THINGS TO AVOID. 129 



about all season and never require it but once, 

 but that once you will be glad you have it. 



Often when approaching game it is expedi- 

 ent to drop the paddle quietly in the water when 

 taking up your gun. In the stillness of the 

 wild, the noise of placing the paddle inboard is 

 sufficient to scare away the game and the chance 

 is lost. With a spare paddle at hand the hun- 

 ter can quickly pursue the wounded game or 

 paddle back and pick up the dropped paddle. 



If you have a chum a second paddle is not 

 necessary, as he can either forge the canoe ahead 

 or back her to where you dropped yours. 



Never talk or make unnecessary noise while 

 hunting. Old hunters never do. It is only 

 about the camp fire they talk, and even there al- 

 ways in a low tone of voice. 



Old hunters communicate to one another all 

 that is necessary by a shake of the canoe, a nod 

 of the head or motions of the hands. 



When portaging at a carrying place never 

 when you get to the other end, put the canoe 

 down at once, but let the man in front first scan 

 carefully all about each side of the lake or river 

 as far as the eye will carry. Something might 

 be on the surface, standing in the shallows, or 

 in the edge of the bush, which the noise of put- 

 ting down the canoe would frighten away. 



9 



