INTRODUCTION. ii 

you will excuse the rambling manner in which I place these 
outings before you. 
I shall endeavor to hold your attention by describing many 
actual huntings in which myself, with pleasant companions 
have been engaged. Excuse us then, if we did not succeed 
in killing large lions and fierce catamounts sufficient for a big 
story, and, if you please, we will not speak of the many poor 
shots we have made, neither need you be told of the chilly 
hours we have sat with cold feet waiting for a bite. 
Occasionally, we have kept a small diary, noting down a 
successful hunt, taking a few minutes of an outing when 
thinking it would be of interest and use to refer to, and from 
these we will glean something, hoping it will interest and 
perhaps help along those young sportsmen who have as yet 
had but little experience in the big woods. I shall write 
only from our own cruisings and campings, in the simplest 
manner, that the youngest may understand it, depending as 
we have said, upon our own practice and observation, trust- 
ing and hoping it will find favor with those that love the 
wild woods. 
I have supposed that as you are reading this, you love the 
woods, with its hills and valleys, the rivers and brooks, the 
hunting and fishing, and are quick enough to follow me in 
this medley style of writing which I cannot seem to help. 
But as you are to line a woodcock through the green leaves, 
having your eye upon the bird, or his line of flight, and not 
upon the gun alone, bringing him down and securing him, 
even thus I am expecting you to line me through these thick- 
ets, catching sight again when emerging from the tangle. 
It is not really intended in these writings to surprise the old 
trappers with new and novel ideas superior to their own, 
