no," Fred whispered. " Too far ! Pull in ashore.
We can work up through the woods. Sh ! still ! "
Landing, we ran up toward the hemlock. The place was
full of dry brush. It snapped, despite our care. Yet so in-
tent was the lynx on its prey that it did not stir nor turn its
eyes from the marten, though we came within a hundred
yards.
" I can drop him from here," Farr said.
"Well," said Fred, "I'll take the 'saple.'"
They both fired.
The marten leaped instantly into another tree, a dead
poplar. 'Twas a long jump ; not less than thirty feet off and
A LIVELY SCRIMMAGE. l6l
downward. The dry branches amongst which it caught broke.
Down it came, snapping and crackling, to the ground, but
momentarily ran away like an arrow.
But our attention was mainly directed to the big cat. As
Farr fired, he turned a pair of great staring eyes on us, then
whirled about and ran down the hemlock. We sprang for-
ward, shouting loudly ; but it reached the ground and ran.
Before it had taken three jumps, however, I let go at it with
the single-barrelled gun. I don't think I hit it. But the
report and the shouting so frightened the creature that it took
to the trunk of a large green hemlock standing near, and
went up amid the green boughs in a trice.
"We've got him now," Fred exclaimed. "Surround the
hemlock. We'll pepper him. We'll have some fun now 1 "
Reloading the guns, we walked round the hemlock, at a
distance from the roots, peering into the green top, to get a
glimpse of the animal. But so dense were the boughs, and
so snugly had the beast ensconced himself, that we none of us
could get eyes on him. The tops of these great hemlocks are
often surprisingly thick. Whether the lynx was up near the
top, or midway the tree, we could not tell.
"Let fly up the trunk," Fred at length said to me. "Farr
and I will stand ready to nail him, if he jumps out."
I went up to the foot of the hemlock, and fired up into the
top a charge of heavy duck shot. Possibly some of these
hit the animal. Instantly it jumped out of the top and made
a flying leap, with its legs spread out, of twenty-five or thirty
feet, to the ground. Fred and Farr both fired. The beast
1 62 THE GAME ESCAPES.
struck the ground with an audible tnump! but at once re-
gained its legs and went off at full jump. Farr aimed and
fired his second barrel, the only effect of which was to make
the brute take a prodigiously high leap, and run the faster.
Without stopping to load, we ran after it, shouting and yell-
ing at the top of our lungs, in the hope of driving it up
another tree. But we soon lost sight of it ; and though we
chased on for forty or fifty rods, we saw nothing more of it.
'Twas quite a lively sort of scrimmage ; though nothing came
of it.
We got a mink down at the dam that morning. It had
gnawed its leg almost off. In ten minutes more it would
have been free to run on three legs. Determined little
chaps, these minks !
CHAPTER XVIII.
We Take Up our Beaver Traps. A " Bear-path." Bears' Dens.
We Set our Big Trap with Great Care. Clogs. We Find the
Trap with its Clogs Gone. A Long Chase. The Beast Turns
on us. A Savage Apparition. " Come on ! I'll Slit your Hides
for ye ! " A Hard Skull. A Better Shot. Night at Hand.
Facts about the Canada Lynx : its Teeth, Claws, etc.
A DAY or two after, we took up our large trap, up at
the " beaver bank," and set it in a " bear path " which
Fred had crossed about a half mile to the west of the pond
near Little Boy's Falls. Fred was a great case for hunt-
ing up signs of game. Often he would go off for an hour
or two and search steadily for paths, tracks, croppings
and dens. I think he discovered five or six dens of bears.
The trouble with these dens is, to tell whether there is
a bear in them or not; and if there is, to get him out
without too great personal peril.
This trap was hardly large enough to have held a large
bear ; yet it might hold a small one we reasoned. So we set
it with great care and preparation in a bed of dry leaves,
at a place where the path wound between several large
rocks. We took along an abundance of bait: musk-rat
carcasses, moose bones, and refuse pieces of meat. These
164 WE SET OUR TRAP WITH GREAT CARE.
we scattered about and placed upon the rocks. Entrails
of the musk-rats we strung about. Directly over the trap
we bent down a sapling and hung on it a big piece of moose
meat. Altogether we provided a feast of it.
" Should think that might draw a crowd," said Farr,
pausing for a final inspection of the arrangements.
We did not chain the trap, but attached to it a couple
of heavy clogs off a spruce trunk.
Fred ran over to see if there was any thing caught in it
the next morning. There were, he told us, no signs of
there having been any animal about it. So we let two
days pass before looking to it again. Indeed, it was the
afternoon of the second day after that, when Fred and I
went over to it. Farr had gone up to the falls, and Scott
was on guard with Spot.
This time we found nearly all of the bait eaten up and
the trap gone, clogs and all.
Through the moss and on the dead foliage there was a
very distinct trail where the clogs had torn along.
"What is it, suppose?" I queried.
" Bear, or a lucivee," said Fred, looking to the caps of
his gun.
I had the little rifle.
We followed the marks in the moss and leaves, keeping
a cautious eye ahead. We did not care to run upon the
beast unawares.
It did not seem as if the creature could have dragged
those clogs very far. But we followed a mile, perhaps
A LONG CHASE. 165
more, without seeing any thing of it, and began to think it
might prove a long chase. Night was coming, too. The
sun had not been more than an hour high when we set off.
Not a great way farther on, however, the trail entered a
swamp full of hackmatack and alder. This swamp bor-
dered on a large, unknown pond. We presently came out
in sight of it. Fred was ahead. Suddenly, he stopped
"LOOK OUT! HE MAY MAKE A DIVE AT US ! "
and backed hastily against me. At the same mo-
ment I heard a growl.
"Behind that old log!" Fred exclaimed, still backing
off. " Look out ! he may make a dive at us ! "
1 66 A SAVAGE APPARITION.
We cocked our guns and stood on the defensive. The
creature's ears were just in sight over the log: it was
crouching there ! Fred picked up a stray knot and pitched
it over the log. In a moment the old fellow rose up, and
the way he screeched at us was lively to listen to !
'Twas a lynx. He drew up his gray back, cat fashion ;
the hair stood up. His prick ears lay back felinely; and
his big eyes shone like silver knobs. Oh, he looked ugly !
No doubt he felt ugly. Evidently a fight was what he most
longed for, a regular set-to with teeth and nails. He
seemed to say, " Come on if you dare ! I'll slit your cow-
ardly hides for ye ! "
But we had not a moment's time to lose. Darkness was
coming.
"Let him have it!" said Fred. "Right between the
eyes ! "
I took aim with the rifle and fired.
A yelp followed the report. The creature turned andean,
dragging the trap. The slug had struck the skull a little
too high, as we saw afterwards, and glanced along the bone
betwixt its ears.
Fred ran on after it with his gun half raised to get a shot.
The clogs impeded the animal so much that after a few rods
it sprang to the butt of a great hackmatack, and assayed to
climb up. But the clogs were too heavy. It got up five or
six feet and stopped ; it could not raise the clogs from the
ground.
Fred ran forward, and taking a rapid aim at the back of its
FACTS ABOUT THE CANADA LYNX. 167
head, fired a barrel of his heavy shot. Down it dropped,
the trap rattling and clogs flying about. In a few seconds it
was dead.
Fred took it out of the trap as soon as it stopped kicking.
It was caught by one of its hind legs.
The lynx is a very furry animal, and looks much larger
than its weight would bespeak it. This one we thought
would not weigh over thirty-five or forty pounds, although it
looked as large as a rather large dog. Its head was very
large.
We did not dare to stop to skin it there, lest it should
.ome on so dark that we might not be able to find our way
hack, to camp. So Fred shouldered it and started.
I tmrw off the clogs from the trap and followed him. It
vras dark enough, too, before we got back to camp. Farr
and Scott >iaa begun to feel pretty uneasy about us.
This was a male lynx. The fur was in tolerably good con-
dition : a stone gray on the back and sides, but almost white
beneath. Its legs were very powerful and muscular ; its feet
were padded with thick fur. We cut and pulled out several
of the claws to save, for mementos. Those from the middle
toes of the fore paws were an inch and a half long. The teeth
were much sharper and rather longer than those of an ordinary
dog. (We compared them with Spot's.) The tail was very
short and tipped with black hairs.
If I remember aright, we received three dollars and a half
for the skin, sold with the rest of our fur.
CHAPTER XIX.
A Night long to be Remembered. We are Surprised and Captured
by a Gang of Outlaw Woodsmen whom we Suppose to be
French Canadians. Their Horrible Oaths and Threats. They
Rob us of Every Thing and Drive us Down the Lake. Our Sad
and Perilous Condition. We Stop at the Gorge Camp. More
"Sprung Pork." We set out for Home.
IT was the night after this capture, the night of the
29111 of October. Ah, I shall never forget that night !
There had been a snow-squall the previous afternoon. We
had got in early from looking to the traps. The stove we
moved into one end of the grain-shed ; for the weather was
getting rather chilly nights, as well as windy days. A glorious
supper of partridges and deer venison cheered us. We kept
the stove hot and lay on a great springy bunk of boughs,
with our rubber blankets and the tent for coverlets.
Our sleep was sound after those days of constant toil and
tramp through the forest.
Over our heads, as we lay, hung five mink skins and three
marten pelts. But all our musk-rat and the lynx skin and
moose hide were out in the ox-camp, hidden there behind
the boxes and boards.
A NIGHT LONG TO BE REMEMBERED.
169
The night passed. It was faintly daylight, and very nearly
our usual time of getting up, when I was waked by Spot
barking savagely for him.
I jumped up, bewildered and greatly alarmed, with the
sense of something being around the camp. The other
boys were rousing, too. But before any of us could get f air-
" AF YAR STAR ! "
ly up, or reach the guns, the door was kicked open, with loud,
fierce shouts, which were more like the savage growls of
wild beasts than men, and the muzzles of two guns were
pointed in at us as we sat up in the bunk ! At the same in-
stant, we saw red, bearded, vicious faces peeping rather cau-
170 A GANG OF OUTLAW WOODSMEN.
tiously in ! And I still think had we seized our guns prompt-
ly, the cowardly wretches would have fled even then. They
might have discharged their guns, which might, of course,
have hit some of us. But they were cowards, as such
scamps often are.
We were just simply stunned : we were hardly awake ;
and then their brute-like shouts appalled us.
" He-air, yar young ! Af yar star, we'll blaw yar
ter ! " one of them yelled at us, with a gutteral
rattle and rasp in his throat, keeping the gun pointed full
in our faces, and creeping through the door-way like a tiger,
the others after him.
Such sounds I never heard from men. They drew back
their lips like mad dogs, and snarled, gritting their teeth, the
front one especially. " SacreU Sa-a-a-cre II Sacre ! Sa-
a-a-cref!" he growled out, more than a score of times. He
had a gray fur cap on his head. His hair hung down long ;
his face was red and dirty. His coat or frock was of skins.
Even in the terror of the moment, I smelled a vile stench of
rum. Altogether, he was the most terrible object I ever saw
in human form or out of it. They swore awfully, a con-
tinued stream of the most frightful and disgusting profanity,
and all with the unmistakable accent of French Canadians.
But they knew a good deal of English. Indeed, one or two
of the gang were English, or Americans, at least.
"Af yar star! Af yar star ff" the leader kept snarling at us.
Of course we were frightened. Who wouldn't have been ?
We expected to be murdered. They looked capable of it.
THEIR HORRIBLE OATHS AND THREATS. 17 1
And they had us in their power. If we had so much as
moved to take up a gun, they would have shot us. There
were five of them. Instinctively the rest of us glanced at
Fred.
" No use," he said in a low voice. " They've got us ! "
Then he spoke up to them : " What do you want? "
At that they all gritted their teeth and snarled like wolves
again, aspirating "Sacre/" away down in their throats. This
they did to scare us, I suppose : to get us thoroughly afraid
of them.
At that, Scott began to beg. I do not mean that he got
down on his knees; but he said, "Come, now, don't kill
us ; don't shoot us. We'll do whatever you say."
But the rest of us said nothing.
" Don't talk," said Fred. " Don't say a word to 'em ! "
He was right. That was the best way to do, say noth-
ing. They had no pity nor mercy about them. Begging
and pleading would have been just thrown away. They did
not, as it appeared, quite dare to kill all four of us ; but it
wasn't mercy. They were afraid to do it ; and they would
have killed us all the quicker for our begging. That is the
way with such wretches. It always makes them worse to
plead with them. The best way is to say not a word. Let
them do what they dare ; for they will do that, anyway.
" Naw yer coom out aw thart. Sacre! Sacre /" they be-
gan to say, after they had gritted and snarled at us what they
thought proper.
" Coom out aw thart, yer 1 an leave yar guerns,
yer !"
1 72 THEY ROB US OF EVERY THING.
Fred got right up, as soon as they said this, and walked
straight out between them, looking them full in the face.
Farr followed, and I came next. But Scott hesitated and
rather cringingly shied out past them. Seeing his fear,
they gritted their teeth at him ; and two of them kicked him
brutally. If he had held his head up and looked them in the
eye like a man, they would not have touched him. Ruffians
of this sort are like curs. The only safety from them lies in
not fearing them.
They had a large gaunt bull-dog, brindled, with a bobtail.
Spot had run out, and stood cowering at a little distance.
" S-t tak 'im ! " one of them called out.
"S-t tak 'im, Rog!"
Spot cut away for dear life, with Rog, or Rogue, whichever
it was, after him. That was the last we saw of either of them.
As soon as we were out in front of the shed, Fred turned,
facing them. . They pointed their guns at us, three of them,
old army muskets. I did not know but that they would
shoot us down there in our tracks.
"Gav us yermowny ! " they ordered.
" Let them have it," Fred said.
We handed out what scrip we had, a little rising two
dollars.
Evidently they were disappointed in the amount. ' Thoy
swore again and "Sacred" ferociously.
"Tak arf yer coarts," the leader ordered us.
We took them off and gave them up.
" Tak arf yer warst-cuts," was the next requisition.
THEY DRIVE US DOWN THE LAKE. 173
We unbuttoned our vests, Fred setting the example, and
gave them up also.
Then one of them, a red-eyed, wicked-looking villain
stepped up, and thrusting his dirty paw into our trowsers'
pockets, took out our pocket-knives and whatever other
things we had, combs, pencils, buttons, etc. And they even
made Scott take off his woollen shirt, leaving him in nothing
but his under-shirt and pants. I expected they would strip
the rest of us in a similar way ; but they did not. Scott's
shirt was a rather better one than the rest of us had on. Per-
haps they thought our shirts were not worth stealing.
While they were plundering us, I observed them attentive-
ly, rather from a sort of fascination than otherwise. They
seemed like men in process of turning to beasts. There
was a restive truculence in their glances, and an air of sullen
ferocity in all their movements, such as one sees in wild
animals of the fiercer species. We had no doubt that they
were the outlaws, living in the wildnerness, of whom we had
heard.
"Whuere are yer trarps? " one of them demanded.
" There are some up at the falls," said Fred. " There
are some in Indian Cove ; and some others down at the
dam."
" An yar tell us troo ? " cried another.
"Yes ; I have told you true," Fred said.
One of them, in particular, struck me as having the
strangest countenance I ever saw. He was forty years
old, perhaps, though it was hard guessing his age. His
174 OUR SAD AND PERILOUS CONDITION.
beard was matted, and partially clotted with grease ; and
his face so flabby that his mouth looked like a mere crease
betwixt his lips.
The one that seemed to be captain, or leader of the
party, had very keen black eyes, eyes that may have
been clear and intelligent in boyhood, but which were now
hopelessly hardened and sinister. His face was deeply
pitted, and had other marks of a wild and lawless life. On
every one of their visages there was set the seal of physical
and moral depravity.
They had espied the mink and marten skins hanging
over our bunk. That seemed to please them somewhat.
No doubt they have means of disposing of fur.
This all occupied but a very few minutes. As soon as
they had robbed us, to our shirts and pants, the
leader pointed to the bateau.
" Be gittin' inter thart ! " he sang out to us.
We started obediently. While we were going to it, one
of them fired off a gun behind us. I heard the shot
whistle past our heads ; still I am inclined to think it was
done merely to scare us.
We got into the boat. I thought they were going to
let us go off in it ; but they came behind us with their
guns and got into it with us.
"I guess they are going to take us down the lake,"
Farr whispered, as we huddled together in the bow.
He was wrong. They merely paddled across to the
opposite bank. We did not know what they intended to
do, and so sat still after the boat touched.
WE STOP AT THE GORGE CAMP. 175
" Out ! yar ! " they shouted.
We got out.
They got out after us and covered us with their guns.
We trembled then.
" Now, thin ! " yelled the one that led, gritting his teeth
till he fairly foamed at his mouth. " Be arf wit ye !
yar ! Stiver ! Nevair coom bark ! Mog ! "
There being no help for it, we mogged as fast as we
could, taking a course that would take us out to our
" saple line." They followed on after us for half a mile
or upwards, to see that we really went off ; and they fired
at us once at a distance, to let us know what we might
expect if we came back ; I, for one, had no idea of going
back.
We followed down the " saple line." As soon as we
found that the robbers had gone back and left us, we ran
for a mile, at least. Not much was said ; they had not
left us much to talk about. We were robbed of every
thing and driven out. For my own part, I felt for several
hours completely cowed, whipped. There we were, forty
miles from settlement, without arms ; we had not even a
jack-knife.
It was not till we had crossed Moose Brook, that even
a word was exchanged. There Fair said, " Where are you
going, Fred?"
" Down to the gorge camp," was the answer.
" What good will that do? " Scott demanded, querulously.
"What good ! " exclaimed Fred. "Why, I rather guess
176 MORE "SPRUNG" PORK.
we shall want to be getting outside of some of that ' sprung
pork ' by the time we get down there. I, for one, haven't
been to breakfast yet."
We had none of us thought of breakfast.
On the ridge, near the lower end of the lake, we found a
marten in one of the " dead falls." What a mockery it
seemed to our trapping scheme ! Fred took it out, however,
and carried it along.
We crossed the dam, and got to the camp at a little before
eight o'clock.
How different our feelings now from what they had been
when we came here three weeks before. However, we set at
work to get breakfast from supplies there. We fried some
meat, boiled some beans, and cooked water biscuits. The
beans we ate with salt. The biscuits we dipped in the pork
fat. By heating it very hot, we fancied we had taken the
" sprung " out of it. It was the best we had ; and persons
must eat, whatever comes.
But we did not dare to stay long at the camp. Our cap-
tors might find us there. We were utterly defenceless. We
took a frying-pan, a tin dipper, two case-knives, two tin
plates, and the large "pot " that went with the stove. This
latter utensil we packed full of pork. There was also a two-
gallon coffee-pot, an old affair. This we filled with flour;
and as there was nothing else in our pants' pockets, we filled
those with beans and tea. We argued that our case was one
of absolute necessity, and so it was.
There was an old axe at this camp. Fred took that ; also
WE SET OUT FOR HOME. 177
an old butcher-knife, which he stuck in his waist-band. Fan-
took a bunch of matches from the quarter gross put away
in the cuddy.
Thus equipped, we started down the " carry," toward the
forks and toward home.
CHAPTER XX.
A Gloomy Prospect Ugly Reflections. We Grow Desperate.
Fred's Reckless Vow. " Sunday Pond." Our Den among the
Rocks. A Birch-bark Jacket. Cold Nights. A Snow-squall.
Farr's Proposal. Fred's Hardy Plan. We Begin to Dig
Spruce Gum. The Spruce Woods. Fresh Hopes. Four
Pounds of Gum.
IF ever the world looked dark to four youngsters, it did
to us. At first we had been only too glad to get away
from the " Cunnucks " (as Fred called them) to think much
about the future. But now that we were fairly out of their
clutches, and started for the settlements, the full bitterness
of our situation began to break upon us. We had staked a
great deal for us on this expedition; and to be de-
feated in this humiliating way was unbearable.
We reproached ourselves for not keeping guard continually.
Then we should not have been surprised, and, in a word,
ruined.
We thought now of the figure we should cut returning
home in our shirts and pants, without our guns ; and of the
chap-fallen story we should have to tell. And how the folks
who predicted our failure at the outset would inwardly chuc-
A GLOOMY PROSPECT. 179
kle while they pretended to pity us. Pity us they might j
but there would be their inevitable, " I told you so."
The story would get out, and then how inquisitive people
would be, and how. they would laugh over it, and say we had
better stayed at home.
And then where were our funds to go to the Academy the
next spring to come from? We talked, or rather croaked,
these dismal views to each other as we plodded down the
carry, till our hearts grew hard and wicked in our jacketless
bosoms; till we grew quite desperate and reckless; and
till at last Fred threw down the old pot of pork and vowed
he would not go home another step !
" What's the use to go home ! " he exclaimed, hotly.
" I vow on my head, I had as lief be shot as go home in
this way ! "
Rash words. But I have no doubt he felt them, for
the moment, at least. Farr and I felt much in the same
way, although we neither of us had the grit to say it out-
right.
" But what shall we do ? " Scott asked, dubiously.
" / don't know" said Fred, candidly. " But I won'f go
home so I May I die on tJie road, if I do! "
He was in dead earnest.
We sat down on a windfall and looked at each other. A
crisis had come in our affairs. This outrage had goaded
us to desperation. I suppose that many of the reckless
exploits and desperate deeds which astonish the world are
done under similar stress of ill-luck and passion. When
180 "SUNDAY POND.'
a fellow is driven clean to the wall, then look out
if he has spirit ; for if he has, he will never go down
without one grand effort to retrieve himself. Desperate
men hit hard.
Off to the right of the carry path (going down) there is
a little pond, named by some wandering hunter " Sunday
Pond." We had espied it the day we carried our bateau
up to the lake. It is a pretty little expanse almost circular
in shape and perhaps half a mile in diameter, set in a
natural basin, and surrounded by the thick spruce forest
"Let's go out to the pond and look about, and get
breath," Fred at last said.
So departing from our line of retreat, we went down
through the woods to the pond shore. Here we sat down
on an old drift-log near the water's edge, and looked at each
other again, a pretty long spell.
"What's the use to stay in this savage region," was
about all Scott had to say.
And, "I won't go home," was all we could get out of
Fred. But this much was decisive.
Farr and I said nothing : we could think of nothing to
say, to the point ; and at such times persons are not apt to
talk to no purpose. We sat there and brooded for two
hours, certainly.
" Well, if we're going to stay here, let's make us a camp
somewhere," Farr at length broke out.
The rest of us agreed to that.
Fred then led off, following the shore of the pond round
SCOTT'S BIRCH BARK JACKET
COLD NIGHTS. l8l
to the south-west side, where there was a little brook lead-
ing out of it down to the Little Magalloway, of which the
pond is tributary. Crossing this, we came to a rick of
great rocks on the hill-side above it.
" Might make us a den amongst these," Farr suggested.
Without waste of words, Fred set down the pot of pork
and began to cut poles. These we laid across the tops of
three of the large rocks that lay about and near to each
other, and then thatched them over with boughs of spruce
and fir. The little space inclosed by the rocks was par-
tially filled with dry leaves, twigs, and the fallen foliage of
the spruces. This, with sprigs of fir, offered a decent bed.
Scott shivered with cold in his under-shirt. Fred
peeled off as well as could be done at this season of the
year a broad slab of bark from a large canoe-birch, out
of which we contrived a sort of jacket for our scantily-clad
comrade.
As for the rest of us, we did not feel uncomfortably cold
in our woollen shirts while at work. It was only on sitting
down that we shivered.
The most of that afternoon was spent in getting up a
good meal out of such as we had. We could at least af-
ford a generous 'fire. Our only anxiety on this score be-
ing lest the "Cannucks" should see the smoke. But as
the pond was not in sight from the lake or its immediate
shores, we had no great fear of it
We were, as we reckoned it, twelve miles from the
Cleaveland camp.
i&z FRED'S HARDY PLAN.
For coverlets that night, we had nothing but boughs and
birch bark ; but we built a great fire before the rocks, and
lay close to each other, in order to lose no warmth. De-
spite our nestling, we got pretty cold toward morning.
Fred got up before light and re-built the fire.
Just at sunrise there came on another violent snow-
Squall. The woods sighed and roared. It darkened ;
and the snowflakes fell thickly. It made us shudder.
Winter was evidently at no great distance, and what, alas !
was our situation.
At breakfast, which we at length got, Fred said,
" They surprised us : what's the reason we can't surprise
them ? "
" With an old axe and a butcher-knife ! " Scott ex-
claimed, derisively.
Fred went on to explain that they would not always be
at the camp, all of them, at least.
But how do you know they are there, or stayed there an
hour ? " said I.
"Oh, they'll stay there and trap there awhile," said
Fred. " I know they will. That's why they drove us off,
they wanted our chance."
" But they will be on their guard for a day or two," he
added, after a long pause.
During the forenoon, Farr made the remark that if we
were going to stay there we might as well go to digging
gum as to do nothing.
That seemed sensible. Hope revived a little. Possibly
WE BEGIN TO DIG SPRUCE GUM. 183
we might make a trifle yet. All about us there was a
heavy spruce growth, and on many of the trunks we had
noticed gum, large balls of it.
" But what are we to dig it with ? " Scott questioned.
" Here's the axe," said Farr.
" And the butcher-knife," said Fred.
" That will be for two only," objected Scott. (He was
homesick enough those days ; he wanted to start for home.)
" There are the case-knives," I said.
But they were too limber.
That fault was in part remedied by breaking them off
midway the blade.
To hold the gum after it was dug, we provided ourselves
with dishes, or trays, made gf birch bark, fastened together
at the corners with wooden pins.
This finding som'ething to do was a godsend to us. Work
takes up a fellow's mind. We grew quite cheerful going
from tree to tree to dig the gum. It is rather pretty work,
too, light and cheery. There is a pleasure in finding rare
" good trees " and big lumps. Some trees would be quite
crusted with it on one side from the ground upward for
twenty or thirty feet. But we could not reach higher than
six or seven feet. Sometimes gumming parties bind a
chisel to a long pole. There is also manufactured what is
called a gummer, an instrument made on purpose for the
business.
We had to use such instruments as we had in hand.
Nevertheless, in three or four hours we dug not less than
184 FRESH HOPES.
six quarts of clear gum : about four pounds of it, we judged ;
and we reckoned it worth not less than two dollars.
When a party has had a long run of misfortune, even lit-
tle encouragements cheer them.
"We will take home what clear gum we can carry," Farr
said. " And we can carry a hundred weight between us.
That will be fifty dollars, certain."
CHAPTER XXI.
Cloudy and Cold. A Poor Camp-fire. Some Animal about the
Camp. Restless Watches. Fred Goes off to Reconnoitre the
Cannuck Camp. Gumming. Killing a Partridge with a Stone.
A Leveret. A Snow Storm. The Exhaustlcss Quantities of
Gum. A Gun. Scott Sneezes Continuously. His Birch-bark
Jackets. Tough Times.
r I THAT night it came in cloudy, with the weather cold
JL and piercing. We had bad luck with our fire. It
burned but poorly. There are some nights that a camp-
fire will not burn even if the wood be good. It kept dead-
ening down and smouldered.
Something was round the camp, too, some creature.
Perhaps it had followed us in from gumming, though we
did not hear it till as late as eight o'clock in the evening.
If we had only had a gun we would have made it scamper!
Fred did not care for it He lay down and went to sleep.
But it disturbed me thoroughly. I could not go to sleep.
No more could Scott ; and I think Farr did not rest any
too well. I noticed he kept one hand on the butcher-knife.
We could hear twigs break, of! a little way. I fancied I
could see its eyes. Repeatedly I heard its step. It kept
l86 RESTLESS WATCHES.
prowling about till near morning. We had little idea what
it was ; the night was too dark to discern any thing off
from the fire.
Toward morning I fell into a sound nap.
When I woke, Farr and Scott were snoring well ; but
Fred was gone. jje did not come back till near nine
o'clock. \Jflfe guessed, however, that he had gone off to
reconnoitre, and so got breakfast ready and waited : that
is to say, we waited five or ten minutes, then ate the best
of it, but kept the rest warm for him.
He came in warm and tired.
" Wherever have you been ? " we asked.
He had been up as far as Indian Point ; seven miles, at
least. He had seen nothing of the Cannucks ; but there
was a smoke visible over the woods in the direction of the
old camp; and he had no doubt that they were there yet
We went out to dig gum again; and that day we dug
what we called five pounds. It gave us some idea of the
vast quantities in these woods. There were, we perceived,
tons of it. The supply was inexhaustible, so far as we
were concerned.
That day Fred killed a partridge with a stone. We had
it for supper. The reader may rest assured that we did
not throw away any part of that bird. There was no Spot
to eat the wings and legs raw. Poor Spot ! We supposed
that the big brindled dog Rogue had eaten him up.
That night it snowed an inch or two.
Fred went off early again to reconnoitre the Cannucks.
TOUGH TIMES. 187
On coming back, he told us that he had been to the high
land on the west side of the lake, to the mouth of Bose-
buck ; and he had heard the report of a gun up near the
head of the lake.
"They are trapping up there, full blast," said he. "The
wretches ! Isn't it awful aggravating ? Our traps, our
grub, our guns, and our camp ! "
It was too aggravating to dwell on ! It was enough to
turn a fellow's blood to gall !
We gummed five or six pounds that day.
Farr killed a leveret (young hare) with a pole. We had
rabbit for supper.
" Rather weak stuff," so Scott said ; and it was so. But
it was better than sprung pork, for a change, at least.
That night it was windy. We slept very cold.
Scott had now begun to sneeze about half the time. He
nearly sneezed himself out of his birch-bark jacket. He
had cold-sores and sore eyes, beside.
Poor wretch ! we pitied him.- That was all we could do,
except to make him white birch jackets; and that was no
small job, for he shook them to pieces sneezing.
Those were tough times. I don't see how we lived. But
we were too outrageously angry to die. Most of all things,
we wanted to get square with those beastly Cannucks.
CHAPTER XXII.
A. Trip to Bose-buck Cove. The Cannucks Abroad in the Bateau.
We Watch Them from the Bushes. Fred's Sudden Resolu-
tion. A Hurried JaunL We Set off for the Cannuck Camp.
Cautious Movements. Moments of Suspense. Only Rogue.
Slaughter of Rogue. Missing Property. Poor Spot. The
Return of the Cannucks. " Our Turn ! " A Bold Stroke.
Fortune Favors Us.
r I i HE morning after, Fred and I went up to the lake
JL together to see whether any of our enemies were
abroad. From our camp, or rather den, among the rocks
at Sunday Pond, up to the lake, it was about three miles,
perhaps three and a half. We came out on the shore at
the foot of Bose-buck Cove, and stood gazing off up the
lake toward the islands, distant nearly five miles.
Presently, as we looked, I saw a speck moving across
the open stretch, between two of the islands. Fred saw it
at the same moment.
" What's that ? " he said. " Isn't that a boat ? "
It seemed likely.
"Yes, sir: that's our old bateau, sure's you're born,
Frank ! " Fred exclaimed, a moment later. " Coming down
the lake, too."
THE CANNUCKS ABROAD IN THE BATEAU. 189
We hastily retreated out of sight among the alders, and
then watched the boat eagerly, anxiously.
It came on pretty fast. In half an hour it was in plain
sight ; and not long after we made out four persons in it.
"They are going down to the dam !" exclaimed Fred.
" Now's our time 1 "
"But they've left a man at the camp," I objected.
"Yes; but he may not be on his guard," said Fred.
" Now's our time to strike. He may step out a moment,
and if he does, why, we'll step in. Stay here and watch
the boat. I'll run for the other boys."
He was off like a shot.
It seemed a desperate enterprise ; but we were in des-
perate straits, ready to run risks.
The bateau crawled down the lake, and at length en-
tered the outlet and disappeared.
How long they would stay down at the dam and the
camp there, was a mere matter of conjecture.
Fred must have run all the way down to the pond ; for
in less than an hour they all three came panting through
the woods : Farr greatly excited and half crazy, and Scott
looking pale but determined. Once started on such an
errand, he was not the boy to show the white feather.
Fred had the axe and butcher-knife. He cut down a
horn-beam sapling, and armed the rest of us each with a
formidable club. We then went up the slope to the height
of land. There we struck our old " saple-line " on the west
side of the lake. This we followed up the west shore
IQO A HURRIED JAUNT.
Fred went ahead, half the time at a dog trot. The rest
of us with our clubs kept up as best we could. Where \ve
could see out through the woods on to the lake, we stopped
to take a look. Each time it rejoiced our hearts to see
that the bateau had not yet come out in sight at the foot
of the lake. Then on we would go again.
I do not think we were much over an hour going up.
On getting within a half mile of the camp, however, we
advanced very cautiously ; and when within fifty rods, we
spoke only in whispers, and dared not let so much as a
twig break under our feet.
At length from among a clump of alders we caught sight
of it, the back side of it A smoke was rising lazily.
We could even smell the burning wood. All was quiet.
Nobody in sight.
"He's inside making something, or perhaps taking a
snooze," Farr suggested.
We stood watching for ten or fifteen minutes. We
knew that time was precious, too. Even now the bateau
might be on its way up the lake !
" I'm going to see who's there, anyhow," Fred whis-
pered.
He crept forward, axe in hand. Moving to the right, so
as to bring the main ox-camp between him and the grain-
shed, he went quickly up to within a dozen yards of it.
Then after listening a moment, he stole forward to peep
through the cracks in the side of it. But before he was
near enough for this, a dog barked out on a sudden. In
CAUTIOUS MOVEMENTS. 191
stantly Fred dropped behind a stump. Our hearts beat
loudly. We expected to see a Cannuck rush out, gun in
hand.
But nothing stirred, though the dog continued barking
boisterously from within the shed. We saw Fred creep
forward. He peeped through the cracks ; then, as if re-as-
sured, crawled around the end to look at the front side.
Then he jumped to his feet and called "Come on!" to
us. "There's nobody here."
We ran out to the shed.
" There's not a soul here," Fred said, as we came up.
" He's off somewhere. Left the dog shut in to watch.
But he'll soon be back if he hears the barking. We'll
put an end to it. Be ready with your clubs." Fred un-
buttoned the door. It swung partly open. Out leaped
Rogue all bristled and growl. Farr struck him across the
head with his club, on the instant. The blow stunned
him. Fred at once despatched the cur with the axe.
" One the less of them," said Farr.
" Be on the lookout," Fred advised. " You, Scott, and
Farr."
He and I went into the shed.
" Skins are gone," Fred exclaimed, at first glance,
" They've either hidden them or sent them off."
I was looking for the guns. There were four, stood up
in one corner, all loaded : two of their old muskets, one
of our double-barrelled guns (Farr's), and Fred's single-
barrel. The little rifle and our other double-barrel were
gone.
IQ2 MISSING PROPERTY.
" Got them with them in the bateau," said Farr.
The ammunition, a part of it, lay on the little shelf
where we had kept it. We at once drew the charges and
re-loaded the guns.
Farr ran into the ox-camp.
"There are ten musk-rat skins and one of the mink
skins gone," he reported.
"Then I'll tell you what's up!" Fred exclaimed.
"They've sent a man off. out into Canada somewhere
after rum, with those skins and the scrip they got from us.
That's what's the matter ! "
We could find nothing of our coats, or waist-coats, either,
and thought it quite likely that they had sent these off
too.
The hide of some creature had been nailed up to the
side of the ox-camp, meat side out. We pulled it down.
It was the skin of poor Spot!
"There's all there is left of your dog, Farr," said Fred.
The sight of that skin made Charles Henry's eyes snap.
"Poor Spot!" was all we could say; and there lay Rogue,
too, dead as a hammer. Truly this had been a hard week
for dogs.
"But don't stand fooling there!" Fred exclaimed.
"We've not a moment to lose. The bateau will soon be
back, and then what? "
"We won't let them land," said Farr. "We will stand
with our guns cocked and pointed, and drive them off."
" And lose the bateau and what there is in it 1 " cried
POOR SPOT. 193
Fred. " That won't do ! We must work shrewder than
that."
" I'll tell you," said he, after a little thought. " Let's get
inside the shed, shut the door, and lie quiet till they land.
Then we will stop 'em short, when they are coming up to
the camp from the boat."
"What! shoot them!" I exclaimed.
" No ; if we work it right there'll be no need of that.
They are a set of sneaks. They won't fight if they see
we have the advantage. We'll have our guns all ready,
cocked and aimed at their heads before they see us. I'll
do the talking. Don't shoot, any of you, unless I give the
word. We won't hurt them unless we're obliged to. But
we'll have our things back, anyhow. They don't deserve
to live, the scoundrels! But we won't shed their dirty
blood. We'll save 'em for the gallows. Now, fellows,
keep cool. Don't get scared. Keep cool. That's half
the battle. If we've got any pluck about us, we must show
it now. Now's the time to show what stuff we're made
of."
Instead of the shed, we concluded to lay in ambush in
the ox-camp. The door-way of the latter was larger and
we could step out quicker.
The carcass of old Rogue we threw inside the shed and
shut the door, just as they had left it. We even nailed
Spot's skin to the side of the ox-camp again.
It was now a little past noon. We kept out of sight in
the camp and waited.
194 MOMENTS OF SUSPENSE.
An hour passed. It was this having to wait that tried
our courage most of all. As long as we could put things
through with a rush, we felt pretty brave. We had no
thoughts of backing out, however ; but the delay made us
nervous.
Finally, about two o'clock, we heard the sound of paddles
coming up the stream and soon rough voices. Our hearts
jumped, at least my own did. I /eft-pale and I noticed
the other boys looked so. We shut our teeth hard and
braced ourselves.
Nearer came the sounds. Each fresh noise sent a thrill
through me. Fred only stood where he could peep out.
The boat came slowly up to the landing place. They
were talking in French, Canada French. Their voices
were coarse. We knew enough of their talk to perceive
that their words were nearly all oaths. The sound of pad-
dles stopped. I heard them unshipping their oars.
" Be ready," Fred whispered.
They were getting out.
Still Fred stood motionless.
" They've stolen a barrel of that pork down at the other
camp," he whispered, at length. " They're unloading it.
Now they've begun to roll it up toward the camp. They've
left their guns in the boat. Be ready ! "
I could hear the heavy barrel crunching on the stones
and chips ; could hear even their breathings as they rolled
it along, with now and then an ejaculated French word
or curse.
THE RETURN OF THE CANNUCKS.
'95
"Now!" Fred whispered, and stepped noiselessly out.
We followed him.
They were not a dozen yards off ; but they were bent
over and did not see us even then.
" Halt, there ! " Fred shouted.
You ought to have seen them jump! One of them
"HALT, THERE!'
jumped up a foot from the ground! We had our guns
pointed full in their faces.
" Stand where you are," Fred said, distinctly.
They stood and stared; they were astounded. One of
them turned partially, as if to run to the bateau.
" Stop ! " Fred shouted. " If you stir I'll shoot you
dead ! " taking aim at him.
196 "OUR TURN!"
He stopped.
" It's our turn now," said Fred. " You had your turn.
But now we've got you. If you offer the least resistance,
we will kill you on the spot ! We'll shoot you down like
dogs ! " They stared at the muzzles of the guns stupidly.
" Turn that barrel up on end ! " ordered Fred, advancing
with his double-barrelled gun pointed directly among them.
Two of them stooped and turned it up.
" Now put our knives and whatever you stole from us on
it," Fred ordered.
They hesitated alarmedly ; they did not understand.
" Conteau-canif!" shouted Fred, slapping his pocket and
pointing to the head of the barrel.
Then they knew what was wanted, and fumbled the knives
and trinkets out one by one, the most of them, and laid
them down as directed.
"Now the 'mowney* you stole from us! " Fred sang out
They looked scared, shook their heads. " No got," they
said. " No got. Gome," pointing off up the river.
" Hand it out ! " Fred yelled at them.
" No got ! no got ! gorne ! " they protested. " Peter
gorne ! "
" We saw that the one which acted as their leader when
they robbed us was really gone. He was probably the Pctet
referred to.
"Where are our 'coarts' and ' warst-cuts' ? " Fred de
manded.
" Gorne 1 gorne ! " they chorused.
A BOLD STROKE. 197
At that Fred pretended to be terribly enraged. He took
aim at them. So did we all.
They cowered, but kept saying, " Gornel Gomel"
We had little doubt of it.
" Pull off those boots ! " thundered Fred, pointing to
Scott's rubber boots, which one of them had on.
The villain obeyed with great promptness, and set them
together as far from him as he could well reach.
" Take off your 'coartsj " said Fred.
They took 'them off.
" Take off your ' warst-cuts. 1 "
They began to obey, but one of them grumbled audibly.
" Not a yip out of you !" Fred shouted.
The rest of us covered him with our guns. The vest came
off quick and was laid with the others.
"I've a great mind to strip them stark naked," Fred mut-
tered.
"I guess I wouldn't," said Scott. "It isn't best to behave
worse than they did. But I should like my shirt back."
"Off with that shirt ! " exclaimed Fred, pointing his gun
at one of the best-looking of their shirts, worn by the man
with the crease mouth.
He pulled it off. It left him bare to his dirty hairy skin.
"Have we served them bad enough?" Fred now ques-
tioned.
I thought so, for one.
" I guess they will do," Fair said.
"All right," said Fred. "Now take aim at them, sharp."
198 FORTUNE FAVORS US.
We aimed, as if about to shoot them down. I rather
think they expected it. No doubt they were well aware
that they deserved it.
Fred pointed off Up the river.
" Stiver ! " he shouted. " Mog ! you won't find us nap-
ping again!" They started hesitatingly, as if half afraid
to move.
"Mog!" Fred reiterated.
They quickened thsir steps with eyes over their shoulders.
"Run !" we all yelled after them.
Then they ran for life, through the brush along the
river. No doubt they expected we would fire after them.
We kept shouting, then ran on after them, half way up to
Little Boy's Falls. But we soon lost sight of them ; for they
scudded away like foxes.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Little Rifle Gone. The Cannucks Coats and Waist-coats. Dog-
skin Vests. The Captured Weapons. A Discussion. Sentinel
Duty. We Determine to Shift our Quarters. The Log Camp
on the Knoll. We Fortify our Position with a Log Fence Nine
Feet High. A Strong Fort The " Sheep-hole." Our First
Night in the New Camp. Snug. Armed and Ready.
ended the affair, for that day.
JL In the bateau we found the other double-barrelled
gun and the other of their old muskets. But the little
rifle was gone. We concluded that Peter had taken that
too. Fred's jack-knife was not in the pile on the barrel
head. One of our combs, too, was missing, as also several
other trinkets.
Their old dirty waist-coats we had no disposition to put
on.
But the shirt Scott put in soak that night, and the next
day dried it and clothed himself in it, not without cer-
tain inward misgivings and a great deal of repugnance.
One of the coats was an army dress coat, a good deal
worn and soiled. Another was an army overcoat with the
200 THE CAPTURED WEAPONS.
skirts cut off. The two others were frocks made of coon
skins, the hair turned in. The reader can guess how they
looked !
We first shook them, then we smoked them over the fire,
then hung them in the wind. But there was a certain
odor about them that could not be shaken out. As it
grew colder, however, we were glad to put them on. The
coon skins especially were remarkably warm garments.
We skinned Rogue; and after the hide had dried,
Fred made Scott a waist-coat out of it ; and on the same
pattern Farr made one for himself out of Spot's skin.
We found in the shed two blankets, which we were very
sure were two of the four stolen from us when the old
camp was burned. We had no doubt that it was the same
party.
There was also a large powder-horn full of shot, and a
tin canteen nearly full of Hazard powder. Both of these
we found hidden amid the boughs of the bunk. There
was an old Colt's revolver lying with them, loaded with
buck-shot, and a rusty dirk-knife.
We did good sentinel duty that night ; indeed, none of
us slept much. The excitement of the day had keyed us
up too high.
We watched alternately, with guns ready for instant use.
There was a moon.
The situation of the old shed, however, in connection
with the ox-camp, was unfavorable for defence. About
twenty rods to the north of it, a high knoll covered with
A DISCUSSION. 20X
dry spruce tops where the trees had been cut, commanded
it in most approved military fashion; and there were
thickets on the west and south sides, from any of which a
concealed Cannuck might fire upon us. We had little
doubt that they would come back and watch for an oppor-
tunity to surprise us.
The following morning we held a serious council.
" Will it not be better to pack up, find what of our traps
we can, and go off, down to Metallic Pond, say, and
leave them ' alone in their glory ' ? " Scott questioned.
" Then we shall be sure of no more trouble from them."
For my own part, I was much of Scott's mind in this.
" When that blear-eyed, pit-faced captain of theirs gets
back with the rum, there'll be a great to-do about this,"
Scott went on. " They'll come round here again, trying to
get revenge ; and we shall have a fight with them, likely
as not."
But Fred would not hear a word to leaving on this ac-
count.
" I'll not be driven out by any such set of ruffians," he
declared. "They've no business here whatever. They
are a lot of 'deserters' and 'bounty-jumpers' from the
army, now turned into robbers and perhaps murderers.
I'll not run for any such trash! They've no business
whatever on the soil of this State. I won't budge for
them an inch. If I see one of them hanging round here
again, it will be the worse for him. And as for their firing
at us, they will find that we can fire back. We've got the
202 THE LOG CAMP ON THE KNOLL.
upper hands of them now, and I for one mean to keep the
upper hand."
At such talk as this we all began to wax warlike again.
We had not run from them yet, and did not mean to do so.
Let them come if they wanted to. They would find a hot
reception. They would not find us all asleep again with
the door unfastened : so we talked.
Then it was debated how we should fortify our camp, to
prevent a surprise, evenings and nights.
"Let's tear down the old ox-camp and build a strong
palisade round our shed here," Scott proposed.
But the rest of us did not like the way the knoll over-
looked the shed. We went up on the knoll to look about,
taking our guns, of course, and keeping a careful eye about
us.
This knoll was some twenty or thirty feet higher than
the ox-camp. On the side next the river it fell off very
steep to the water. On the west and north sides the de-
clivity was not so great. On the lower side, next the camp,
it was rather steep. The best of the spruces had been
cut off. But there were scattering trees all about.
From the top of the knoll it was what Fred called " all
clear shooting " for fifteen or twenty rods on all sides.
" Why not build a camp up here ? " Farr said.
After some talk we concluded we could not do better.
Axes were brought up : those put away in the old grain-
box. We set to work chopping, all four of us, in good
earnest. The spruces were felled, and cut up into logs
thirteen feet long (about that).
A STRONG FORT. 203
I remember that we cut six logs apiece, twenty-
four in all. With these we next proceeded to build the
walls of a shed. On three sides we built up with the logs,
notching and locking the ends together as is done in
building a log camp, or house of any sort. But we left
the front side open, and to secure the ends of the end logs,
where, as in a full sided camp, the front-side logs should
have locked across them, we drove down stout stakes on
both sides and bound them together with strong withes.
The heaviest logs we placed at the bottom, and then
rolled the lighter ones up into their places on skids.
These walls were about six feet high; hardly that,
though, I think, on reflection.
The roof we made of ash poles, over which we laid splits
from the old shed.
On the open front side we hung up the tent, which we
found in the shed as we left it, with the exception of a
square bit cut out for a patch for some of their clothes. It
furnished us with a very good door or curtain to our hut.
The building of this hut occupied all the forenoon ; we
worked hard. too. But we had a still harder task planned
for afternoon. For we had no thought of trusting our-
.selves in the shed with no other protection.
" We must have a wall round it," Fred declared.
But as stones were scarce, and the building of a stone
wall would have been a great task, we decided to make a
stockade of logs. And that was no small job.
During all the afternoon, allowing ourselves only an
204 THE "SHEEP-HOLE."
hour for dinner, we toiled till the sun set, and raised a
huge fence nine feet high on all sides of the hut. This
fence was of logs laid upon each other, much like ordina-
ry log fences, only snug together, leaving but few cracks.
It was about thirty-six feet square on the outside, and
consequently left a walk about ten feet wide around the
hut inside the fence. The hut was our castle and the
fence was our castle-wall.
The only door-way through the fence was a hole about
three feet square. Through this we crept. For a door
we brought up the door from the grain-shed, and set it
sidewise betwixt stakes on the inside in such a way that
no one could open it from the outside. Whichever of us
happened to be on guard, he had to open it for the rest of
us when we returned from our trips to visit traps, or other-
wise.
Inside the fence we had a platform of logs built up,
where the guard could stand and look off over the top of
the fence.
That was a hard afternoon's work. Just at dusk we
carried up the old stove and set it up inside the stockade.
The Cannucks had made a great hole in our potatoes.
Evidently they had found them very palatable ; and they
had eaten up nearly the whole of our butter. This was
very vexatious.
"The scamps!" Fred would ejaculate. "I wish we
had stripped them to their skins and slit their noses for
'em ! "
ARMED AND READY. 205
It was dark before we had got fairly moved into our
new quarters. But once in there, within our nine-foot
fence, with the " sheep-hole " (as Farr called the door)
stopped up, we felt much more secure.
" They would have hard work to get over that before we
could pop them ! " Fred said.
We took care to have our guns loaded and at hand.
I have often thought since that we were rather blood-
ily-minded in those days. Yet what else could we do?
If we stayed we must defend ourselves; and Fred was
determined to stay; he certainly had a right to stay, though
I suppose a genuine peace-maker would have thought it
better to go away at once. But there must be some fight-
ing in the world, else the peace-makers themselves would
soon have a hard time of it
CHAPTER XXIV.
Our Night Watches. Lonely Hours. Three Martens. A Myste-
rious Cry. A Snow-Storm. Bad Weather for Trapping. A
Moose in Sight on Indian Point. A Stratagem for Capturing it
A Psuedo Hound. The Moose Takes to the Lake. We Give
Chase in the Bateau. A Long Pull. A Gallant Struggle for
Life. Towing a Moose. Facts about a Moose.
FOR the sake of regularity and convenience, we di-
vided the night into four watches: the first from
eight, evening, till half past ten ; the second from half
past ten till one, morning; the third from one till half
past three ; the fourth from that time till six, the hour
for rising. And here Scott's old watch which he carried
without a guard in a little inside pocket within the waist-
band of his pants, and which escaped the general robbery
by the " Cannucks " did us good service.
It had a curious semblance of military life, our hours
of guard-duty by night, and the constant vigilance with
which we watched days. I well remember that first night
in the new camp, I had the watch from one till half past
three. It was chilly. The stars shone brightly. There
LONELY HOURS. 207
were occasional windy gusts, to which the vast sombre
forest rustled and sighed. The falls roared at a distance ;
and nearer, at the foot of the knoll, I could hear the fret
of the black current on the banks, and catch the silvery
reflection of stars. A saw-whet owl was practising at a
distance. Once a bear called out in lonely plaint. A
hooting owl answered. But the hours were hours of silence
and desolation, for the most part.
And thus it has been here, I reflected, through all the
ages since time began. No wonder that wildness and
loneliness have become stamped ineffably as it were on
these wilderness regions.
The next morning Farr was detailed to do guard-duty
at camp for the day. Fred, Scott, and I set off to make
the round of the " saple line," and look to our traps at the
lower end of the lake. We went armed each with a gun ;
and Fred took the old revolver which Farr had loaded
with the bullets run for the broken carbine.
On the east side of the lake we found two martens dead
in the traps. We concluded that the " Cannucks " had not
hit upon the saple traps. But they had found our traps
at the dam, and moved them into different places : three
were found ; the others were removed to some other locality,
we presumed.
Down at the rapids we found a mink in a trap, dead
also. It had probably been caught four or five days
previously. These traps were all as we had left them.
In the marten traps on the west shore of the lake, there
208 A HARD DAY'S WORK.
was one marten, just caught evidently, for he was still
warm, though the heavy weight had broken his back.
We hurried a good deal, and made this entire round in
a little more than five hours.
Farr reported all quiet, with no signs of " Cannucks."
Dinner was got and eaten. Then we went down the
stream in the bateau to look to the muskrat traps in Indian
Cove. The " Cannucks " had been here. The traps had
been changed about, but we found all save four. There
were five muskrats caught.
This trip took us about two hours, and we still had time
to go up to Little Boys Falls. Of the traps we had set
here, the Canadians had removed all but two. In one of
these there had been a mink, but he had footed himself
and gone.
That was a hard day's work. We reckoned the entire
profit from the fur at thirteen dollars, three dollars and
a quarter apiece.
That night Fred had the second watch, and at about
twelve he waked us.
" Just come out here a minute," he said.
We roused up and went out.
Fred was standing on the log platform ; and we got up
beside him.
" Hark ! " he said.
We listened. Some moments passed. Then, distinct
on the cold air, there came a singularly prolonged and
piercing cry from seemingly a long way off.
A MYSTERIOUS CRY. 209
" I've heard that more than a dozen times," said Fred.
" Any idea what it is ? " Fair asked him.
" No ; never heard any thing like it before in my life."
It was repeated again and again, at intervals of five or
ten minutes.
" I don't believe that it is an animal," Farr said.
" Isn't it the* ' Cannucks ' trying to frighten us ? " Scott
said.
That question made us laugh. It was a rather improb-
able supposition.
We went back to our sleep.
Fred said next day that the sound had continued for an
hour or over after we had gone to sleep.
And the next night Farr waked us at a few minutes
after two to hear the same cries again.
They seemed even more distinct this time. But we
could gain no idea as to what produced them.
The second night after, Scott told us that at a quarter
before five o'clock he had heard it twice, but very faint
and far off. I do not think that even the second time we
heard it that it was within three. miles of the camp.
" Ah, I tell you, fellows, there are things in these woods
that folks do not know of," Fred would say occasionally.
This was a pet idea of his ; and, indeed, we never did
know what made that noise ; we could not even guess
with any certainty.
The fourth night after moving up to our fortified camp it
was very dark and cloudy ; and, at a few minutes after eight,
210 A SNOW-STORM.
it came on to snow, a driving storm. I had the first
watch, but was glad to get down from the post of duty and
take refuge inside the shed.
" I guess the ' Cannucks ' won't stir out to-night," Fred
said.
It was agreed to watch inside our camp-curtain. But
at about half-past one there was a noise outside, on the
log-fence, as of some one trying to climb it. Farr was on
guard. He instantly cocked his gun, listened an instant,
then peeped out very cautiously ; for he knew, that, if there
were enemies inside the fence, they would fire into the camp
at the slightest indication of our wakefulness.
The storm was driving so thickly, and the darkness was
so great, that he could see nothing. But he stood ready
for instant defence for fifteen or twenty minutes ; then he
quietly waked the rest of us, and in whispers informed us
of what he suspected. We all took our guns, and listened
a long while. At length Fred crept out under the curtain,
with his revolver in one hand, and the butcher-knife betwixt
his teeth !
He was out ten minutes or more ; and, on coming in,
reported that he could find nothing either within or without
the fence. But Fair was positive that he had heard a
considerable noise. Afterwards we thought that it might
have been a wild cat, or a bear that had smelled our meat.
But the alarm had so excited us that we none of us
went to sleep again till near five o'clock.
That morning the country presented a wintry appear-
A MOOSE IN SIGHT: 211
ance. The firs and spruce were laden with the snow, and
the ground was ghostly white. The open stream at the
foot of the knoll looked like a river of ink in its white
banks. It was still snowing.
Getting breakfast that morning was a work of time.
Toward ten o'clock the storm ceased. About four
inches had fallen.
"We've got a sweet job before us, to dig out all our
traps and set them up again," Fred remarked.
He and I started down the river in the bateau to look
to the muskrat traps, leaving Scott and Fair in camp.
We were just emerging into the lake, when Fred stopped
paddling.
" Hold on," said he : "I believe, on my soul, that's a
moose ! "
"Where? "I exclaimed.
" Right out between these islands ahead ; on Indian
Point," said Fred. " Don't you see something there ? "
The distance was half a mile or over ; but on the snowy
shore of the Point, among the bushes near the water's
edge, I plainly discerned some large animal moving about
" That's a moose, sure as you're breathing ! " Fred ,
exclaimed excitedly. " Now, how are we going to get
him ? Antlers, too 1 Don't you see them ? A big stag
moose ! We must have that old chap. But the minute he
sets eyes on us you'll hear a smashing ! And he will see
us up here if we don't look out."
' Can we not surround him ? " said I. " By going down
212 A STRATAGEM FOR CAPTURING HIM.
through the woods we could cut him off, so he could not
leave the Point without our getting a shot at him."
"Yes; but he would take to the water," said I red.
" The moment he heard us coming up the Point behind
him, he would splash into the lake, and fin it across to the
east shore. But I have it ! " he exclaimed. " We will
two of us come down in the bateau at the same time ; and,
if he takes to the water, we will overhaul him in the
boat."
As quickly, yet with as little noise as possible, we pulled
back up to the camp.
Farr and Scott were both excited when they heard our
account.
" But who will guard the camp ? " I said.
That was a poser. We all wanted to go after the
moose ; yet we all agreed that it was not safe for all to
leave camp. The " Cannucks " might come.
" Shall have to draw lots for it," Fred said.
But here Scott did a magnanimous thing.
* I'll stay," said he. " Go ahead, the rest of you : I'll
keep guard."
Upon that both Farr and myself were seized with a fit
of generosity. We offered to stay in his place.
" No," said Scott : " I'll stay this time."
"Come on, then," Fred exclaimed. "Load up for
moose ! "
Both of the double-barrelled guns and two of the old
muskets were charged with bullets.
A PSEUDO HOUND. 213
It was agreed for one of us to run down through the
woods on the west side of the lake to Indian Point and
cut off the moose, to prevent his leaving the Point,
while the other two went in the bateau, as Fred had
planned.
Farr rolunteered to run down through the woods, and
set off at a trot with one of the double-barrels.
Fred and I rowed back down the stream as fast as we
could.
As Indian Point projects for a third of a mile or up-
wards into the lake, we had not much fear of the moose
getting back off of it, especially as he appeared, when we
saw him, to be leisurely feeding.
On coming out on the lake, Fred and I kept on the lee
of the second island ; but we pulled out to near the lower
end of it, where we could peep through the alder fringe.
From here we at first saw nothing of the moose.
"I'm afraid he heard us, and is gone," Fred said.
" Their ears are quicker than magic oil ! "
We were in an eager suspense, and hung there waiting
for Farr to get down. He had some two miles and a half
to go.
Presently we heard a hound, " Ough, ough, ough /" from
the woods off beyond the Point.
" A hunting party ! " Fred exclaimed, with a look of dis
tress.
But the regular bay soon changed to a "yap"
" That's no hound," said I.
214 THE MOOSE TAKES TO THE LAKE.
" That's Farr barking," cried Fred disgustedly. "Well,
let him bark. It's the best thing he can do."
Soon after we heard a gun.
" If the moose is on the Point, he will soon be out in
sight," muttered Fred ; and he was correct in his surmise.
Immediately we saw the bushes swaying ; and, a second
afterward, the moose sprang through them, and stood in
the edge of the water, his great ears held up alertly, and
his head turned to glance into the woods behind him. So
motionless did he stand there, listening, that I should have
taken him for a great black upturned root. Then he ran
along the shore, through the bushes and brush, for several
rods around the end to the south side. We held our
breaths.
" He's going to cut out past Farr," Fred groaned.
But, a moment later, we heard more barking; and
the moose came tearing back round to the north side
again.
The moose had not seen any of us yet ; for Farr was not
within a hundred rods of him, and the woods were thick.
But the old fellow knew that something wrong was going
on. We could see his great ears rising at each fresh
sound.
Another report came wafted across the lake ; and, even
before the sound of it had reached us, we saw the moose
plunge into the water, and strike off diagonally toward the
east shore, not toward the islands.
" Now go for him 1 " cried Fred.
WE GIVE CHASE IN THE BATEAU. 215
We both pulled hard. The bateau ran out past the
island.' Looking over our shoulders, we could see the
high antlers, and just a hand-breadth of his black nose
going steadily off from the Point. Faint splashes came
to our ears.
" Steady," said Fred. " He has got a good mile to
go to get to the other shore. We are all right for
him."
But the great beast swam powerfully ; and he kept bear-
ing away to the southward. Probably he had sighted our
boat. We drove the bateau along at a right jolly rate ;
but we did not gain much. The moose was a full hun-
dred rods in advance of us. We found that we should
have to put out our strength, and settled down to it, for a
regular heat. We were earning the game. For the first
quarter of a mile we had not perceptibly gained a rod.
Then we buckled down to it ; and, the next time Fred
looked, he said we were nearing him.
But we neared very slowly ; and if the creature had not
kept sheering off from us, thus giving himself farther to
swim, the chances are that he would have got away. But
he tired himself down at length ; and, after the first three-
fourths of a mile, we began to close up with him. The
hundred rods shrank to fifty, and this distance to twenty,
while yet he was a quarter of a mile from the south-east
shore.
" Keep at it," Fred exhorted me ; for I was getting
nearly as badly blown as the moose himself.
2l6 A GALLANT STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
" His head keeps going under water," Fred said to me.
I expect this was from the great weight of his ant-
lers.
Fred would not stop to fire till we were close up to the
creature, lest we. might miss, and allow him to get the start.
It was not till we were so near that I could distinctly hear
the labored breath of the animal, that my comrade pulled
FRED AIMED AT THE BACK OF THE MOOSE'S HEAD.
in his oars, and seized one of the muskets. I stopped
rowing to see the shot. Fred aimed at the back of the
moose's head. At the report, he jumped in the water, with
a loud grunt that threw the spray in two jets from out his
nostrils. Then he sank partially, but rose, and swam
again. I caught up the oars. Fred took up the double-
barrelled gun and shot it twice more. One of these bul-
TOWING A MOOSE. 217
lets, as we afterwards found, passed through his head com-
pletely.
We were now close upon him ; but, not knowing whether
he was dead or not, we did not dare to approach too near.
He had ceased to swim, and, as we watched, sank down so
far, that even his antlers went nearly out of sight.
" He's dead, I know," Fred said ; " and, if we don't take
him, he will sink to the bottom, and we shall lose him."
With a couple of strokes, I sent the bateau close upon
him ; and Fred caught hold of the top prongs of the antlers.
He said that even then he could feel a thrill of his ex-
piring life through them.
We drew the carcass up to the stern ; and, getting a
noose about the antlers with our tow-line, drew his head
entirely above water, and made it fast to the ring.
We then took breath.
We had got our moose ; but we had not got him home by
any manner of means, as we soon began to realize ; for,
on taking the oars for our return pull, we found that the
carcass towed unconscionably hard. Fred declared that
it was like towing a raft of logs. It seemed to me like a
ship dragging her anchor. There was no help for it either,
unless we cut loose from him altogether, and that we did not
want to do. At best, we could only move at a snail-pace ;
and the labor was so fatiguing, coming as it did on the end
of our race down the lake, that we were obliged to rest at
intervals of ten minutes.
Some idea of the task we had to tow the carcass up to
2l8 ITS MEASUREMENT AND WEIGHT.
camp will be obtained, when I state that we were from a
few minutes after eleven till near four o'clock getting back
with it. Even after entering the stream, the hoofs dragged
on the bottom. It took in water, too, and was tremen-
dously distended.
Farr had seen the chase from Indian Point: he had
watched, and saw us kill the moose. Scott and he had
long been expecting us. But when they came to help us
pull him out of the water, they did not wonder at our slow-
ness. All four of us had hard work to get the carcass out
of the stream upon the bank.
The antlers of this moose were two feet and seven inches
high as they grew out of the skull. There were two main
branches, with eight minor branches, or prongs.
The entire length of his body was eight feet four inches ;
the height, to the tops of his withers, six feet five ; the girth
just back of his fore shoulders, six feet six inches (about).
His chest was exceedingly broad and heavy ; his muffle
very long and flexible.
It took but a slight knock of the axe to detach the ant-
lers from the skull. It was getting toward the season of
the year (December) when moose shed their antlers.
It is said that moose frequently knock off their antlers
while running through the woods ; and that, to cure the
soreness of the exposed wound, they rub the firs to apply
the balsam.
On one of the old axe-helves I found a two-foot meas-
ure laid off, with brass tack-nails driven into it. This I
FACTS ABOUT THE ANIMAL. 2 19
found useful in determining my measurements with the
tow-line.
So exhausted had Fred and I become with our labor,
hunting this moose, that we did nothing more for that day.
Farr and Scott skinned him, and afterwards hung up the
best parts of the meat inside our log-fort.
CHAPTER XXV.
Moose Steaks. The "Cannucks" Come Round during the Morning
Watch. Their Tracks. We Catch Sight of the Little Rifle in
Their Hands, and are Strongly Tempted to Fire on Them with
Bullets. Two "Doses " of Bird Shot A Lively Scampering.
Clearing the Marten Traps. A Prowler of a Different Sort.
A " Close Shave." Farr's " Streak o' Goose-Grease."
r I iHE snow melted somewhat during the afternoon ;
^L but, as night came on, the wind grew very chilling,
and it began to freeze.
Farr and Scott moved the stove into the shed, cutting a
hole through the roof for the rusty old funnel ; and, in
order to make our position as cosey as possible, they
brought an immense mass of the long fan-like boughs,
from the green tops of the spruces we had felled, and fairly
overlaid our shed with it, shingling them on to the depth
of several feet
For supper, we had all we wanted of the moose sirloin,
with roasted potatoes and "Horsfords." The "Can-
nucks " had not used any of the bread preparation. Very
likely they did not know what it was.
The morning following, Fred had the watch from half
THE CANNUCKS COME ROUND. 221
past three till six ; and, at a few minutes before the time
we generally got up, he waked us, bidding us be quiet and
come out without noise.
It was just beginning to get light a little. We crept
out. Fred was on his knees, looking through a chink in
the fence on the side next the river. I knew there was
something in sight.
"What is it?" Farr whispered.
" ' Cannucks,' " Fred whispered back.
That was a word that rendered us broad awake on the
moment. We crept along, and applied our eyes to the
chink.
"Where? "queried Scott.
" Look straight across the stream. About three rods
from the bank. Right behind that big fir," Fred directed.
" See him ? "
We looked attentively, anxiously; yet it was not at
once, in the dim dawn, that I made out that there was a
man standing behind the fir, with just a segment of his face
visible, peeping from behind the trunk. And it took Scott
and Farr even longer to make him out.
"Only one?" I said.
" That's all the one I've seen yet," Fred said. " The
others may be back in the woods, waiting, while he recon-
noitres."
" How long has he been standing there ? " whispered
Farr.
" About ten minutes," Fred said.
222 THE PET RIFLE IN THEIR HANDS.
" I don't see how you came to see him at all," said
Scott.
" In the first place I heard a stick snap off over there,"
Fred explained hurriedly. "That set me to looking.
And a minute after I saw this chap steal along to this fir.
They are watching for a chance to pounce on us."
" Best to fire on them ? " Farr questioned.
" I should not want to kill him," said Scott.
"No: we don't want their dirty blood on our hands,"
Fred said. " But it would be well to fire and scare him :
let him know he cannot surprise us, and that we are up to
all their tricks."
" The old double-barrel's loaded for partridges," whis-
pered Farr. " The shot would not hurt anybody at that
distance."
" Bring it on," said Fred, grinning.
Back crept Farr after the gun.
It was growing lighter. We saw the concealed prowler
turn and beckon with his hand, and immediately another
figure came stealing cautiously forward from a tree a little
farther off. Then they both got on their hands and knees,
and crept cautiously forward into a clump of alders not a
rod from the river. In the increasing light, I distinctly
saw a silvery gleam from the nickel-plating on the skeleton
stock of the little rifle. Fred saw it, too, and nudged me.
" By jove ! I believe I could pick him from here with
this musket," Fred whispered, " and stop that rifle from
going away again 1 "
TWO "DOSES" OF BIRD-SHOT. 223
It was a temptation. The sight of our little " pet" in
their hands made us feel revenegful.
"They would shoot us with it in a moment, if they
could," Fred said.
Farr came back with his shot-gun.
" They've got our little rifle there," Fred whispered.
" The thieves," muttered Farr, after an indignant look.
" Let's give them bullets ! "
But we could not bring ourselves to do that.
"No," Fred whispered. "We'll shed no blood, unless
we are obliged to do it in self-defence. That's the best
rule to go by. It would be a bad thing to have to think
of afterwards."
The two " Cannucks " were still crouching there in the
alder clump. The distance was ten or twelve rods. We
knew the bird-shot would not hurt them.
" Let it squirt at them," Fred whispered.
Farr cocked the barrels as easily as possible ; then, just
resting the muzzles in the chink, took aim, and discharged
a barrel.
The flash and the sharp report broke the early morning
quiet with startling suddenness. Instantly the two " Can-
nucks " jumped out of the alders and ran. We heard the
oaths flying out of their mouths. Before they had got ten
yards, Farr fired again ; and Fred, pointing the old mus-
ket in the air, discharged that. We heard them heeling
it off at a great pace through the brush.
It was vastly laughable. We lay there, and shook our-
224 CLEARING THE MARTEN TRAPS.
selves. We did not know whether they were really medi-
tating an attack on our camp, or had merely come round
to steal the bateau, which lay in the stream at the foot of
the knoll. In either case, they got pretty thoroughly
frightened.
" They won't be seen round here again to-day," said
Fred. " It will take them about forty-eight hours, I reckon,
to get their courage sworn up to the fighting point again.
They will have to swear over their whole vocabulary of
profanity and obscenity, and add a few new oaths to it,
before they will be in plight to come round again."
That day Fred and I went the round of the saple-line
and the traps down at the dam. They were badly filled
with snow. We had a stint to clear them out and set
them in order.
"Trapping is poor business after snow comes," Fred
kept saying. " The sooner we give it up, and go to dig-
ging gum, the better."
There was one marten caught near the south-west cor-
ner of the lake : nothing in the mink traps at the dam or
on the rapids below.
It was sunset before we had made the entire round, and
got back to camp. The snow made the walking more than
usually difficult.
Farr had been down to the muskrat traps in the cove.
There were four rats caught. Our profits that day were
too meagre to be encouraging; but we had plenty of
moose-meat.
A PROWLER OF A DIFFERENT SORT. 22$
That night there was another prowler about, of a differ-
ent sort. It was getting dusk. Farr had taken the pail
lo get some water for tea. We brought our water from
the stream at the foot of the knoll, where the bateau was
moored. To avoid the more stagnant water near the
bank, we used to step into the boat and dip it over the
side. Farr was just about to step from the shore into
the boat with the pail, when a snap of twigs caught his
ear : twigs snapping were ominous sounds with us in those
days. It seemed to come from the bank a little above
and up the stream. He glanced quickly, hearing the
brush crack, and saw through the bushes, indistinctly, a
long black object stealing down toward him !
With a yell Farr dropped the pail, and came up the
knoll "at three jumps," to use his own expression. The
rest of us were in the camp, where we had already lighted
the basin-lamp ; but, hearing the outcry, we seized our
guns, and sprang out, just in time to see Farr dive in at
the "sheep-hole."
Thinking there was an enemy in close pursuit, Fred and
I leaped to drop the door ; while Scott jumped upon the
log platform, gun in hand.
" What is it ! " Fred cried out, cocking his gun, and
glancing alarmedly around.
" I dunno ! " was Farr's lucid explanation ; then he got
up on the log platform beside Scott, and peered excitedly
over the fence.
This did not make the matter very plain to the rest of us.
226
A "CLOSE SHAVE."
Said Fred, " I should like to know what's up, anyway,
Farr."
" Well, I guess you'd have thought something was up,"
said Farr. " Didn't you see him, Scott ? "
" I thought I saw something," Scott admitted ; " but it
darted away like a shot "
IN TIME TO SEE FARR DIVE IN AT THE " SHEEP-HOLE."
"Well, it came like a shot, you'd better believe," says
Farr. " The first I saw of it, it was crouching almost to
the ground, and coming like a dart ! I came up this hill
at just three jumps, and the thing was at my heels when I
came in the hole."
PARK'S "STREAK OF GOOSE-GREASE." 227
" But what did it look like ? " asked Fred, getting on the
log platform, and glancing sharply about the camp.
" Well, I don't know exactly. It was long, and it looked
dark-colored ; and it came after me like a streak o 1 goose-
grease ! By gracious ! another foot, and it would have
caught me, sure's you live ! I didn't hear its feet at all ; "
this was about all Farr could tell.
" What did you think it looked like, Scott ? " persisted
Fred.
" Why, it is so dusk, I could not see very well," said
Scott. " It went out of sight among the spruce-tops so
quick, I only barely got one glimpse of it."
" That must have been a queer animal," Fred laughed.
"'Twas a confounded catamount!" exclaimed Farr:
" that's what it was."
" Might have been, possibly," Fred said rather incredu-
lously. "Wish I could have seen it, though."
" Well, I wish you could 1 " cried Farr, who did not quite
like the humorous view of the chase in which the rest of us
were indulging. "I should have been very willing to
swap places with you just at that time ; and, if you've a
mind to, you may go and bring that pail of water."
" All right," said Fred, and went and brought it.
Farr would not say any thing more about it, because we
laughed. But there really was something that made a
dive at him. What it was, it was hard telling. As Fred
said, it might have been a panther possibly ; or it may
have been a large and ferocious lynx, such as are some-
228 MORE CAUTIOUS AFTER NIGHTFALL.
times fallen in with in this section. After snow comes
and the weather gets cold, all wild creatures are more
dangerous. Ever after that we were more cautious about
going out after nightfall ; but Farr's " streak o' goose-
grease " was always a pretty good joke.
CHAPTER XXVI.
A Muss. Those "Tea Grounds." We Take up Our Muskrat
Traps. An Adventure with Three Lynxes. A Bad Shot.
The " Old Tom " Turns upon Us. Scott Takes to his Heels.
Treed. An Unpleasant Predicament. The Bullet- Pouch in the
Wrong Pocket. Two Hours in a Tree. The Rescue. Shoot-
ing the "Varmints." A Good Day's Work.
far, like the four animals in the fable, we had
.X. lived in the greatest peace and harmony ; but the
morning after this adventure we had a regular muss in
camp.
Farr was cutting wood, and bringing it into the camp,
and Scott was getting ready to make some tea. He had
poured water into the tea-pot, and, after rinsing it about,
stepped to the doorway to throw out the " grounds ; " and
he threw them, water and all, just as Farr was coming in.
The whole mess splashed in his face and all over him.
Farr thought he did it on purpose : he dropped the wood,
and went at Scott by guess, not even giving him time to
explain.
They clenched, and flew round there at a great rate; :
230 THOSE "TEA-GROUNDS."
they were not quite angry, but pretty near it. It took
Fred and I both to pull them apart. Farr had got hold
of a handful of the grounds, and wanted to scrub Scott's
face with them. It was a cold morning, and they both
felt a little fractious. The fun of the thing afterwards was,
that Scott could never make Farr believe that he did not
throw those " grounds " on purpose.
That day, or else it was the day following, we took up
all the muskrat traps. For several nights we had caught
no more than one or two. We let the mink traps remain,
however, and determined to tend the " saple-line " a week
longer.
Our other traps we set over at the unknown pond we
had found the night we found the lynx. These we visited
every second day ; and it was while returning from one of
these rounds that Scott and I had a lively adventure with
some lyxnes.
We had been round the pond, and were coming down
the north-east side of it, when we came quite suddenly
upon three of these creatures gnawing the bones of some
animal. It was among brush and old spruce-tops. We
were within ten yards of them before we saw them. They
leaped up spitting when they saw us ; and one of them, a
hideous-eyed old male, began to yawl and miawl, and arch
his furry back at us. They were mad at being disturbed
while eating.
Scott had one of the muskets, and instantly cocked it.
" Now knock the eyes right out of the big one ! " I said.
ADVENTURE WITH THREE LYNXES. 231
He fired. They all sang out loudly at the report ; and
;hen the first thing we saw was the old Tom coming
straight for us, snarling and snubbling like a dog when just
going to join battle with another. The musket bullet (as
we found afterwards) had torn one of his ears nearly off.
Scott gave a warning shout, and sprang aside amid the
brush, and ran as fast as he could. For my own part, I
dodged behind a great basswood standing there, and
jumped to a small white maple about a rod off. The cat
was making for me, with his back up and his neck beauti-
fully curved under and on to one side ! The idea of a
hand-to-hand combat with all three of them was not pleas-
ant. I dropped the axe I had in one hand, and shinned
up the maple at my best rate of climbing ! It was not a
hard tree to climb. I readily gained the first limbs, and
swung one leg over a large one, not much too quick
either. The old lynx, maddened by the pain of his lacer-
ated ear, ran vengefully up after me, his great claws cutting
audibly into the bark, and showing some ugly long feline
teeth. No time for reflection ! I drew up my legs as
snugly as possible, and, when the beast got within reach,
kicked down with emphasis. The heavy boot-heel, armed
with iron " buttons," gave a hard poke, full on the crea-
ture's head. It relaxed its hold a little, slipped back a few
feet, and then went sliding and growling, with its claws
tearing through the bark, to the foot of the maple again.
I expected another onset next breath, and drew up my
foot for another kick. But the old brute contented himself
232
AN UNPLEASANT PREDICAMENT.
by setting down, as did also the other two, and staring
evilly up at me out of their great silvery eyes !
The thought of tumbling down amongst them was not a
relishable one. I watched them a few moments, and then
UNDER THE TREE HERE.
hallooed for Scott, who I thought ought by this time to be
putting in an appearance with the gun.
" Here I am, out here ! " responded my comrade, at a
distance. " Where are the varmints ! "
" Under the tree here, all three of them, looking up at
THE BULLET-POUCH IN THE WRONG POCKET. 233
me. Why don't you come and shoot 'em? you're a
pretty fellow to shoot a lucivee ! " I couldn't help flinging
out at him.
" Why don't I come and shoot 'em ! " repeated Scott
derisively. " How can I come and shoot them when you've
got the bullets ? "
Sure enough, the little leather pouch of bullets was in
my pocket, instead of his !
An embarrassing pause succeeded this discovery.
" Well, what are you going to do ? " said I, at length.
" I'm sure, I don't know," answered Scott.
There was another pause.
" I'll tell you, Scott ! " said I, after some thought. " You
begin and creep up still, through the brush ; and I will
throw the pouch out to you. I can throw it thirty or forty
yards off over their heads. You will see and hear it when
it falls ; then you can creep up siy, and get it."
" Not if I know myself ! " cried Scott, at once rejecting
this proposal. " They'll see me and take a( me ! Then /
shall have to climb a tree."
" But you really ought to do something for a fellow,"
said I rather injuredly.
" I know that," said Scott ; " and the only thing to be
done is to go back to camp and get some more balls or
shot."
" Well, do go as quick as you can, and get Fred," I
exhorted. " It's rather hard roosting up here."
He went away ; and I settled myself as best I could
234 SHOOTING THE "VARMINTS."
among the limbs. But it was hard roosting : it was not a
good tree to roost in. The branches left the main trunk
at a very acute angle. It grew fearfully tiresome holding
on up there. I hoped the cats would go away. If I kept
quiet, I presumed they would go back to the carcass,
where we had disturbed them ; and one of them did
go back. Presently I heard it gnawing the bones. But
the other two kept under the tree, and stared steadily up
at me. The old male that Scott had hit continued to flip
his wounded ear, and grumble bitterly to himself. The
pain was just enough to keep him angry.
It was getting dusk ; Scott had been gone almost two
hours ; and I was nearly paralyzed in my cramped and
tiresome perch, when I heard Fred call out cautiously, and
at some distance.
I thankfully responded.
" I'm coming.'* said he. " We've got three guns loaded
with buckshot. I'll fix 'em now."
" Yes," said I, " pepper them good ; but don't shoot into
the tree."
Very cautiously he made his way from one tree trunk
to another, till he got up within sight and range of the
lynxes ; then, crouching behind a log, cocked one gun and
laid it beside him ready, and, taking careful aim with the
other, fired both barrels at once. A squall from the " luci-
vees " followed the report. They leaped up, as the large
shot cut through their hides. The next moment Scott
fired at them, a good shot. The old male dropped ; the
A GOOD DAY'S WORK. 235
other was leaping about, miawling loudly. I began to
slide down the tree ; and Fred, running up, knocked the
wounded lynx on the head with the gun-stock.
The other one had skulked off at the noise of the firing.
So rigid had my joints become from holding on so long,
that I could scarcely step for some minutes.
We skinned the two lynxes. The carcass of the anima
they had been eating when we came upon them seemed,
from the black hair of the bits of skin that lay about with
the bones, to have been that of a small bear. Whether it
had died of itself, or the lynxes had killed it, we could not
tell. We had never heard of these animals attacking a
bear. Still it is not impossible that they may have done
so. The old male was very large and fierce.
His skin brought us seven dollars ; that of the smaller
one four dollars. We deemed that a pretty good day's
work, on the whole.
CHAPTER XXVII.
An Indian Summer. Three more Martens and an Otter. Gum-
ming in Good Earnest Fred Fails to Come in. We Eat Supper
in Considerable Anxiety. A Gun is Fired. It Comes on to Storm.
We Search for him with Torches. An Anxious Night. We
again Scour the Woods in vain. Gloom. Forebodings. Fred
Comes in Fevered and Wild in his Mind. His Thrilling Story.
f I THERE came a number of warm and sunny days at
JL this time. The snow nearly all went off.
We caught three more martens and two minks ; and, the
fourth day after our adventure over at the pond, Fred
brought in an otter caught in one of the traps there.
Now, an otter had been one of our fairest dreams, and
we felt a good deal elated. We expected from twelve to
fifteen dollars for the skin, and, as a matter of fact, did
get eleven dollars for it.
Fred came in, and threw it down without a word. Scott
had never seen an otter. We made him believe it was a
panther's kitten at first, till he got sight of its webbed
toes.
The color of this otter seemed, at first sight, a deep
GUMMING IN GOOD EARNEST. 237
wine-color; but, on opening the long outer hairs, the fir
was seen to be of a lighter tint.
Fred skinned and stretched it very carefully.
Its black ears were very short, but broad ; and its nose
was very broad, or blunt. Its tail was long, and very thick
at the base, but tapered to a point. The fur of the tail,
as also of the whole body, was very rich-tinted and glossy.
The entire weight of the animal may have been thirty
pounds : at a guess, not less than that It was not, we
thought, a very large individual.
Encouraged by this success, we carried over seven or
eight more of the traps, and set them around the pond ;
and Farr and Fred set the large trap over in the " bear-
path," where we had caught the lynx.
Once the snow had come, we had noticed many tracks
here ; indeed, the forest was full of tracks. If one had
judged from the tracks alone, he would have supposed that
the woods were alive with ferocious beasts ; for many of
the tracks had a most formidable appearance. In running
through snow, the lynx often takes eight and ten feet at a
jump, and, striking all its feet together, makes the snow
fly about smartly.
During this Indian summer weather we had begun to
dig gum in good earnest. The woods on both sides of
the lake offered plenty of gum for the digging. More
than half of all the trees were spruces. It did not take
long to hunt up one with gum on it
Leaving a man to guard camp (we did not omit that
238 MORE PROFITABLE THAN TRAPPING.
duty), three of us would sally out with our guns, gumming-
knives, hatchet, and the sacks we had contrived to put the
gum in, and work steadily for five and six hours at a
stretch. It is not so exciting a business as trapping ; yet
it is as pleasant, and, judging from our experience, far
more profitable.
Spruce gum, when of good quality, sells readily for a
fair price in all our New-England cities. If a party of
young fellows have only the " grit " to endure the hardship
and rough life of the woods, they can do a very fair
business at gumming round Parmachenee Lake. Of this
fact I am confident. If they are diligent, they can safely
expect to clear two dollars and a half per day.
If we had gone into gumming in the first place, instead
of trapping, we should have made double that we did.
Gumming is a business you can safely count on from day
to day. Trapping is just the reverse of ftiis.
For a while we used to keep together as we gummed, and
always laid our guns convenient. But as day after day
went by without our seeing or hearing any thing more of
the " Cannucks," we grew less cautious. We hoped and
began to believe that they had left the vicinity, and that we
should see nothing more of them. To carry a gun round
with one constantly is a great task. At length we would
take but one gun and the revolver, and take turns carrying
the gun ; and after a time we would get strayed apart.
In such a business as digging gum it is very difficult for
three to keep close together all the time. Often we would
FRED FAILS TO COME IN. 239
lose sight of one another altogether, and, after filling our
sacks, return to camp alone and at different times in the
afternoon.
We had been gumming in this way for a week or
upwards, when an event happened that threw a sad gloom
over us for many days, and showed us the necessity of
constant care and precaution.
On the morning in question, Farr had remained to guard
the camp ; and Fred, with Scott and myself, had gone over
to the east side of. the lake toward Moose Brook ; and my
own luck in finding good trees being unusually bad, I did
not get back to camp till near dusk.
Scott had got in an hour and a half ahead of me. He
and Farr had supper ready and were waiting, and had been
looking for Fred and myself : they thought we might be
together.
" Where's Fred ? " was therefore the question with which
they greeted me.
I had not seen him since a few minutes after starting
out in the morning. No more had Scott, and Scott had
carried the gun that day too : I had the pistol.
Still we supposed he would be in before long ; and, dig-
ging open the "bean-hole," pulled out the kettle of hot
baked beans, and fell to work with prodigious appetites.
Meanwhile it was growing dark rapidly. A chill, biting
wind blew from the north-east. It was overcast and
dreary. ,
Presently Scott started up, exclaiming, " Fellows, I'm
240 A GUN IS FIRED.
worried about Fred ! It's been in my head all day that
something was going wrong with some of us. I don't see
where he is all this time ! "
We all felt pretty anxious. To be out after dark in the
wilderness there was not safe.
" I guess we had better fire a gun," said Farr.
Our supply of ammunition was very scant. Scott drew
the shot from one barrel of one of the shot-guns, and care-
fully put it back into the pouch ; then, stepping out in
front of the log shanty, he discharged it.
Farr and I listened intently. Save the quick, smothered
echo, and the surge of the wind amid the tree-tops, there
was no response. Then we hallooed repeatedly; then
discharged the second barrel of the gun.
"He may have heard it," said Scott. "If he did. he
will come in. We will wait a while and see."
We waited ten or fifteen minutes ; he did not come : we
grew really alarmed.
" There's something wrong with him," said Scott ; a
chill fell upon us standing there.
"Fred isn't a fellow to stay off like this," Farr remarked.
" He's either lost, or something's caught him."
We thought of the " Cannucks."
" If he is lost, we must hunt him up if we can," said
Scott determinedly. " It's no more than he would do for
any of us."
By this time it had grown dark, the darkness of a
cloudy night. Farr split up an armful of pitch-wood
A SEARCH WITH TORCHES. 241
splints ; Scott recharged the gun ; I looked to the fire, and
took one of the muskets. We then crossed the stream,
and, lighting two of the pitch-wood torches, entered the
woods, taking the direction we had gone in the morning.
But it was blind work, picking our way among and over
windfalls. Once I espied a marten staring at us from a
mossy rock ; but it vanished ere I could raise the gun.
A lynx saluted us with a long yawl at a little distance ;
but more dismal and annoying still were the hoots and
tu-hoos of a couple of owls, that were attracted by our
torch-light, and pursued us, circling and flapping among
the fir-tops.
It began to spit snow, snow and sleet commingled.
We kept on, however, for a mile or over, till we reached
the height of land where the heavy spruce growth takes the
place of the firs. Here we stopped, and hallooed again
and again ; but the owls replied so provokingly that we
could have heard nothing else. Scott fired at one of them,
but missed it in the darkness. The sleet, too, made a dull,
continuous rattling, as it fell through the branches.
It was of little use to search for him at that time of
night. Our splints were already more than half burned.
We went back : we were obliged to do it. The wind was
cold, and the sleet pelted hard : it seemed as if winter was
coming on.
I remember that we scarcely spoke. Our fears for
Fred filled us with a strange gloom. We sat round the
stove. Not one of us closed his eyes that night
2 42 GLOOM. FOREBODINGS.
As soon as it was light we ate a few mouthfuls and set
off. The whole forest looked snowy and odd in the gray
light of that cloudy morning. There had fallen about an
inch of snow and hail : it was slippery walking. We hur-
ried forward, however, and went over the whole ground
where we had gummed the previous day.
We had taken our guns, and did not get out of sight of
one another ; for the forest seemed fearfully wild and
savage now that Fred had disappeared within it.
But we found nothing, and saw no trace or track of
him ; half hoping that he had come in, and that we should
find him at the camp, we went back to it at noon.
He was not there.
In the afternoon we set off to make a wider circuit ; and,
almost running in our anxiety, we kept on for as much as
seven miles to the south-east, and came round to the east
and north, in all twenty miles, without doubt.
We hallooed at intervals, and fired the gun several
times, quite in vain. We did not find a trace of him.
"We shall never know what has become of him," said
Scott.
The tears would come when we thought of that.
It was dusk before we got round to the camp ; for we
came near losing our way ourselves.
It was a sad thing to feel that we had done our best, and
yet done nothing to bring him back.
Too sorrowful to eat much, we sat looking gloomily off
into the darkening woods, when the cracking of the brush
FRED COMES IN, WILD IN HIS MIND.
243
made us start. Through the fallen spruce-tops, on the
west side of the camp, something a person was com-
ing at a headlong pace.
" It's Fred or his ghost ! " cried Scott.
" FELLOWS, I'VE BEEN MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED MILES ! "
We all ran out and called to him, as he rushed, or rather
staggered, toward the camp. A sick thrill went through
me as I looked at him. His clothes were torn. He
looked wild and haggard. His eyes were blood-shot ; and
244 A THRILLING STORY.
he cried out in a strange voice, " Fellows, I've been more
than two hundred miles /"
Then he threw himself flat on the ground, and sobbed
and cried like a child. I took his hand, and put my finger
on his pulse. It was fearfully quick. His flest burned.
He was on the verge of brain-fever.
We said not a word to him, but took him up and laid him
in the bunk. Then Scott got lukewarm water, and we
washed his feet, the bottoms of which were blistered and
raw. After that we bathed his head in cold water, and
washed his hands.
He was utterly exhausted, and in about an hour dropped
asleep; but kicked and muttered a good deal.
We watched him a while, then fell asleep ourselves, for
we were thoroughly fatigued.
Next morning Fred was calmer, but pitifully pale and
hollow-eyed. We got him a warm breakfast of roast pota-
toes and toasted biscuit, and made him some tea. The
food did him good ; and he began to talk, though he could
hardly speak of his hardships without shedding tears.
His account to us was like this :
" I kept gumming, and going from tree to tree that morn-
ing, till I had dug my sackful, and thought, from my feel-
ings, that it must be afternoon. It had come on cloudy.
But I had not felt ' turned round,' nor any thing of the
sort, till I started to come back to camp. Then, all at
once, it came upon me like a whirl, and for my life I
could not tell which way to go ! It startled me a good
GOING WRONG. 245
deal ; but I kept cool. I laid down my gum-sack and
hatchet, and climbed a yellow birch to the first limbs,
about twenty-five feet, to take a look off. I was not fairly
up above the spruce-tops ; but I saw a mountain, that I
took for old Bose-buck, across the lake. So I broke a
limb on the side next to it, and then slid down, took up
my sack and hatchet, and set off in that direction. I
wasn't much uneasy : I thought I was all right. I walked
pretty fast, and after a while began to wonder why I did
not come out at the shore of the lake. But I kept on for
as much as fifteen minutes longer, with no signs of com-
ing to the water.
" Then I knew that I must be going wrong : the woods,
too, looked different from that round the lake. I began
to grow bewildered again, and climbed a white maple
almost to the top. Not a sign could I see of a mountain
anywhere, nor of the lake !
" The land rose in swells, covered with black spruce all
about. I was down in a valley.
" You see, that wasn't Bose-buck that I saw from the
first tree. I was turned round then. Instead of Bose-
buck, it was old Birch-board mountain, away up toward
the Canada line.
" But I wasn't certain of any thing now. I got down
out of the tree. My head began to whirl, and the stran-
gest feelings came over me. There was a brook in the val-
ley. I got down and drank from it, and bathed my fore-
head.
246 CIRCLING.
" That brook, I suppose, must have run out into the
Magalloway. If I had had sense enough to follow the
brook, I should have come out upon the river ; but I
never thought of it, I was so confused.
" I got up from the brook, and started the way it seemed
to me the camp was, and ran just as fast as I could. I
must have lost my gum-sack about that time ; but I didn't
know when I lost it. On I went ; and the first thing I
knew, I was whispering and jabbering to myself. My
head began to ache as if it would split.
"All at once I came to a brook, took a drink, and
stuck my head in the water ; then jumped across, and ran
on again as fast as I could ; and in about fifteen minutes
I came to another brook, just about as big as the other
one, drank, and ran on again ; and, in a few minutes, came
to still another brook ! And though I had drunk not ten
minutes before, I was so parched with thirst, that I flung
myself down to drink again.
" As I was getting up, I saw a boot-track in the wet
gravel and sand. I thought for a moment that I must be
near where some of you were, or had passed. But, on
looking again, I saw the mark of my iron button in the
heel : it was my own track I All those brooks I had been
coming to were the same. I had been running right
round and round ; and the last time I had come around
to the same place exactly where I had jumped across the
brook before.
" That thing scared me worse still. I was getting wild.
ANIMAL ON HIS TRACK. 247
I pulled my coat off and climbed another tree, a large
ash. But a mist had begun to fall ; and it had grown so
dusk, that I could not see much. I got down, and started
on, with my back to the brook ; and every large tree I
passed I gave it a ' spot ' with the hatchet ; and that, or
something else, kept me from circling, for I did not come
to the brook again.
" I think, perhaps, that I had gone three or four miles
from this brook when I heard a twig snap behind me. I
looked round, and could just make out something in the
dusk, seven or eight rods away. I had raced about so
much, that some creature had got on my track. I was so
desperate and wild, that at first I did not care for it. But
I kept looking back, and the more I thought of it the
more alarmed I grew ; for I knew that after it got dark
the beast might spring upon me, and that I ought to build
a fire.
I had matches in my pocket ; and the next pine stump
I came to I split off a lot of shivers with my hatchet, and
kindled a blaze.
" As soon as I got a light started, I could not see about
me as before. But every few moments I could hear the
snap of some dry branch, now on one side, and then on
the other. The animal was hanging about, walking
round the fire. That was not a very pleasant thing to
know. I had no idea what it was. I sat down between
the fire and the stump, and hewed off splinters to keep the
blaze bright, and cut up a small sapling of white birch to
248 A DREARY NIGHT.
make brands ; so that after that, whenever I heard the
brute's step off in the brush, I would let a brand fly in
that direction.
" Two or three times I heard it jump aside when the
brands fell near it ; and once I thought that I heard it
snarl.
" Two or three hours passed. Despite my fear of the
prowling animal, I began to grow very drowsy from fa-
tigue. I had several bushels of chips cut off ; and I now
placed my back to the stump, and stretched my feet out
to the fire. Every few minutes I would throw on a hand-
ful of the dry chips. I must have dropped asleep while
sitting there ; for suddenly I jumped to my feet. The fire
was nearly gone out ; and I had a glimpse of a wild, fero-
cious head, with gleaming eyes, scarcely a rod away, that
drew back into the darkness as I stirred. The beast was
stealing upon me.
" This startled me so much, that I did not go to sleep
again. It was cold too. A good deal of hail and snow
sifted down through the tops of the spruces. It rattled
drearily among the branches, and fell into the blaze of
my chip-fire with spiteful hisses.
" Once after this, when the fire had waned a little, I
heard the animal not far off ; but as I immediately threw
on more chips, and thumped lustily on the stump with the
hatchet, it did not approach nearer ; and, during the lat-
ter part of the night, it must have gone away, for I heard
nothing more of it ; and when, at length, day broke, it
DISCOVERY OF THE CAMP. 249
was nowhere in sight. There was, however, a beaten path
of tracks in the snow and hail around the stump and fire,
at a distance of about a hundred feet. Some of these
were nearly as large .as the print of my hand in the snow.
" As soon as it had got fairly light, I started forward
again with my back to the lightened east, for I supposed
that our camp must be to the west of where I then was.
" To appease my hunger, I chewed a great quid of gum,
which I dug from a spruce. But I felt very weak, and had
to stop often and lean against a tree to rest myself.
" During the forenoon I crossed a large brook, by wad-
ing through it at a place where the bottom was sandy, and
then continued on for an hour or two beyond it, when it
occurred to me that this great brook might be the upper
course of the Magalloway. The more I thought about it,
the more certain I felt of it. So I tacked, and took
a direction which I believed would bring me back to it
at a point considerably below where I had crossed it. I
did not come to it so soon as I had expected, however.
" The afternoon was passing. I grew bewildered again,
and soon got as wild and feverish as I had felt the night
before.
" In this way I wandered on for two hours or over ; and
it had begun to grow dark again, when I caught sight of
your fire, and came out to the camp and the river."
Such was Fred's story of his " two-hundred-mile " tramp.
It was nearly a week before he was strong enough to go
out with us into the woods again.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Fred Laid up. A Solemn Promise. Our Gum at " Sunday Pond."
Another Mink. The Big Trap, Gone again. A Den. Punched
out. The Chase. A "Fisher:" Description of the Animal.
An Alarm. A Supposed " Cannuck." Strange Antics. A Raw-
pork Eater. " The Devil Himself ! " We Grow Superstitious.
Storiesof" Woods-Demons." Fred's Ideas. We are thoroughly
Puzzled. Rather Nightmarish.
WE made a solemn promise then and there never
to lose sight of each other again while off in
the woods. And, indeed, there cannot too much care be
used.
During this following week, Farr and I gummed alone :
Scott, by voluntary offer, remaining at camp with Fred.
Saturday we varied the programme, by going down the
lake into Bose-buck Cove with the bateau, and thence
down to Sunday Pond to our old den at the lower end of
it, in order to get the gum and other property left there.
While we were down there, we had dug what we esti-
mated at twenty three or four pounds. And for five days
that week we brought in what we called six pounds apiece
each day. That was our stint.
THE BIG TRAP GONE AGAIN. 25 1
We dug nothing but good gum. In the evening we
would scrape and clean it nicely, then put it up in pack-
ages or boxes made of birch-bark, strongly sewed together
with small roots of spruce. These we found very tough,
though pliant, and more useful for our purpose than the
twigs of yellow birch, which are sometimes made use of.
These long, tough spruce-roots are what the Indians
use for sewing their canoes and for winding the gunwales.
We used to go over occasionally to look to our traps at
the pond we had discovered. But we did not succeed in
entrapping another otter, though we caught one mink.
For more than a week, too, nothing disturbed the large
trap in the bear-path. Farr and I had got sick of going
over to it for nothing, and set off, determined to take it
up and have done with the bother of it, when, consider-
ably to our surprise, we found it gone, and the bait we had
lavished about it all eaten up.
As before, we had attached two clogs to the traps.
These made a very distinct trail, which we followed for a
mile or more, to the foot of a steep ridgeside to the north-
ward. Here a large spruce had blown partially over,
raising a great mass of earth, scurf "and brush with the
roots, and leaving a dark hole underneath them. The
creature with the trap and clogs had taken refuge here.
Indeed, the cavity was large enough to " drive in a flock
of sheep," as Farr described it. It was a dark hole too.
We could not see much inside it. All was quiet about it,
yet we did not care to get too near. Whether the creature
252 A DEN.
was a lynx, a bear, or a panther, was not certain, though
we presumed that it was a lynx.
We had the hatchet with us ; and with this Farr cut a
long pole, twenty feet at least, and began to prod
inside, to stir up the game. To the first three or four
punches there was no response ; but, on trying the other
corner of the den, there came a snarl so loud and vicious
that Farr dropped the pole, and we both retreated to a
safe distance. The trap-chain rattled. Evidently the
game was alive and kicking.
" I don't see how we're going to get him out," Farr said,
after we had considered the situation.
At length we concluded to fire under the root at a
venture. Taking aim at what seemed to me the probable
nook in which the beast was lurking, I fired first one barrel,
then the second.
The only effect of this was to make the besieged brute
growl ferociously.
We went around the root, and beat on it with the pole ;
but the creature would not run out.
We discovered, however, that the mass of dirt and
dried leaves on the root was not very thick, and set to
work to dig a hole through it on the back side. Cutting
some short stakes, which Farr sharpened at one end,
we fell to tearing away the earth, and at length got a small
hole through into the cavity beneath. But no sooner had
our stakes broken through, than, with a clank and rattle,
the animal bounded out on the other side and went off on
PUNCHED OUT.
THE ANIMAL CAUGHT. 253
a leap, jerking the trap and clogs after it. It was as
black as a crow.
{ A bear ! " I exclaimed, catching up the gun.
" Too small for a bear," Farr said.
We ran on after it. But, even encumbered as it was, it
went off at a round rate ; and we should have had a
chase to come up with it, had not one of the clogs caught
under a beech-root, bringing the creature up short. There
it hung, springing and jerking, till, hearing us coming up
behind, it suddenly turned, facing us with a harsh growl
of defiance.
There it stood at bay, its eyes flashing, its body crouched
close to the ground, its short ears cocked, and the long
black hair along its back standing up like bristles. It was
as large as a lynx, but had short legs.
Farr fired at it with a heavy load of buckshot. It went
heels over head, but immediately got on its feet again,
wheezing and growling, a bloody and piteous spectacle.
Farr then stepped up, and fired the second barrel full at
its head. It fell, but kicked a long while, dying very
hard.
It was about the same weight of the lynx.
Farr carried the carcass, and I carried the trap.
On arriving at camp, Fred at once pronounced it to be
a fisher, or fisher-cat as some hunters call them, an
animal of the weasel family (Mustela Canadensis).
The creature is sometimes spoken of by naturalists as
Pennant's marten. Its color was black all over its body,
254 THE LAKE FROZEN OVER.
save a few white hairs on its belly : its tail was rather long
and shaggy. Its legs were remarkably short, but stout :
it had broad feet, and sharp black claws. Its teeth were
as long and sharp as those of the lynx.
For its skin we received six dollars and fifty cents at our
general sale.
It came on very cold that night. The stream froze, but
there was too much wind to permit of the lake freezing.
The next day, too, was cold and chilling. We shivered as
we gummed. That following night it came on colder still.
Shortly after midnight the wind lulled. I had the watch
from half-past three till six (morning). It was stinging
cold. We were not surprised, as day broke, to see that the
lake had " skimmed " over.
" How are we ever going to get out if the lake freezes
up ? " Scott queried.
" Oh ! go down on the ice," Fred said.
" But how about our boat ? " I said.
" We'll put it on runners," Fred laughed.
We were glad to hear him laugh again ; for he had had
a sober time of it.
The next day he went out gumming with us for the first
time since his misadventure.
And I think it was that same day that we found a mink
in one of our traps up at Little Boy's Falls.
The weather continuing very cold, the lake froze still
harder, till it was like a huge mirror of plate glass set in
its black shores.
A SUPPOSED CANNUCK. 255
It was a grand chance for skating, if we had had
skates and the time for it. As it was, we gummed on
steadily.
Our food was three-quarters moose-meat.
Friday night of that same week, about the 24th of
November this was, Farr called me up a few minutes
after eleven o'clock, and waked Fred at the same time.
" There's a ' Cannuck ' down at the ox-camp," he whis-
pered to us. We did not wake Scott, but, taking our
guns, went out with Farr.
There was a moon again now on its second quarterage.
It was just setting off over the spruces, but threw a bright
light down into the opening below us. The ox-camp was
plainly visible, so also the space about it, the frozen
stream, and the blackened ruins of the burned camp.
We looked, but saw nothing.
" He's gone into the camp," Farr said, " or into the
grain-shed. Hark ! "
We distinctly heard a noise, a rattling of boards, and a
sound as of pounding with a stone or a hammer.
" He's in there after our fur," I suggested. " Thinks, v
perhaps, we may have left those muskrat skins or that
lucivee's hide down there."
The noise continued louder than ever.
" He must be a fool," Fred said, " or else he doesn't
know we are up here. He must know that such a racket
as that would wake us up."
J3ump-bump! pound-pound! we could hear him knocking
at something or other.
256 A RAW-PORK EATER.
" Well, now, he isn't a bit afraid of making a noise, is
he ? " exclaimed Fred wonderingly. " Just as lief we
would know he is breaking in there as not ! "
It struck me as a very strange performance. We could
not imagine what sort of job he was at.
" You don't suppose it's a trick ? " Fred queried, " to get
us out after him, and have his friends rush in and take our
camp?"
" Like as not," Farr said.
We went round the camp inside our fence, and looked
sharply off on all sides, but saw nothing of any lurking
party. Still they might be hidden among the brush in the
shadow.
" Let him pound," said Fred : " we will stay where we
are."
On a sudden the man came out of the grain-shed. We
watched him attentively. He came along to where there
was a stump, about a dozen yards from the shed-door. He
had something in his hands, and sat himself down on the
stump.
Pretty quick so still was the air we heard a sound
of smacking.
" He's eating something," Fred said.
He was certainly eating. We could now see him raise
a considerable piece of something or other, and tear off
mouthfuls from it.
" Did we leave any thing fit to eat down there ? " I said.
"Nothing there but that barrel of 'sprung' pork," Fred
A SQUARE MEAL. 257
replied. " And I believe, upon my soul, he has broken in
the head of that, and got out a chunk of it. That's the
noise of pounding we heard ! "
" Must be hungry," said Farr.
"Hungry! I should think so," said Fred. "Why, I
would as soon eat carrion as to eat that stinking stuff
raw ! "
" Well, that's what he's up to, sure as you're born ! " ex-
claimed Farr. " Best to let a charge of shot fly at him ? "
"No," said Fred. "Oh, no! he is welcome to that
'sprung' pork, for all of me."
A minute later the moon went out of sight altogether,
behind the thick green tops ; and it grew too dusk to even
see the outline of a man so far (fifteen or twenty rods).
But we could hear smacking going on for fully twenty
minutes longer. The fellow, whoever he was, was clearly
making a square meal.
Once, some ten or fifteen minutes subsequently, we
heard the crack of brush on the farther side of the stream
to the east of our camp.
" He's going off, I guess," Farr conjectured.
We sat up with Farr an hour longer, I think ; then, hear-
ing nothing more of the mysterious pork-eater, we turned
in again.
The next morning this midnight raw-pork eater was the
subject of conversation. It puzzled us completely. We
did not know what to think, unless some of the " Can
nncks " had in reality got starved out.
258 A REGULAR BOARDER.
We went down to the ox-camp, and found, as we had
suspected, the head of the barrel broken in with one of
the old axes lying there. Otherwise the hungry man had
left no trace.
Fred was on guard-duty that day. Farr, Scott, and I
gummed on the hills to the north-west of the lake.
There was a snow-squall near sunset ; but the evening
cleared up pleasant, with a broader and larger moon. I
had the first watch; and, at about ten o'clock, I heard
something moving through the bushes and brush on the
east side of the river. It was going down the east bank.
I watched sharply ; and, a few moments after, saw a man
come out on the ice, and cross the stream at a point directly
opposite the ox-camp. He went straight to the grain-slied.
We had fastened the door with a nail. But the man broke
it open readily and went inside.
Fred and Scott had not yet gone to sleep. I stepped
into our camp and spoke to them.
" It's the same one, no doubt," Fred said, " come back
after another pork supper."
This time the "hungry-man" was not long getting what
he wanted. Immediately he re-appeared with what we
took to be a piece of pork, and, going to his old perch on
the stump, began to eat it.
"Well, doesn't that beat the Dutch?" Fred exclaimed.
" We've got him for a regular boarder, or rather, Brown
has," Scott said.
There was something so strange about this unknown
COMPLETELY MYSTIFIED. 259
person and his habits, that we felt queer as we watched
him.
" He has no gun with him, no weapon of any kind,"
Fred remarked.
" But he may have a pistol," Scott suggested.
Yes, he might have a pistel. We could not see him
plainly: though the light was brighter than on the previous
evening, we could yet do little but make out the form and
figure of an ordinary-sized man.
After eating his pork he sat still a while, then got up,
stared around for a minute, and then stretched himself, or
at least seemed to do so ; for he raised his arms over his
head in a slow and peculiar manner.
Pretty quickly he turned, and, going down to the river,
crossed on the ice, and entered the bushes on the farther
bank. We heard him going off through the woods.
We watched a while. Then Fred took my place, for it
was his turn ; Scott and I went to bed.
We were so completely mystified as to this strange
person and his movements, that we did not now like to
talk of him. The weird singularity of his comings and
goings tormented us with a thousand fancies.
The next night he -came a little after eleven : so Farr
reported next morning ; he had not thought it worth while
to wake the rest of us.
We were beginning to get prodigiously curious to know
something about him.
Said Fred at breakfast that morning, "I'm bound to
find out who and what he is."
260 WATCHING FOR THE PORK-EATER.
" If we should go clown there when he is there, he might
fire at us with his pistol, or draw a knife on us," Scott
observed. " And if he is really so hungry as to come every
night after that raw pork, why, I, for one, do not grudge it
to him, though perhaps Brown might," he added with a
laugh.
" Tell you what we might do, fellows," Farr said. "We
might hide there in the old ox-camp. Then we could take
a square look at him, if he comes again. He doesn't go
into the ox-camp at all : he makes straight for the pork-
barrel in the grain-shed."
We determined to do it.
That day I recollect that we got a marten, and found a
muskrat in one of our musk traps down at the dam.
Farr, Scott, and Fred made the round of the saple-line,
and gummed on the west side of the lake. I was on guard-
duty. It was a quiet day. My comrades did not get in
till dusk ; and it was after eight before we finished supper
and had skinned our fur. Immediately this was done,
however, we loaded the guns afresh ; and then Fred and
Farr and I went down to the ox-camp, to lie in wait for
our nocturnal visitor.
Inside the old camp it was dark as pitch. The moon
was just coming up over the tree-tops as we went down.
Soon 'the little clearing was all aglow with the silvery
radiance.
We set an old grain-box six or seven feet within the
door, in such a manner that one sitting on it could see out
"THE DEVIL HIMSELF!" 261
readily, while the darkness inside the closed camp would
prevent his being discovered from without. On this long
box we seated ourselves with our feet hanging off it, and
began our vigils, or rather I should say that Farr and I
sat on the box ; for Fred stood in the doorway the most of
the time on the lookout.
An hour or two passed. It was rather chilly, moping
there. But our curiosity to solve the mystery kept us up
to the mark of watching, though fully another hour passed
before Fred at length exclaimed, " He's coming, I believe !
I can hear the brush crack ! "
Then we listened intently. Something was coming
down the farther bank of the stream. A moment after, we
saw him come out on the ice, and retreated back into the
darkness, so that he might not discover us. We expected
to hear his steps on the chips before the camp, but we
heard not a sound of them ; and the form of the man
passed suddenly before we were looking for it into
the grain-shed, without our getting more than a glimpse.
So we drew forward as near the door as we dared, and
looked for him to come out.
We could hear him pulling over the sopping pork ; and
anon he emerged and went directly to the stump, as before.
Instantly I -was startled by his odd looks !
" Good heavens ! " Fred whispered. " Tliafs the Devil
himself !"
His hair, as we could now distinguish, was long, very
long, and straggled in a tangled mane all over his face and
262 A DISGUSTING SPECTACLE.
shoulders. He had no hat. His arms were bare, as high
as his elbows, where began the tattered sleeves of his coat.
His feet and legs were bare, too, up higher than his knees,
to where the ragged skirts of his old coat covered them.
Indeed, the only garment he seemed to have on was that
tattered coat, apparently an overcoat in its day, but now
hanging in rags about him.
His arms, in the moonlight, looked brown and roughened.
He held the great chunk of white pork in his black hands,
and tore at it, animal-like, with his teeth ; and, as he ate,
he champed like a hog !
A strangely queer feeling came over me as I looked at
him : I felt sick at heart. It was a spectacle to disgust
the intellect !
As he chewed and tore at the meat, his long, stringy hair
flew about his face ; and it was this hair that added so
much to the strangeness of his mien.
" I do believe it's a woman ! " Farr whispered.
"If it isn't Old Nick himself, I shall be thankful," said
Fred.
" You don't suppose it is a wild man ? " I whispered to
Farr.
Farr said that he looked wild enough for that or any
thing else.
He sat with his back partially to us, so that we could
not get a good view of his face.
After he had devoured the pork, he went off as he had
come.
SUPERSTITIOUS FEELINGS. 263
We went back up to camp to tell Scott.
" I've heard stories of a sort of woods-devil, like what
we've just seen," Fred said. "The lumbermen and 'driv-
ers ' are always telling of such things. I supposed they
were lying ; but I begin to believe them."
' " Nonsense ! " said Scott. " I don't."
But we none of us knew what to think of it. Strangely
superstitious feelings crept over us ; the more we thought
of it, the more unsettled we felt : it was like a nightmare.
CHAPTER XXIX.
The "Hungry Man" again. Scott's View of the Case. We
Resolve to Catch the Prowler, and Lie in Wait for Him in the
Ox-Camp. Fred's Reluctance. We Pounce upon Him.
"Whooh!" A Struggle. A Race. Another Scuffle. Slip-
pery. The Escape. Scanty Apparel. That Old Coat. Prob-
able Explanation of the Mystery. The Woods-Thieves of the
Moose-River Region.
THE next night the " hungry man " came at a little
past twelve. Fred had the watch. He waked Fair.
They told us next morning that they had set out to fire
at him, and either kill him or scare him off.
" If it's the Devil, we ought to kill him!" Fred said ; and
this shows what a bad hold the thing had taken on our
minds.
Scott was more sensible.
"That's a human being," said he, "as much as we are.
To shoot him would be murder."
Farr said, that, if it was a human being, it was the queer-
est specimen that ever he saw ; for his part, he believed it
to be a woods-witch, and if we did not look out it would
bewitch us.
264
SCOTT'S VIEW OF THE CASE. 265
Scott ridiculed this talk.
" Til be one of three to go down there and catch him,"
said he. " It's some poor woodsman who has got lost,
and perhaps turned light-headed."
Fred admitted that he had heard of these cases, where
men had got lost in these forests, and become crazy from
wandering about. But he declared that he did not care
to be one of the three to catch him. He should be very
loath to lay hands on that creature, he said : should be
afraid he might vanish, leaving a smell of brimstone be-
hind him.
" Oh, what stuff that is ! " Scott exclaimed in derision.
Thus we talked of it.
Of one thing we were pretty confident, namely, that he
had no weapons.
The next night Scott tried to induce us to go and help
catch the man.
" If he's crazy, wandering about here, we ought to do
something about it," he argued. "By and by he will
freeze to death, as the weather gets colder."
But he could not bring Fred or Farr to see it in that
light at all.
" I guess he will manage to keep warm" Fred would say.
"Looks to me like a chap that would not have any diffi-
culty in finding a hot brick 'most any time."
" Humph I " Scott would exclaim. " What's the use to
be a fool, Fred ! "
Evidently the many stories that Fred had heard from
266 A RESOLVE TO CATCH THE PROWLER.
the lumbermen had not been without some effect on his
mind. He declared that he was not afraid of the man,
but he did not mean to interfere with him.
Scott, on the other hand, argued that it was our duty to
find out what ailed this person, and assist him. That very
evening he roasted a piece of moose-meat in the oven,
and, taking it down to the grain-shed, hung it up by a bit
of rope directly in the doorway. It was his watch (the
first watch) that evening, and he watched till one o'clock
(two watches) to see what came of it.
Next morning he told us, that, at a little before twelve,
the man had come ; and that, on espying the roast meat
hanging there, he had seized upon it with strange, wild
exclamations of what Scott took for delight.
Fred told him that he had better not go to holding com-
munications with the Devil.
But Scott now gave us no peace ; and during the next
two days, first I, and then Farr, agreed to help him catch
the unknown ; and at length Fred consented to help.
For my own part, I had by this time very little fear that
it was a supernatural being ; but I did dread to touch the
poor filthy creature.
Accordingly, that night, at ten o'clock, we all four went
down to the ox-camp, and hid ourselves there in ambush,
as before. And this time we did not have long to wait.
We had not been there more than fifteen or twenty min-
utes before we heard him coming through the brush, on
the other side of the stream.
FRED'S RELUCTANCE. 267
" He's more prompt since he has got a taste of your
moose-meat, Scott," Farr said.
The strange being came up to the door of the grain-
shed, looked about it a while, then went inside. We held
ourselves in readiness.
" Disappointed that he didn't find one of your moose-
steaks waiting for him there," Farr whispered.
Presently the wretched creature came out with a piece
of pork, and sat down on the stump.
Said Fred, " I had rather tackle a catamount than go
near him."
"What foolishness!" Scott whispered back. "The
bare fact of his eating that pork shows that he is human
fast enough."
" Don't know about that," retorted Fred. " Perhaps he
needs it to grease down his brimstone with ! "
" Well, come on," Farr whispered. " If we must, we
must. Now for him ! "
We had laid down our guns ; and, at the word, made a
rush at the unconscious pork-eater. But I must needs
confess, that we did it with no great alacrity. I think that
each one of us was very willing that some of the rest
should be the first to lay hold of him. We had but a few
yards to go, and were upon him before he had even time
to turn. Had we seized him pluckily on the instant, we
should have held him beyond doubt ; but we all held back
a little.
Up leaped the unknown.
268
THE STRUGGLE.
" Whooh ! " he snorted. " Moon tykes ! Moon-tykes ! "
" Scott seized hold of him ; so did I, and so did Farr.
But the man whirled, kicked, and struck with such effect,
that he threw us off and ran.
But now that our blood was up, and we were fairly into
' MOON-TYKES
it, we gave chase hard after him, Fred ahead. Down
the bank, on to the ice, and across the stream, went the
"hungry man," screaming "Moon-tykes! Moon-tykes!"
at every leap. Half a dozen times going across the river,
THE ESCAPE. 269
we had our hands on him almost. The opposite bank
was three or four feet high, and set thick with alders.
Among these the man leaped ; but, before he could force
his way through them, Fred grabbed him, and threw him
back upon the ice. We all lay hold of him, by guess, but
it was slippery as glass there. Round and about we went,
and all came down together -wallop ! I, for one, had
both hands fastened into that old coat, and held on. But
the coat did not hold the wearer ! It gave way like brown
paper. The pork-eater jumped out of it, and regained his
legs. Fred seized one ankle ; and the wretch ran, drag-
ging Fred, stomach down, on the ice. His bare feet stuck,
while our boots slipped. Fred said that the man kicked
him in the head, and for that reason he let go his ankle.
At any rate, he got away, and ran off up the stream for
twenty rods or more, and thence into the woods naked
as when he was born /
" I guess he will freeze to death now ! " said Fred as
we listened to his departing footsteps.
Scott was disposed to blame the rest of us for not hold-
ing him.
" We had better let him alone than used him in this
bungling way," he said.
Farr laughed as if it were a good joke.
We hung his coat up on the alders, so that if he ventured
back after it he might take it.
But next morning there hung the coat 1 I went down to
take a look at it by daylight.
270 PROBABLE EXPLANATION OF THE MYSTERY.
Of all the coats I ever set eyes on, that was the shock*
ingest one ! It was a mere bunch of rags, filthy and mal-
odorous to the last degree ! I thought that it might ori-
ginally have been of black tricot ; but, indeed, it was hard
telling what it was originally. The pockets had been torn
out, or worn out, long previously. There wasn't a single
button on it. In front it looked as if it had been tied
together with strings.
We watched the following night from ten till after one.
The " hungry man " did not come ; and next morning there
hung his coat still. We never saw so much as a hair of
him afterwards.
Farr said, that, as he had nothing to wear, he was prob-
ably too modest to pay us another visit.
Scott regretted the way the affair had turned : he talked
of little else for several days.
Three nights after, the old coat either blew away, or
else the owner did actually come after it. And the man
may even have come back to the grain-shed after more
pork, for the moon did not now rise till toward morning,
and cloudy weather had set in. As to who or what he
really was, we never knew further than I have related.
At present writing I am inclined to believe that it was a
person more or less light-headed, very possibly one of the
" Cannuck " gang we had known of, whom the others had
unfeelingly turned adrift to shirk for himself. The exist-
ence of several of these roving gangs is a well-ascertained
fact. Sometimes they have plundered the fields, and stolen
WOODS-THIEVES OF THE MOOSE-RIVER REGION. 271
horses from the pioneer towns and plantations. The
Moose -river settlement were seriously troubled by a party
of nine of these woods-thieves only recently. Six or seven
horses were taken ; and the gang was dispersed and driven
off only after a sharp and bloody fight with the citizens.
CHAPTER XXX.
A Heavy Snow-Storm. Wet Feet. Moose-Skin Moccasins. A
New Branch of Business. We Fish for Trout through Holes Cut
in the Ice on the Lake. Good Luck. Some Finny Beauties.
What Shall we Do with Them ? Fish for Market Our Fish-box.
The Trout Continue to Bite. A Grand Haul. A Thaw.
Ominous Sounds from the Lake.
A FEW days later, there came a heavy snow-storm for
.XJL. the season. As many as seven or eight inches fell
in one night. Our boots had worn almost entirely out.
Scott had rubber boots ; but the rest of us went with wet
feet for three days in succession. We took cold by it, and
felt miserable enough.
At length we determined to sacrifice one of our moose-
hides and make it into moccasins. This we did ; though
they were not of any particular pattern, being mere oblong
pieces of the hide folded over our old boots, hair side out,
then bound tightly around our ankles.
Meantime we gummed on perseveringly ; and another
week passed.
Quite unexpectedly we now struck a new branch of
business. I think it was Monday night of that week that
A NEW BRANCH OF BUSINESS. 273
Fred proposed to try the lake for trout, through holes in
the ice. There were trout in the stream ; and he did not
see why there might not be trout in the lake.
We all hailed this project with delight. To tell the
truth, we had become a little tired of gumming so steadily
and so long. A change of business, even for a single day,
was pleasing.
The next morning we were early astir. Farr lamented
that fate gave him the duty of guarding camp that day :
the rest rejoiced, I fear.
Directly after breakfast we got out our stock of fish-
hooks and lines (including several stout hooks we had
taken from the " Cannucks ").
" What shall we have for bait ? " Scott questioned.
" Pork," said Fred.
" Not that sprung pork ? "
" Yes : they will not mind it."
Farr suggested moose-meat.
We decided to take both, and wrapped up a generous
chunk of each in one of the " Cannuck " waistcoats. Then,
providing ourselves with a couple of the axes to cut holes
in the ice with, we set off.
" Aren't you going to take something to bring your fish
home in ? " Farr called after us. " Better take the pail
and the big pot I "
" You just attend to your duty," Fred retorted : " we'll
attend to the fish. We don't mean to tempt Fortune to
disappoint us by carrying a large dish."
274 CUTTING FISHING-HOLES.
" You're a superstitious fellow, Fred," laughed Scott.
We followed down the stream on the ice, and went out
on the lake to a point directly between the first and sec-
ond islands, this being the channel of the river in its
course through the lakes.
" Guess we'll try 'em here," Fred said. " They will be
more likely to be passing back and forth here than in
dead water."
There was about six inches of snow on the ice. This
we scraped aside ; then Fred began to hack through the
ice. It was no great job at this season. The ice was not
over four inches thick ; later in the winter, February,
say, the ice would be found nearly a yard in depth. To
cut a fishing-hole would then be a task, half an hour of
steady chopping.
Fred cut a small hole, eight inches in diameter.
" It isn't best to cut a too big one," he said. " We
don't want one large enough to let ourselves through;
else, if we should hook a big laker, he might do the catch-
ing part himself. That, you see, would not be pleasant."
" No," said Scott, " I should think not. They would
soon pick a fellow's bones clean, those big trout, if he
should tumble through here."
We agreed that it was not best to give the fish the ad-
vantage of a too big hole.
Meantime I had cut some stout alder sticks, about two
feet in length, to the middle of which we made fast the
ends of the lines, so that, if dropped, or twitched out of our
FISHING FOR TROUT. 275
hands, they might not be lost through the hole into the
lake. This done, Fred cut off a scrid of the lean moose-
meat, carefully baited his hook, and dropped it in at the
hole.
Down it went, five, ten, a dozen feet. Then he began
to play it up and down, after the manner of anglers gen-
erally.
Scott and I looked on expectantly. A minute passed,
and no bite.
" Aren't hungry, I guess," Scott said.
" Loss of appetite," I hazarded.
" Froze up," Fred suggested.
" Gone a-visiting," Scott added.
" Moose-meat's too dark-colored," Fred observed.
" Guess I will try the pork. That's whiter. See it better.
Dark down there, perhaps."
He was drawing up the hook, when there came a smart
and most unexpected jerk. Fred jerked, too, and then
held on.
" Got him ? " we cried.
"Guess so," said Fred, carefully drawing in the line.
" But he comes easy ! "
All at once he did not come so easy ! For the moment
Fred brought the fish to the surface it made a sudden
bolt off under the ice, pulling the line sharply through
Fred's hands, and running out fully fifteen feet of it.
Then began a sharp fight. To and fro went the strong
fish, right and left, down and up, making the water fairly
boil in the hole.
276 BROKE HIS LINE.
" Hold him, Fred ! " we exhorted.
Fred held him easily enough ; but a second later the
fish drew the line against the sharp edges of the ice on
the sides of the hole so forcibly, that it frayed and
snapped.
" Gone ! " Scott cried out in a tone of anguish.
" Lost ! " I vociferated, fairly beside myself with grief
for the moment.
"Gone, sure, hook and all," Fred said, examining his
hands where the line had sawed into them.
" And now he will go and tell all the others," groaned
Scott.
Fred took the axe, and carefully rounded the sharp
edges of the ice around the hole.
" Ought to have done this in the first place," he said.
Then we prepared another line ai^d hook, baiting it as
before with moose-meat.
It had not gone down six feet before it was taken with
a smart pull. This time Fred was on the lookout, and,
drawing the line quickly up, pulled out a fine large,
speckled trout, without giving it time to lunge and jerk.
It came out quivering and struggling, the light flashing
from its bright red spots.
Swinging off from the hole, we let it flop a few moments,
then unhooked it, and left it to die in the snow. It was a
fine trout, and would have weighed two pounds and a half
we thought.
" Not so heavy as that first one," Fred said.
GOOD LUCK. 277
The fishes that we lose are the heaviest and finest
always.
Hardly had the hook been re-baited and dropped in
again ere a third took it.
" If he told them, they don't heed it," Fred exclaimed.
IT CAME OUT QUIVERING AND STRUGGLING.
"That's the fate of good advice usually," Scott
remarked.
This third fish was landed as quickly as the second.
It was not quite so large.
" Going to have a streak of luck," Fred prophesied.
278 SOME FINNY BEAUTIES.
" Well, Frank," said Scott, " let us have a dab at it !
What's the use to let Fred have all the fun ? "
" No use clearly."
We seized the axes, and, going off a little way, began
to prepare each a hole for himself, into which we soon
dropped our own hooks.
In a very few moments I had the fun, the rare sport,
of pulling out a three-pounder, the biggest one caught
thus far !
I recollect the next two hours with delight, even now.
It is fun to fish, when they bite well, and the mosquitoes
do not bite too well. And we found Parmachenee Lake a
rare good fishing-ground. We twitched out a lot of them
that forenoon, and a very pretty lot too. All, save three
or four chivin and one sucker, were speckled trout, weigh-
ing from a pound up to three pounds and a half. One we
thought would have weighed four pounds. We soon had
the snow about the holes lively with their frantic leap-
ings.
Fred caught during that forenoon thirty-one. Scott got
nineteen, and I got twenty-three : altogether, seventy-
three. We thought that they would weigh near a hundred
and fifty pounds. At any rate, there were about as many
as we could in any way carry, all three of us. We strung
them on large alder stringers, and went toiling back to
camp under the weight of them.
Farr was astonished.
" How I wish I co.uld have been there ! " he bewailed.
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THEM? 279
We fried four for dinner, rolling them in meal to give
them a good brown crust They were delicious.
" What fools we were not to have fished there before ? "
Scott kept reminding us as we ate.
Toward four o'clock we went down again, and caught
eleven more. '
" I'm going to feed these holes," Fred said, " so as to
draw a whole school of fish about them."
It seemed a good plan. We brought down a great
quantity of the refuse moose-meat and unpicked bones and
dropped them into the holes, to draw the fish.
" But what shall we do with all these trout ? " Scott asked
that evening.
"They're worth ten, twenty, and sometimes even fifty
cents a pound in the cities, these speckled trout," Fred
said. " If the weather holds cold, I don't see why we can-
not take these out with us and get something handsome
for them."
Of course we all liked that idea.
Forthwith we got up one of the big grain-boxes from the
grain-shed, and began to pack them down in clean snow.
The next morning we fished again at the holes. Farr
tried his hand. Fred was on guard-duty. We caught
twenty-four, and five more about sunset.
The next day we went down to the foot of the lake,
Fred and Farr and I, and cut holes near where the outlet
leaves the. lake. Here we caught twenty-two, or about
fifty pounds as we reckoned it.
280
The day following, the other three boys fished both at
the foot and the head of the lake : they caught seventeen.
That day the weather began to moderate. Towards
night it came on cloudy. It looked like rain. We were
in jeopardy about our fish, lest they should spoil. We
brought snow, and buried the box in it to the depth of two
feet or over.
The next morning it was misty and wet. During the
night there had been a most ominous groaning and roaring
of the air beneath the ice on the lake, a sure sign of a
thaw, Fred assured us. All that day it held wet and warm.
The snow melted considerably. But we kept a heap of it
on the fish-box.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Fears for the Fish-box. The Weather Changes. " Let's go Home
while we Can." Ice. The Bateau on Runners. Off. Adieu
to our Strong Camp. Down the Lake. Cutting our Road.
'On the Ice-bound River. A Moose. A Marten. A Wolf (?).
Cold Nights. Civilization once more. Pete. Spencer's
Bill. We Reach Upton. Rather Woodsey. Bethel again. We
Sell our Furs. Fred Goes to Portland with our Fish and Gum.
A Fair Profit The " Cannuck " Muskets and Revolvers. Some
New Clothes and Eighty-seven Dollars apiece.
r~p>HE next day was sloppier still. We used all the snow
JL around, to keep our box buried, and even cut slabs of
ice out of the river. That night, however, about one o'clock,
Fred reported a change. The clouds and fog broke up ;
the wind began to blow from the north-west. The next
morning it was blowing smartly, and the damp snow and
slosh on the ice was beginning to freeze.
" There's sure to be a hard crust," Fred said. " By
to-morrow it will be gay running."
"And that means Home!" exclaimed Farr.
'Twas a unanimous sentiment.
Si
282 THE BATEAU ON RUNNERS.
" Our fish won't stand another thaw, any way," Fred
said. " Let's be off."
We did not care to stay longer, and run the risk of being
blocked in by a three-feet snow-storm. Evidently now
was our time.
We fell to work to get ready. First the bateau was cut
out of the ice.
" Now, how can this be best turned into a sledge ? " was
Scott's question ; and it was something of a question with
the whole of us.
Fred went out and cut a stick of green white ash, twenty
,feet long. This, with the axes and with wooden wedges,
he split in halves, for the runners. Then we knocked to
pieces one of the old grain-boxes, to get nails. Along the
flat bottom of the bateau we next nailed strips of hewn
plank from the ox-camp, in two rows, lengthwise, and upon
these we nailed the ashen runners, turning them up at
the nose of the boat. The bottom of the bateau was then
raised about four inches. At best it was a rather rough
contrivance, but we could not then do better. This took
till afternoon.
After dinner we loaded in the great fish-box, then the
gum, next the fur, and afterwards such of our remaining
provisions as we might need, a few frozen potatoes, a lit-
tle meal, some of the moose-meat, and a few of the trout
which we had saved out of the box.
That night we kept a vigilant watch, lest the " Can-
nucks " should come and steal our exposed treasures.
EN ROUTE FOR HOME.
ADIEU TO OUR STRONG CAMP. 283
At six that next morning we ate our last breakfast at
the fortified camp on the knoll. We had tea, trout, moose,
corn-cake, and a batch of Horsfords. As soon as it was
light we set off.
It was not without regrets that we bade adieu to our
strong camp, where we had done sentinel duty for so many
nights. One comes to love a place which he has to fight
to hold.
Long before sunrise we had started down the stream.
A faint wreath of smoke was rising from out the funnel of
the stove, inside the fence, as we moved off. Farr even
proposed to burn up the camp, that it might not fall into
the hands of the " Cannucks."
The tow-line was attached double to the nose of the
bateau. Fred and I pulled ; while Scott and Farr pushed.
Altogether, it must have weighed near half a ton. But
when once we had got it started on the ice, it ran almost
of itself.
Instead of going down to the outlet, we went directly to
the foot of Bose-buck Cove. Here we arrived a few min-
utes before nine. From this point we had determined to
cut a road through to Sunday Pond, and thence out to
the Little Magalloway. We had our own axe, and had also
taken one of those at the ox-camp, for this purpose.
From the bottom of the Cove to Sunday Pond it is
about two miles. By carefully choosing our path where
the woods were not very thick, we avoided the cutting of
but few trees larger than bushes. But it was laborious
284 CUTTING OUR ROAD.
work to drag the bateau through. It took all our strength.
If there had been soft snow, we should never have got
through. We were all the rest of that day getting down
to the pond.
That night we camped at our old " den " at the foot of
Sunday Pond. Tired enough we were too. We had only
our tent, and such boughs as we could cut, for a shelter.
We lay rather cold.
It took us all the next forenoon to get down to the Lit-
tle Magalloway, about a mile. Here we built a fire, and
fried moose-meat and potatoes.
Once on the river, we found good sledding. The slosh
on the ice had frozen hard as the ice itself. We had no
trouble now in going on as fast as. we could comfortably
walk. A little later we came to the junction with the
Magalloway proper, and during the afternoon went down
through "the meadows."
Here it was that we again saw the robins eating " round-
wood " berries.
In quite a number of places there was open water ; but
by keeping near the shore, on one side or the other, we
got past with no great difficulty.
That night we camped in the fir woods, on the bank, at
the foot of "the meadows." Despite a large fire, we
again lay pretty cold.
The next morning, shortly after starting off, we saw and
fired at a moose that crossed the stream at some distance
ahead. The animal ran off at a great pace. AST- we saw
SPENCER'S BILL. 285
no blood, we did not follow the trail. That day, too, we
saw a marten in a pine at a little distance from the stream
but it escaped us ; and we also saw either a large gray fox,
or else it was a wolf, cross the river about twenty rods in
advance of us.
That night \ve reached the head of Escohos Carry. Here
we camped.
We had a hard forenoon's job dragging our load over
the Carry Road next day. It was near eleven o'clock when
we passed " Spoff's " (Mr. Flint's). In consideration of
our long hair, 'coon-skin coats, moccasined feet, and gen-
erally dilapidated condition, we had hoped to keep out of
sight of Mrs. Flint. But I saw her at a window, laughing,
as we toiled past.
" Pete " came out and shook hands with us. We asked
if he remembered the " seventy-five cent." Plainly he
did.
It seemed good, and odd too, to get out among civilized
folks again, where there were houses.
Once more on the ice below the falls we slid on at a
good pace. At Spencer's we stopped to leave the axe
and settle for the pork, &c., we had taken from the log-
ging-camp. We told him what we had used. Spencer
said four dollars. This sum we promised to send him,
as soon as we should dispose of our fur ; and we did
so.
Hurrying on, we left the Magalloway, at its union with
286 FRED GOES TO PORTLAND.
the Androscoggin, at about four o'clock. We had
expected to camp here, but finally concluded to push on
to Upton, twelve miles down the Umbagog. This was far
too much for us". We were fearfully tired when, at last,
we reached Godwin's, at about nine in the evening. We
had come rising twenty-seven miles that day, including
the "Carry Road."
They laughed well at our woodsey appearance at the
Lake House, most of all that black-eyed table-girl. But
we cared for none of these things.
From Upton to Bethel we hired our property drawn on
an ox-sled. Here w.e left the old bateau.
At Bethel we sold our fur, the whole of it, for a hundred
and twenty-six dollars. But, as there was here no market
for the gum and the fish, we freighted it to Portland by
rail ; and, making up as respectable an outfit as we could
from our united wardrobe, sent Fred on with it to dispose
of it. The rest of us were really unpresentable.
Fred was gone three days. We awaited his return with
considerable anxiety, passing the time at a relative of
Farr's living there, and keeping as much secluded as we
could.
On the third evening Fred came back. He had sold
the trout for seventeen cents per pound, three hundred
and thirteen pounds of it. And foi the five hundred and
seventy-six pounds of gum, he had got two hundred and
sixty-four dollars and ninety-six cents, about forty-six
cents per pound.
A FAIR PROFIT. 287
We received, therefore, for
Fur $126 oo
Trout . . 53 21
Spruce Gum 264 96
Total $444 17
Expenses of the expedition . . 46 09
Profit $398 08
One quarter of this .... $99 52
Ninety-nine dollars apiece was about what we had, after
paying our bills. But we had immediately to buy some
clothes, before even going home ; so that the sum we
actually took home with us was but about eighty-seven
dollars.
But eighty-seven dollars went a good way with us in
those days. It paid our expenses for nearly three terms
at the academy. So, on the whole, we deemed the venture
a success.
The old " Cannuck " muskets and revolver we sold at
Bethel, for seventeen dollars for the lot. With this sum
the friend who had loaned us the little rifle expressed him-
self satisfied.
On arriving home, we found our people on the point of
sending off an expedition in search of us. It was long
before we outgrew the nickname of " The Young Moose-
hunters."
288 WELL-EARNED SUCCESS.
Such were our fortunes. We would not confidently
recommend a similar trip to any youthful party. Yet our
well-earned success shows what perseverance will do with
necessity pinching hard.
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