194 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



sending out a most savory odor. Fertile convenience of 

 the ladies, wc took our supper indoors, but utter (he meal 

 all gathered around the camp tire, the gentler ones ivi.ll 

 wrapped in shawls for protection against the cool evening 

 air. Far above us, their sides and summits covered wit h 

 the low, wide-spreading branches of the manzinata, or the 

 straight trunks of the sugar pine, towered the Sierra Mndre. 

 At a short distance the stream, rushing on its journey 

 oeeanward, sung its everlasting song. Occasionally a quail, 

 perhaps a bevy, seeking their roosts in the. almost impene- 

 trable branches of a scrub oak, would rush past us with 

 the rapidity of bullets. The mournful cry of the dove, 

 calling its mate from yonder eottonwood, was echoed by 

 the shriller whistle of the little ground owl, as he hov- 

 ered over the appropriated burrow of some luckless squir- 

 rel, and from the distant plain came the almost human cry 

 of the coyote, prowling about a sheep corral. The setting 

 sun, although lost to us, still faintly lighted the lolly sum- 

 mits of the peaks overhead, while below us wood and plain 

 were shrouded in the darkness of night. Around the 

 (■(imp the gloom of forest twilight was dispelled by the 

 bright gleam of the fire, about which we were grouped in 

 the most picturesque confusion. Pipes had been tilled and 

 lighted, the lariats of the horses picketed near by duly 

 looked to, and everything made snug for the night. 



"Bill," said the Colonel, "what ever became of your old 

 partner, Holt? I saw r him once in Los Angeles, and he 

 struck me as being a man likely to die a violent death." 



"Right enough, Colonel," said Bill; "poor Ned, it's a 

 matter of five year now since he passed in his cheeks. If 

 the ladies won't mind an old fellow's yarn, I will tell you 

 how it happened." 



Bill took a long pull at his pipe, and stuffing the ashes 

 down with a finger, apparently made up of sole leather 

 and cow horn, commenced his narrative. 



"Ned, when I first knew him, was fresh from Kcntuck, 

 and a warmer hearted fellow, or a belter eompunero, before 

 liquor aud a woman turned his head and drove him mad, 

 ynu won't find twixt here and Shasta. It, was all bed rock 

 with him; no tailings or deep digging, but everything open 

 and on the surface. Ned and 1 had become pards in a 

 claim up in the San Gabriel Canon, and were pauniug out 

 a right smart lot of dust, and I was beginning to think that 

 some day 1 might get back to the old woman and the little 

 white haired -youngsters I had left behind in Arkansaw, 

 when, as luck'wouid have it, the claim petered out, and it 

 was shuffle for a new deal again. About this time Ned 

 had got into the habit of going down to the pueblo pretty 

 often, and had got acquainted with old Btimpson's daugh 

 ter, who lived on the wetlands over the river. I saw at 

 ouct that that it w : as all up with him. 1 had been lhar, 

 and know'd how it were myself. Ned didn't work with 

 the will he had shown before, and most every other night 

 he'd catch the old mule and saddle her and start off for a 

 ride of twenty miles to see the girl; and she weren't much 

 to look at when he got there. Well, gcitllemcu and ladies, 

 when a man gets foolish with a woman, and goes around 

 chewing hay all the time, yon can make up your mind he's 

 pretty far gone; salt won't save him, anil, like the chicken 

 pnx, 'it's got to come out. There's only one thing what 

 will cure him — he's got to be married or be jilted, and, 

 asking your pardin', ladies, I don't know but what the last 

 is the best thing that could happen to him. I kinder 

 thought the girl was a foolin him, aud it worrited me a 

 gooefdeal, because Ned wasn't a safe man to play with — 

 one Of your dark complected, black haired kind, savin' 

 your presence, Don Pablo, who was pretty quick about 

 pullin' in a fight, and wouldn't stand no "nonsense from 

 man or won.au. What made it worse was, that I noticed 

 he had took to drinkin' of late, and sometimes brought a 

 hottle of liquor back to camp with him. So things went 

 on for a month or two. We had given up the claim, and 

 gone down to Los Angeles, and I was thinkin' of going to 

 Arizony to one of tlufnew minina districts opened there, 

 and was tryin' hard to persuade Ned to go with me; hut it, 

 warn't of no use; he was just that foolish that he hung 

 around the monte bank all day dropping his dust, and at 



again. What there was about the woman to make a man 

 like Ned throw himself away, I couldn't make out. She 

 was passably good looking, one of your big, bold kind, 

 but no more biains than a turkey hen. One day I saw her 

 sailin' down Main street, all smiles and ribbons, with a 

 new man in tow; a great, long fellow, in store clothes, and 

 his hah' slicked down with goose grease. Ned stood in the 

 door of the Bella Union as they passed, and I saw by the 

 "Way he eyed the man how that there would be a fight or a 

 fool race before long. She kinder looked at Ned as they 

 passed him, as much as to say, "Here's a handsomer man 

 than you, my boy," and I crossed the street and got him 

 by the arm and toted him off to where we were a boarditi', 

 and tried to reason with him agin; but Lor' bless you, you 

 might just, as well try to talk to this mountain. 1 hist, SiglH 

 of Nedlhat evening, but heard afterwards that he went 

 down to old Btimpson's, and that the stranger was there, 

 and that Melindy she put on a sight of airs, and treated 

 poor Ned worse nor a dog. He came in towards morning 

 pretty drunk, and kept in bed most all day; but towards 

 evening, while I had gone out for a little walk, he dressed 

 himself and w'ciit out. I searched high and low, but could 

 n't get track of him. There was a great crowd in town 

 that night. Two wagon trains had come in from Yuma, 

 and the teamsters were paid off, and the saloons were all 

 crowded 'Bout midnight I went into the Blue Wiug, and 

 there, at one end of the faro table, with a great pile of 

 chips' before him, \va» Ned. I got as close to him as 1 

 could tor the crowd, and was watchin' him pretty closely, 

 when who should come in and push his way to the other 

 eml of the table but, the long legged stranger. I saw a 

 wicked glance in Ned's eye, and tried to get closer to him, 

 but cue crowd pushed me back, and I didn't want a fight 

 on my own bauds; there was plenty of chance of that 

 without my chipping in. The dealer commenced a new 

 deal, aud the stranger, who appeared to have beeu drinkin', 

 as luck would have it, pushed some chips onto a card 

 ed hod just placed a bet, and somehow or other 

 the chips got scattered a .little. "My bet all goes on the 

 Bight," said Ned. "You lie, d— n you," said the stranger, 

 apparently misunderstanding what ho said. The crowd 

 1 back from the table pretty quick, for that kind 

 ni i..Llk meant tight in those days, aud the two pistols were 

 iu the air in a minute. Thoy got to shootin' about the 

 same lime, but I don't, think the stranger got, more nor one 

 jn before Ned had him square in the forehead, and he tum- 



bled down all in a heap alongside the table. I got to Ned 

 as soon as I could, and with my own six shooter in my 

 hand made my way through the crowd, for I didn't know 

 but what the stranger might, have had some friends around 

 who would take the thing up. So I look him off to the 

 calaboose as the safest place for him, and handed him 

 over to the sheriff. Well, to make a long story short, Ned 

 had to stand a trial, but it was a fair fight, and every one 

 knew he would he acquitted, and 1 had engaged the smart- 

 est lawyer in the place— old Corpus Chiisti, the boys 

 called him — to defend him, when one day they told me 

 Ned was dead; found so in jail He must have had the 

 stuff about him for a long time before the shootin', but I'd 

 never suspected it, he was so quiet and gentle like. So I 

 lost my pard, and a good fellow was ruined by a Woman. 

 She married some other fellow in less than three months, 

 and 1 beard that he killed himself, too." 



A little later the ladies retired to the cabin, and we, roll- 

 ing ourselves iu our blankets with feet to the fire, aban- 

 doned ourselves to sleep. Overhead the narrow- strip of 

 sky visible between the mountain tups was bright with 

 stars; the only sound the gentle murmur of the wind 

 soughing through the pines, the soft splash of the water in 

 the stream, and the deep, regular breathing of the weary 

 men around the fire. Just before daybreak I was awakened 

 from a dream, in which grizzly" bears, Indians, and revol- 

 vers were mixed in inextricable confusion, by a scream so 

 loud, and apparently so near, that I jumped to my feet and 

 seized my gun, which was close at hand. 



"Wild cat," said Bill, turning over for another nap; but 

 there was no more sleep for me, and in a short time, as the 

 first rays of the new born light came struggling down the 

 mountain side, all in the camp were astir aud drinking the 

 coffee, which is the first thing in order in this mountain 

 life. 



"Now, Mr. Irving," said Bill, "if you want to kill that 

 deer it is time we were off." 



So before the tenants of the cabin had appeared we had 

 started for our hunt in the foot hills. It was successful, 

 and we returned to camp in time for a late breakfast, and 

 to find the seuorilas looking as fresh and bright as the 

 morning glories. 



But, why attempt to describe those three days of freedom 

 and camp life, each one more charming than the last. The 

 delightful trips up the canon with Niia for a companion, 

 made ostensibly for the purpose of fishing, hut in reality to 

 sit on the rocks, by the side of the stream, and while away 

 the fleeting hours' in her sweet society. Day by day the 

 lovely girl was weaving her spells closer and closer about 

 me, and when we returned to Santa Monica, in the lan- 

 guage of Grizzly Bill, I was a "gone coon." 



But the brightest and best hours of our existence must 

 fade away before the decrees of inexorable fate, and the 

 day had come when I was to leave my kind friends and re- 

 sume my journey. It was arranged that Piuto was to be 

 left behind, for a season of well earned rest iu his present 

 comfortable quarters, and the Colonel was to drive me to 

 San Benevculura, where I was to lake a stage for Los An- 

 geles. The adieus had been said, nud I was standing alone 

 in the doorwav with Nita, while the Colonel fastened a 

 trace that had "come unhooked. 



"And when will you return, GuillermoV" 



"In a mouth, Caradita, God willing." 



The Colonel snapped his whip, the horses jumped off 

 with a rush, and the waving of a little white handkerchief 

 was the last I saw of Santa Monica — for a month. 



THE END. 



For Forut and Stream. 

 SPORT AT NOYAC BAY. 



FOR a quiet, retired sporting locality, especially at this 

 season of the year, commend me to Novae and its 

 beautiful bay, situated about four miles to the northwest 

 Of the old town of Sag Harbor. For wild duck shooting, 

 from October 20th to the close of November, no place on 

 the island affords better sport or more game, and then, if 

 you prefer other game, the woods and fields adjacent yield 

 plenty of parlridge and quail, and also rabbits. I came up 

 here for a few days the first week iu October, but the 

 weather was too warm for duck shooling, a cold snap being 

 required to bring them into the bay, and when Jack Frost 

 puts in an appearance I tell you things are lively here. 

 But first, let me inform you how to get here, and what the 

 outlay is, us that is what your readers will want to know, 

 especially those seeking for a nice unfrequented spot for a 

 week's sport in October or November. One of the oldest 

 residents of Noyac— Mr. Pier'son— has recently transformed 

 his farm house into a cosy boarding place for Summer vis- 

 itors and sportsmen — not a hotel, mind you, but, merely a 

 country-house resort, and a letter to him" telling him what 

 day you expect to arrive, will find him with his wagon 

 ready at either the steamboat, wharf at seven in the morn- 

 ing, or at the railroad depot at two or eight in the evening, 

 according to the way you propose to reach the Harbor; 

 the boat— W. W. Coit— leaving foot, of Wall street, Mon- 

 days and Thursdays at five in the evening for Sag Harbor 

 (fare, $1 50) and the cars from Hunter's Point at half past 

 seven in the morning, nud at half past threeiu the afternoon 

 (fare, $3 75.) The charge for board at Mr. Pierson's is but 

 a dollar a day, or seven dollars a week, for which excellent 

 fare is provided, and the use of a boat . The modus operandi 

 for Noyac Bay shooting is either to go on the long beach 

 on Jessup's Neck, take your station at daylight, and await 

 your chances for Bhots at the flights of ducks which regu- 

 larly cross the neck from Noyac Bay to the Little Peconic 

 Bay, or by taking a sail boat out in the bay, or a small 

 boat, get in among the thousands of ducks to be seen early 

 in the day floating on the surface of the bay. After a 

 morning's work at the ducks, you can take your gun and 

 dog and go into the thick woods of the back country and 

 get partridges and rabbits. In fact, what witli the enjoy- 

 able retirement of this unfrequented spot, and the facilities 

 for sport, one can thoroughly take his pleasure here for 

 weeks at. this season of the year, and that, loo, without 

 spending heaps of money, as you have to do at the noted 

 sporting resorts of the Island. Seeing so few here, I 

 thought I would post your readers up about it. By the 

 way, the regular old residents of the place are very so- 

 cially inclined, and courteous to gentlemanly sportsmen, 

 especially the Edwards', Eldridge's, <&c., who have resided 

 here for the past century, lather and son. Mr. Halloek, 

 too, a neighbor of Mr. Pierson's, is equally well disposed 

 towards genuine sportsmen, though they look sharply after 

 pot hunters. Yours, H. C. 



Noyac, near Sag Harbor, October Bth, 1874. 



For Forest, and Stream. 

 GUNNING IN THE DISTRICT OF CO- 

 LUMBIA. 



I WAS out shooting about, ten days ago (the laws of the 

 District allow quail to be shot, from October 1st) and 

 put up two bevies of quail, oue of which were full 

 grown birds, and the other a little over half grown. Both 

 went to a piece of woods, the large birds taking to the pine 

 trees, and the smaller to the ground. 1 shot three of the 

 large birds, and was following them up, when up got the 

 Ginall birds, one and two at. a time. As the place wns open, 

 I marked one of the birds which 1 saw alight aside of a 

 fence. I had a young dog with me, and I thought that this 

 was a good opportunity to try him. but ditlrfol. succeed in 

 getting him to me until I bad readied the fence, where I 

 found the quail in the exact spot I saw it alight, hut if. was 

 dead. Now I had not shot at any of those small birds, nor 

 had any one else this season, and my gun was, I am sure, 

 the first these quail had ever heard. The bird flew strong. 

 It did not. hit itself against any limb, for it was an open 

 space, from the place! put it "up to where it alighted. I 

 examined the. ground around, but put up no other bird. 

 The ground was perfectly bare, so that no Other bird could 

 conceal itself. Now, I would like lo know it any of your 

 readers have seen any similar ease of a quail being killed 

 by fright. To satisfy 'your readers, I should say that I had 

 the bird picked, but could not find any wound or mark 

 whatever. I regret to say our birds have commenced to 

 travel. I hope since I will lose mine that you will per- 

 suade some one North to send me. some, to take their place. 



Bed neck ducks have made their appearance, and I saw 

 some very fine that had been shot at Hunting Creek, just 

 beyond Alexandria. I regret to say that the big guns 

 (shooting from one to three pounds of shot) are increasing 

 rapidly every year, and unless our laws are enforced our 

 duck shooting will be ruined in a few years. With a little 

 unity and determination on the part of the various shoot- 

 ing 'clubs of Maryland, Virginia, aud the District of Co- 

 lumbia. 1 think that these big guns could be exterminated. 



Mr. Howard, of the. Engl ish Legation went shooting this 

 morning at Marlborough Point on the Richmond and 

 Fredericksburg Railroad. He ought to have good sport, 

 as I know of no better place for quad, or for bar shooting 

 for mallard ducks. 



Wild geese have been going South in vast numbers for 

 the last ten days. Canvas backs have not as yet made their 

 appearance, but will in all probability come down at the 

 next full of the moon. 



More plover have been killed this year than for a num- 

 per of years back. The best shooting has been on the 

 Eastern Branch, near the vicinity of Benliiug's Bridge, 

 where, in addition, there will be found plenty of mallard, 

 sprigtail, and teal ducks. Ortolan (rail) are still abundant 

 or at least were so two days ago. 



To your numerous readers I should say, that the veteran 

 sportsman of the Chesapeake, W. W- Levy, is a resident 

 of this city. I know of no belter ducker than he is, and 

 1 earnestly hope that lie will soon get his knowledge iu 

 print, for'we have no one, I am sure, who is as well posted 

 on water fowd shooting as he is. 



I learn that Dr. Gander's setter Buby (Laverack) had a 

 fine litter a few day:: ago. Duke. 



— ♦•♦■ 



A WEEK AT BLOOMING GROVE PARK. 



A CERTAIN amount of exercise is essential to good 

 health. Labor of some sort must be performed by 

 all who would preserve the. body and mind in a satisfactory 

 condition. To obtain the means of support, we labor; to 

 retain health we must exercise the body. Of amusements 

 the city man has an infinite variety, but although every 

 taste may be gratified, and the mind cultivated, muscular 

 exercise may he neglected. 



It is in the country that we find occupations which com- 

 bine the exercise of mental and bodily faculties in perfec- 

 tion, and in field sports, especially in hunting and iishing, 

 which sport require the highest combinations of skill and 

 physical endurance, are to be found the most rational en- 

 joyments, which never pall from youth to old age. 



Budjell, in the Spectator, describes a day's hunting with 

 Sir Boger De Coverly, who, when too old to follow the 

 hounds after foxes, turned his attention to hunting hares 

 with a pack whose voices were tuned lo a certain bh-nding 

 of chords so as to produce perfect harmony when in full 

 cry. He was known to have returned a dog which had 

 been sent to him as a gift because he had a bass voice, and 

 he needed, as he said, a tenor. 



Instead of killing poor puss, the huntsman throws down 

 his pole before the dogs who have overtaken the hare, and Sir 

 Roger dismounts and takes her carefully up to he turned into 

 his orchard. Such self-denial would uot be expected here, 

 where the number of heads of game is often the principal 

 object of the hunt. A similar sport has been followed at 

 Blooming Grove Park, wlnue native deer are driven into 

 the lakes and captured alive us additional stock for the 

 breediug park. 



National conventions which will make the enforcement 

 of the game laws possible in any part of the country, and 

 sportsmen's associations, will do much lo promote a taste 

 for the enjoyments of the chose. 



Base ball matches and university boat races are well 

 enough for the development, of muscle, hut lacking in all 

 that lends a charm lo country sports. 



Perhaps a few notes from Blooming Ch'ove BlSj < ■ >■ 

 illustrate the foregoing. Our party of four— myself, wife, 

 nurse and child— just, filled the park phffiton, with .lot:, tin- 

 driver, and a trunk on the box. Leaving Williamson's 

 hotel at Lackawaxen, at 2 P. M., the ride was delightful, 

 as basking in the warmth of an October sun we passed 

 over the hills through roads overhung with Autumn foliage 

 of brightest colors, orange chestnut, red and yellow maples, 

 poplars and pines in their deep green. In sport, we Snatched 

 handfuls of leaves from branches that brushed the carriage 

 as we passed. Over deep brooks, where in June we wiled 

 the trout from their hiding places, we dasli on. A par- 

 tridge startled from the roadside tops the underbrush and 

 skims away. Pigeons are flying to their roosting places 

 with a great rustling of wings' and the hopes of our sports- 

 men are excited by visions of the tramp to-morrow. At 

 the club house our friends are awaiting us with good cheer, 

 and the ladies (our park is for ladies as well as sportsmen) 

 compare notes and bestow themselves and their impedi- 

 menta in their rooms. 



After a dinner of deliciously cooked game, the evening 

 is spent around the spacious hearth, and the prospects for 



