256 THE WILDERNESS HUNTER. 



but five one by a mischance, and the other 

 four for the table. 



From its very nature, the life of the hunter 

 is in most places evanescent ; and when it 

 has vanished there can be no real substitute 

 in old settled countries. Shooting in a private 

 game preserve is but a dismal parody; the 

 manliest and healthiest features of the sport 

 are lost with the change of conditions. We 

 need, in the interest of the community at 

 large, a rigid system of game laws rigidly en- 

 forced, and it is not only admissible, but one 

 may almost say necessary, to establish, under 

 the control of the State, great national forest 

 reserves, which shall also be breeding grounds 

 and nurseries for wild game ; but I should 

 much regret to see grow up in this country a 

 system of large private game preserves, kept 

 for the enjoyment of the very rich. One of 

 the chief attractions of the life of the wilder- 

 ness is its rugged and stalwart democracy ; 

 there every man stands for what he actually 

 is, and can show himself to be. 



There are, in different parts of our country, 

 chances to try so many various kinds of hunt- 

 ing, with rifle or with horse and hound, that 

 it is nearly impossible for one man to have 

 experience of them all. There are many 

 hunts I long hoped to take, but never did and 

 never shall ; they must be left for men with 

 more time, or for those whose homes are 

 nearer to the hunting grounds. I have never 

 seen a grisly roped by the riders of the plains, 

 nor a black bear killed with the knife and 



