m 



POKEM AN]> STREAM, 



« itii '"•; I'-'i ' 



finally, as we all fired into a large llock, a tremendous ex- 

 plosion, followed by a smothered exclamation, caused us 

 tn drop our nuns and tusll to L. , who was struggling fran- 

 ticallj di the mud, uttering meanwhile anything hut gentle 

 ejaculations.' Picking him up, we found he was not much 

 hurt, a lame shoulder' and a mouthful of mud being (lie 

 extent of his injuries, though his size had more than 

 doubled from his flounder. His gnu, after much search- 

 ing, we found ten feel, off, sunk deep in (he mud, and 

 fished ito ut It appeared that one of the barrels had 

 sometime before ^napped, and he had pricked some pow- 

 der ilito the cone. Moonlight not being favorable for such 

 an operation, he had not, noticed lhat considerable powder 

 liad collected around the base of Hie cone, and when, soon 

 Miiei, lie brut tired at the geese, both barrels had gone oil 

 at once. As they were heavily loaded, the recoil was so 

 great ns to tuock him head over heels into the mud. 



After a hearty laush, as the tide was rising fast, and the 

 -o-esc seemed to flv higher, we gathered our birds and 

 started for our horses. ' Out has numbered nineteen, which 

 was quite as much as we desired to "pack" home. Unfor- 

 Innately, we had light guns, and no shot heavier than No. 

 )i, and more than oiice we heard the shot rattle agaiusl ihe 

 breasts and wings of the geese, but apparently produced 

 no Other 6ff|Ct. We thus lost many, and I have uo doubt 

 l.uit (bat with an eighteen pound double gun of number 



in gauste, and BBB shot, we could have bagged forly or 

 liflj [n (lie two hours We remained on ihe flats. 



tier ride home was slow, though it seemed too Eliorl 

 in which in discuss the shots or misses we had made. All 

 sporlsmen have experienced (he delights of such converse, 

 so I need not repeat it here. Leaving a fair shun- of the 

 -■nine with L., whose numerous tow -headed "(dive plants" 

 «e keen would appreciate it, we passed on, arriving at 

 air quarters in the "wee aula' hours," where, after seeing 

 , mi- horse; well cared for, and hanging tip our game, we 

 sought our beds, and the calm, drenmleSS sleep of ihe sir, d 

 sportsman soon wrapped 11s in its embrace. 



Mauv limes afterwards did wo enjoy this Sport, and 

 varied 'was our fortune. The geese were there in untold 

 thousands during the season, for we caught t.hem on their 

 migration. Our success during daylight was not snper- 

 exrcllenl. for the marshes were wide and difficult to tra- 



,, iiie game very wary and shy; hut by moonlight, 



rel'ully planned campaign, We almost invariably 

 inei wilh success. 



On the pleasures of lliis sport I need aOI dilate. Noue 

 bUI a sportsman can appreciate or understand ihe ecstatic 

 enjoyment one feels when the huge birds fall at his feet 



n* It Hi I ti»S wild geese by moonlight. Mo.N.uml'H. 



— ■*»♦ 



For I'cii'l and SWS9JA. 



NliW BRUNSWICK WILDS FOR 



eARRIBOO. 



Ollt lirsl da 

 ploughed thr 

 blessed with 

 miL'urated m 

 tramping wa 



11 y utn M II s . 



11 ill I'lederiilun in the month of November, LI re- 

 member it was the 18lh,) some years ago, with an old 

 hunter of the Milicete tribe, "Gabriel Sis" by name, to ex- 

 olore for carriboo the barrens and forests in the vicinity of 

 the Newcastle Stream, some forly-nve miles. from the town 

 i have named, and in a direct line towards the present 

 headquarters of Ihe Intercolonial Railway; in fact, our 

 nuutin" ■ country was on what then was called the I etti- 

 eodiacUoad. 'A fier a very long drive we arrived late in 

 the afternoon at our destination. Jt was not a very long 

 distance we had to travel, only, as well as I remember, 

 about a hundred yards or so, and we were at home at the 

 e iino — "the Governor's Camp," it was called— a rough 

 !,..,„ I.." of split spruce sticks, built for the occupation, a 

 u'ar or two before, of Her Majesty's Representative gov- 



'ay's hunt, viz., Tuesday's, was a farce. We 

 -oindi bogs skimmed with ice, for we were not 

 'nuance of the lovely weather that in- 

 ■t; a severe frost had set in, and (he 

 t villainous. I say it was a farce, be- 

 cause the breaking of the ice and Hie cracking of small 

 trii/.en twigs beneath our feel could be distinctly heard lor 

 lerahle distance, and of course intimated our ap- 

 proach to the "iptarry" we were in guest ol; so, emply- 

 handed we returned to our rustic domicile, wet, tired and 

 imu-rv I was aroused the following morning by an ejac- 

 ulation of surprise from the Indian, who was standing 

 luokin-i- oul at the side of the camp. On my asking him 

 "What was tpe matter?" he said, "Come here and see 



snow" There were strong tnoi. ■ mm , '. n.ti ','.'1 



,|ov.n the night before, of 11 slight fall; but I was perfectly 

 astounded at- finding that, in something like twelve hours, 

 over two feci lay on the ground. 



We breakfasted at daylight, and wearing snow shoes, we 

 • nniucnoed hunting in earnest. Not far from our camp 

 we came upon tracks of a carriboo— but not very alluring 

 10 follow as the animal was trotting, and might not stop 

 in feed for a "core of miles; however, we made the attempt 

 and set off in his trail. I Hdnk it must have been after 

 we had .ravelled two thirds of that distance that we came 

 10 the conclusion that it was of no use, and gave him up. 

 H,. hml no intention of resting; but 1 most decidedly had 

 dud carried it out, too. As the snow was very light, and 

 had nut lime, as yet. to be pai 

 jetting along, and 1 was unCO 

 particularly »« hang ugnsed 1 

 teet were terribly galled b\ 

 tn -he,] and fed, the followinj 

 sallied forth, and breaking ... 



pleasure of meeting new "signs ot a small herd that only 

 , short time previously had passed. The country they led 



Led, if was very "heavy work 

 imonly glad to" reach" home; 

 that mode of travelling, my 

 the snow-shoe straps. ' Re- 

 morning (Friday) we again 

 ground, soon had the 



to traverse. " It was a 

 :kly every wdiere 

 ling us to "go such 

 ' sending 



... 111! 



tiibling 



d a coupl 

 down Hi 

 stories— 



's society 



„ -I? gun 

 I thought 

 if hours 

 uuli the 



tl Mioil nil"- !..«■.- .■ . 



I ugh was a most difficult 



burnt district, and the dead fiv 

 — catching up our snow-shoe-, 

 "croppers." I made many a 

 Hying oul of my hand about, ten 

 ,i fun at first; but wli 

 of it, it became like the mule U 



tent, in one of Mark I wai 



When one falls in an Ind 

 helps you to rise-never offers to assist in any way 

 usually contemplates your vain and ineffectual struggle for 

 a perpendicular position, with his back (o a tree, calmly 

 nnolrinE This was aggravating in the extreme to me; and 

 tt , last after a" flounder in the snow of longer duration than 

 before I shouted out my intention of not going one step 

 further at the top of my voiea to the Indian, who was 



; bill 



some yards ia advance. T hud do sooner thus delivered 

 myself 1 bun, with a rush through fl thicket only about a 

 hundred yards away, or less, ihe herd started, and we had 



'glimpse of (hem for a second, and they were gone 



on the. '•wines of the wind." So much for impatience and 

 ill humor, Had I only kept guiet a lillle longer, and re- 

 frained from giving my loud yell of disgust, it is possible 

 great -slaughter might have been made; however, the deed 

 was done, ahd there was no help for it. 



Badly we returned; I was sorry for my mistake: bid, 

 (browing all Ihe blame possible upon the guide, and accus- 

 ing him of taking me through a bad piece of country. 

 widen made him indirectly the cause of ihe failure, seemed 

 a relief, and I did it. From the direction the animals bad 

 taken, the Indian told me that evening that he thought he 

 knew a "barren" where they would most likely "bring up" 

 to feed, and he proposer! making a direct line to it in 

 Ihe morning. I learned it was about four miles away, and 

 comparatively easy of access, and furlher, it was about 

 our last chance; no I placed myself again at my copper- 

 colored companion's service, and" followed manfully in his 

 fpotslops. I bad an opportunity that day of being con- 

 vinced that if Mr. "Gabe" was lazily disposed at times, he 

 did, after all, understand something of hunting carriboo,* 

 and of their habits as well, for we. had scarcely reached the 

 edge- of the barren referred to above, when, to my surprise 

 and delight, we saw upon the opposite side our startled 

 friends Of the day before, peacefully strolling about and 

 feeding. Exciting moment 1 ! Shall we be lucky enough 

 10 secure one of those majestic bucks with horns that seem 

 to be too exasperated for 'their dainty heads to wear. The 

 wind is favorable, blowing from them to us, a light snow 

 is falling— everything seems propitious. We wait until 

 t hey have slowly turned the angle of a belt of stunted spruce 

 in "the middle" of the barren, so that we shall be hidden 

 from their sight, and then hasten, with this intervening, to 

 cut off their retreat at the farther end. Carefully we 

 crejepi 'he Indian forbids even a whisper; we avoid twigs 

 I hat may snap, 'and lake every precaution against the 

 slightest' noise. We are nearimr the point where they will 

 emerge, when, accidentally turning round, 1 see, to my 

 amazement, two carriboo, who were not of the parly pre- 

 viously seen, coming directly towards us. "Gabe | Gabe ! ! 

 (I Cannot help speaking now,) tst. ! look I" "Keep still; 

 don't move even your head !" he says, after noticing what 

 eSCltes me so much. Motionless we remain, until quite 

 unconscious of the Intimate proximity of human beings 

 with "murderous thoughts intent," ihey slowly come 

 abreast of where we stand. Now, "make ready !" from 

 the Indian, and all eager to obey, 1 pull from off my gun 

 its India rubber ('oyer a little too roughly, and the rattling, 

 for it is stiff with damp and cold, reaches the ears of the 

 foremost animal. He turns and faces me, making my shot 

 more difficult; but, a hasty and steady aim is taken, and 

 the bullel speeds on its way. Except, a shiver, as I think, 

 at the report, he does not move, so my second barrel i is 

 emptied at him. Alas ! a clean miss I But what is this? 

 he stagtrers, and then headforemost tumbles. In a second 

 the Indian has fired at No. 2; but the bullet passes him 

 harmlessly. "Oh 1 don't miss this time," I say, In an 

 earnest tone, and again his smooth bore is presented. 

 There is a Hash, and a dull thud falls upon our ears after 

 the report. Hooray ! both down ! and over we rush to our 

 victims. 



Imagine two people more joyous than we. reader, if you 

 can! We carried the heads" lo camp that night, and re- 

 turned with straps and with rod-ropes next day to haul out 

 the carcasses to the main road, where the sleigh to convey 

 US home was to meet US. What a long day's labor we had, 

 to be sure! The way we managed was this: We cut off 

 all the lower part of "the legs, (from the knees and houghs 

 down,) so as not to obstruct us more than necessary, and,' 

 fastening one end of a (bong to (he fore-leg and neck of 

 each carriboo, we dragged (hem all that weary four miles 

 without taboggins, and on their hides, out of the woods, ll 

 took ns about six hours, and was to me the hardest work 1 

 have ever had. They were stowed on our conveyance at 

 last, with our goods and chatties, and back we came to the 

 Indian village opposite Fredericton without any mishap 

 whatever. We were the first to cross that season. Hearty 

 congratulations met me when I landed, and I was loudly 

 welcomed back to mv friends, after my absence oi a week 

 in the wilds of the Newcastle Stream. 



■»■»■ 



For Forest and StrttttH. 



"UNCLE BILL AND THE SWANS." 



BY HOMO. 



ALMOST every ducking point on our coast has its 

 famed fowler among the number of bagmen who 

 follow shooting and fishing for a livelihood; be it is who is 

 Ihe shot, and best acquainted with the effect certain winds 

 will have upon the flight or- ducks. Among the lesser 

 lights his opinion is law, and few of his companions would 

 think of launching their skiffs upon (he bay unless Ihey 

 had first heard what Uncle Bill, Sam Weils, or whoever 

 might be the oracle, had to say about it. 



We had been at Little Creek, Delaware, for two or three 

 days, having great sport with the quail, and at the same 

 time' fully prepared to take a crack at the ducks when the 

 hour' should come for Uncle Bill, (whom we had engaged,) 

 10 speak. Passing by the old man's house one morning 

 early, on our way to a spot where we had been told were a 

 few woodcock, "we found him standing before his door 

 intently scanuing the distant bay. We hailed him and 

 asked him when the promised day would come. 



"Well I wish we cud go to-day; but 1 can't, and bein' as 

 I sent you no word, 1 see you're going a birdinV' 



"Why in the deuce did'nt you let, us know, Bill, and why 

 can't you go?" we asked. 



"You see, somehow, I broke the lock ol my gun yester- 

 day and I've sent her to Hover by Boh Smith to have her 



fixed" "now to-day is an alfired good one for duck, 



and to-morrow '11 be too; its bein' blowin' a gale oulthere'ii 

 the bay and they've bein' druv to the points to feed, and 

 will use 'em for a spell. Mighty ! but I wish I had my 



"Now, Bill," 1 replied, "I'll tell you what to do : go up 

 to the house, get mv heavv gun and try the ducks in-day; 

 we Will go out with yi 11 t"-morrow, and 1 have no doubt 

 you will have your own to-night." 



"Much oblige! Much oblige! Ill do that, and lake 

 good care of her, too." 



Uncle Bill was out all day, mid in the evening came up 

 to see us, bringing with him six pair of widgeon as a 

 I present. 



"Thank you for the gun," said he, "she's a good chunk 

 of a piece. I killed thirty ducks with her, but she's too 

 short; she'll do for shore birds and the like, but never go 

 a duckin' with a thirty-two inch barrel; il's not the thing 

 for long Shots; mine's thirty-eight." 



"But, Bill, if she is only "tinny-two iueltes, you seem to 

 have shot right well Willi her; thirty ducks'is uot a bad 

 day, is it?" wc asked. 



'No ! no ! it's a good day: but. I see I'll hare to tell you 

 all about it. Barn it ! I'm just as much disapinted as if 

 my old gun had busted. Why. you see, I took little Have 

 in'lhe skid with me and whent' to Big Pond, sot out the 

 stools, made a good blind and bed luck all the forenoon, 

 for the duck Hew well. Near lo one, o'clock, Says little 

 Dave: Tap, What's them big birds comin' this wayV 

 Says Dave again: 'Pap, I hem's geese.' I looked out on 

 the bay and what, should I see but fore of the alfiredcst, big- 

 gest birds I ever seed. I knowd they wer'nt, geese, for they 

 didn't honk, and was white; there was no use talkin' to 

 'em, for I didn't know- how— besides, they was a headin' 

 right lo me. Now, I've bein' on this bay nigh ou to thirty 

 year mid never before saw such a sight; but 1 knowd they 

 Was swan, for I'd seen two on (he Chesapeake when I was 

 oysteriu' there ten year aeo. Long they cum, sailiu' right 

 over my head, and I gave 'em both barrels, and, by 

 thunder! I mout aa well have throwd peas at 'em; they 

 kept right on, and nol a feather. One of 'em looked down, 

 winked and hollered: ' 0" Jamie Bill and get j/our <wa ;/< : ». ' 

 It's fl fact; Rave heard it, too." 



-*•■»- 



Kltr Ftiltfl 'iii-'t strefm. 



GAME IN MONTANA. 



I><" this far off portion of our country we are blessed 

 with sights that the inhabitants of 'the East seldom 

 Witness; we are treated almost daily to some novelty thai 

 even our wildest boyhood dreams did not venture upon. 

 It, may be of some interest to your readers, those fund of 

 Sporting, to enumerate the kind of game we are constantly 

 meeting with; therefore it will he necessary for me to give 

 them some idea where all this sport is to lie had. Fort 

 Belknap is situated above the Iwo forks on the Milk River, 

 230 miles from Fort Buford, 170 miles from Fort Peck, 

 240 miles from the city of Helena, 100 miles from Fort 

 Benton at the head of navigation on the Missouri River, 

 twenty-five miles from the boundary line. The outlying 

 country is filled with game, buffalo, white and black tailed 

 deer, antelope, elk, and at the little Rocky Mountains, thirty 

 miles SOUth-eaSt Of ns, are quantities of bears, big horns, 

 mountain sheep, land smaller)' game in abundance; so, it 

 to gratify their tastes in this direction, tliej 



have onlvto stall from Sioux City early in; ihe season, say 

 in April, in time 10 take the first boai for I'ml Benton, » 

 trip occupying nearly a month; then 11 day's ride will bring 

 them into a country 'not attractive from surroundings, on 

 the contrary desola'te from the monotony of the prairie; for 

 the sportsman these difficulties of reaching the game they 

 are in search of will only add zest to the chaser I would 

 advise as a precautionary measure lhat they Supply ibem 

 selves with wigs of late patterns to cover any deficiency of 

 scalp in case they should chance to encounter a war parly 

 of Indians. After reaching this portion of the country 

 they will find it filled with game of the kinds mentioned. 



The immense prairie fires of Ihe last few weeks havedrh 

 en most of the game far Norlh;slill buffalo occasionally si m\ 

 within sight of the fort, and are easily approached. I am 

 promised much excitement later in Hie season when the 

 buffalo return, bvhaving a chance to run them; hilt having 

 never cultivated the great art of equestrianism, lam (ear- 

 ful that my ride will equal that of the famous John Gilpin, 

 for the horses once in the excitement of the chase give 

 little heed to the uncertain rider; and here I would advise 

 those who have any designs upon the buffalo, with a limited 

 education 11s lo horsemanship, to provide themselves wilh 

 a cushion, sweet oil, and Centaur liniment — valuble reme- 

 dies they will iiiul after a huig rotigh ride of fifty or sixty 

 miles. "The method of hunting buffalo, as practiced by 

 Assinaboine Indians, is somewhat exciting. When a large 

 herd are discovered near the camp the Indians are harangued 

 and notified when Ihe start to kill lliem will be made; pre 

 partitions are at once commenced; no man is allowed to go 

 until all arc readv. The order of starting is as follows: 

 Soldiers in from', followed by ihe hunters, squaws; and 

 meu who dress ihe meat, lo Ihe rear. The advance is 

 made, and the herd surrounded. Then commences as lively 

 a time as any one would wish lo see, arrows and bullel- 

 living around indiscriminately, buffaloes falling in even 

 direction, horses stumbling, throwing their rider-, , ,l 

 yelling, till combined render the scene exciting beyond 

 description. Tin- Glacfcfeol Indians employ diil'creiu 

 means. They build a fence of willows or cottonwood 

 aboul ten feci high, three sides of a square, leaving onfcsirie 

 open for the animals lo enter; a gate is Open al tile opposite 

 side, for them to puss out. They are run into thi- enclosure, 

 and as thev endeavor to pass through the gate they are 

 slaughtered in great numbers — if in the winicr lortno robe-, 

 in the summer they do nol kill more than they require 

 for subsistanee, and employ the ordinary means in killing 

 them. 



Deer are easily approached and this summer (hey are in 

 abundance, although no more arc killed than is actually 

 necessary. We are dependent to a great extent on wild 

 meat for 'food. The government will not supply fresh or sail 

 meal, except bacon, and bacon straight is not the most desir- 

 able food in Ihe world. Uncle Sam is good to those near at, 

 home, but on the frontier he says, take care of yourselves. 

 As (he season advances I may be able to give you some 

 personal experiences of interest. As yet my opportunities 

 for hunting have been slight on account of the danger of 

 going too far from the post, hostile Indians being on 1 In- 

 war path, and a white man stands but a poor .chance of his 

 life if be'meets them. The Indians belonging here have 

 nol as vei been induced to join the general movement, 

 which, "if we may believe the papers wc receive, is 011 fool 

 They are peaceful and quiet and we have every reason i„ 

 believe that they will remain SO. To the sportsman I 

 would say, luxuries are not to be obtained in this country, 

 and arms' of fancy patterns find little favor in tha eyes ol 

 the frontiersman. The Henry repealing rifle is most desi, 

 able for; general use, Iron, the rapidity with which it can 

 be used in case Of an Indian .attack. For pistols Colt's N.ny, 

 or Smilh tt Wesson's 44 or -1(1 calibre are considered the 

 best, A pistol :j.S calibre, such as: 1 have, is laughed at. 



Enjoyments aside from hunting are few, and time bangs 

 heavily. The occasional arrival of a scout connected with 

 the boundary survey is a positive excitement, and when 



