280 CANADIAN TURF EECOLLECTIONS 



of foot, and it demands a steady nerve and sure aim to 

 stop a full grown buck or doe when full on the way 

 for distant shelter; but while waiting for this crown- 

 ing glory of your watch on a runway there are many 

 things to interest you. Though for many minutes there 

 may be absolute silence, the next moment that chattering, 

 saucy imp of the woods, the red squirrel, will come scurry- 

 ing within a few feet of the silent watcher and with tail 

 curled over his head and paws combing his whiskers pro- 

 ceed to quiz you, squirrel fashion. One morning when 

 on watch I had three mink pass within twenty feet of my 

 stand; two large silver gray squirrels also took stock of 

 me, and finally a horned owl, evidently dissatisfied with 

 my intrusion, let out a shriek that would have done credit 

 to a steam engine. More than once was I tempted to let 

 drive at the mink, and my hands moved towards my 

 ''marlin" when I caught sight of the grave and solemn 

 visage of Mr. Owl taking it all in, but the distant music 

 of the dogs bearing my way forbade any side issues, and 

 I was forced to look on and smile serenely at the move- 

 ments of my company. 



The weather during our stay in camp was to the King's 

 taste. Bright, sunshiny days, with cool, frosty nights. 

 There was just sufficient sharpness of tone to the atmos- 

 phere to brace up the system, sharpen the appetite and 

 make one feel that a little exercise was a goodly medicine 

 to take. Twenty miles from the nearest post office or 

 telegraph station — think of it! What a happy release 

 from outside world affairs. A sort of don't care feeling 

 takes possession of one, and you enjoy the serenity of 

 your life, thoroughly indifferent to the state of the Ger- 

 man Emperor's liver, or whether the Czar of Russia has 

 sneezed a little harder than usual and thus upset the 

 money market. 



I have no doubt there are lots of people who will shrug 

 their shoulders and say, ' ' Not any of that in mine, thank 

 you," and I think it is lucky for somebody else's sake 

 that such people do not try it. I have had my peace of 

 mind destroyed more than once by having a crank in the 



