74. Tue Aroostook Woops. 


the coolest days. We could sit here on the boxes leaning against 
the trees, one watching the south, his eyes travelling from. 
east to west, the other the north, scanning to and from the 
same points. On the warm still days this was glorious; if a 
little chilly we would don our overcoats and wrap around us 
our buffalos. Eyes open, constantly taking in the roads, little 
glades and openings, ears alert to catch the snap of a dry stick 
if stepped upon by the game, or the rustle of the dried leaves as 
they wandered through them much above their dew claws. 
These sounds you hear at times when you cannot see the game, 
yet knowing as well it is a deer as if you saw him; when you 
may step cautiously toward the last sound you heard of 
him, but likely he has passed to leeward, smells you, and 
is off like the wind. We never wearied of this watching, 
always thinking perhaps the next»moment*our game might 
come wandering along quite unsuspicious of our close proxim- 
ity, with head down, feeding slowly on, taking a bite only here 
and there, until the sharp crack of the rifle, when if not 
killed, or even hit, they jump to one side, or perhaps toward 
you, head and tail erect. Just before he reminded you of a 
lazy calf, now he is a picture you would like photographed. 
He stares about in astonishment, neither sees, hears, or smells 
the enemy. Wait a second until he turns his broadside to 
look the other way, as he will; now, crack, again. Ah! he 
hugs his tail close; one, two, three jumps, and he is down. 
We keep quiet where we are a few moments to see if he has 
company, then go down to view the prize and take care 
Obait: 
Oh, the many happy hours with a pleasant companion, upon 
99 
the old ‘aerial blind.” We hated to give it up, but since 
it came in under the head of unlawful taking of game we have 
