78 MEN I HAVE FISHED WITH. 



could not be made to stir. A puppy went on and put up 

 something, but they could not follow it. 



A panther had been about the locality, and shortly 

 after I left Mr. Simpkins killed a large one. A Mr. Bead- 

 enell said it was a blue jay that screamed and scared me, 

 but when I told this to my friend he said: "Bluejays don't 

 scream after dark," and that settled the jay question. 



At this time Simpkins was perhaps thirty-five years 

 old. He had not lived near Warrensburgh long, and 

 moved West a few years later, and I lost track of him. 

 Memory recalls him as an intelligent farmer, a good 

 hunter, an indifferent fisherman, and a good friend who 

 helped me lie about that deer, for which let us hope that 

 both he and I have been forgiven, and that the recording 

 angel, as in the case of "Uncle Toby," after recording the 

 sin dropped a tear upon the page and blotted it out for- 

 ever. 



