FOREST AND STREAM* 



259 



tangled pine tree, as if in this quiet nook seeking rest from 

 long-continued battle against time and tera)i.6§t, 



We wore all as hungry as hawks, and made a tight royal 

 feast. The fish was cooked in real woodcraft fashion, arid 

 were we an exhibition jury on that occasion, land-locked 

 salmon would stand 8 capital chance of honorable mention 

 for "delicious flavor." A 'little game," in which all took 

 a hand, followed in duo course, and of said little game, I 

 must say, our noble red men showed a knowledge, which, I 

 have no doubt, it' oCOftSiou reipiired, could lie displayed 

 even to an oriental extent. With sung and story we kept 

 it up until the "wellness" of Nicholas, as manifested in the 

 increasing fullness of his narratives, and the miscellane- 

 ously loose manner in which another person's little dogs 

 wagged their tails in fiont, gave i In- signal for hammock. 



Among friend Ned's many little peculiarities was an 

 alarming predisposition to cramps, which could only be 

 subdued by arcr.uin remedy. A violent attack came on 

 at an admirable e-uiv hour next morning, ju$l about day- 

 break. The ftJ6S !,,• made looking for h^ particular medi- 

 citnj soon drove sleep from the camp, lie would havo US 

 also use H as a preventive. Growls and objurgations to 

 :-!■_■ 1 1 i t v we did not then, at least, require Ihe treat ineiu, his 

 tertder solicitude lor our welfare would not let him under- 

 stand. His henchman, Peter, loo, by this time for! itied 

 against all danger from "cramps," so joined in the shout of 

 "tickets" that even "Old Niek" had to turn out from In- 

 biicbcn hark couch, though he remarked he was "a power- 

 ful sound sleeper." With a shake and a stretch, toilets 

 were complete, and all were ready for breakfast. The 

 amount of provisions demolished at that meal rendered it 

 absolutely necessary to put in force the adage, "After 

 breakfast rest a while." It was not safe to venture imme- 

 diately where there was a possibility of slipping. So plac- 

 ing a bottle as a mark some twenty "yards off, and lighting 

 our pipes, we went in for a little pistol practice. After a 

 half an hour's shooting the target remained in tact, though 

 the trees for a circuit of fifteeu feet showed evidence of 

 our work, and we came to the conclusion that it was a pity 

 to injure sueh a bottle after the noble defence it had made, 

 'and letting it remain in its glory, the subject of pistol 

 sharp-shooting was by mutual consent allowed to drop. 



We now started for the lake, hut on arrival there found 

 ii as smooth as a mirror; not a ripple ruffled its elassy sur- 

 taer. In the still air above here and there soared a fish- 

 hawk, and now and then came one down with whirring, 

 arrow like dash on its prey beneath, and floated lazily olf 

 with it to the shore. These, and an occasional loon, were 

 Ihe only objects to break the morning quiet of (he scene. 

 Fishing for the present looked of little use. However, 

 lather than be idle, Ned and I determined to make a cir- 

 cuit of the lake, and try what trolling would do. Charlie 

 selected a spit of rock a little out' from t ho shore to lish 

 from, and having left him perched there, we went on our 

 way. Our success at trolling was very poor. An occa- 

 sional shot at a loou did not help in the slightest to increase 

 the amount of our game, though unexpectedly the last shot 

 we devoted to the black-headed diving fou'l, afforded us 

 ti bit of amusement I bat well repaid for all the powder and 

 shot we had wasted on them. Not far from the promon- 

 tory that separated us from the spot where we left Charlie, 

 we espied a solitary loon, banged at him, and down of 

 course he went, but not on the "never to rise any more" 

 plan, lor just as we wero rounding the point, we heard his 

 infernal screech as he again came to the surface, and at the 

 same moment, to our utter astonishment, up went Charlie's 

 arms in the air, and Hop! went he into the lake. Wo im- 

 mediately pulled to his assistance, helped him ashore, and 

 eudesvortd to get an explanation of the mishap, lleshonk 

 himself repeatedly, but appeared totally regardless of our 

 questions, and for Borne moments looked with a steadfast 

 gaze on the water. "Well, 1 thought it was the devil," at 

 hist escaped his lips. The mystery was solved. The roars 

 of laughter that followed this short, speech were enough to 

 exorcise all the evil spirits, if any there were, in that neigh- 

 borhood. It was our "devil" of a loon that had done the 

 trick. Master Charlie, finding fishing no go. bad allowed 

 himself to drop into adelieious little reverie, half in thought, 

 half in easy enjoyment of the scene around, when Ids 

 pensive lucubrations were so uncermoniously disturbed by 

 the unexpected pooping up, just under him, of the diver's 

 ugly head, accompanied by that terrific scream. 



No breeze yet spiinging up, we employed our enforced 

 idleness in going about the lake. It is much of the same 

 character as Duck, but of great extent, and a bolder class 

 of scenery, to which is the picturesque addition of high 

 wooded hills rolling far away in the distant background. 



liv ihe afternoon things got more lively, and soon we 

 had our hands full of exciting business. Wis were into it 

 up to the handle— chock-full of occupation unlit almost 

 dusk. The lish took lively and most of them were game to 

 the back bone, especially one splendid fellow that after a 

 mairniticcnt fight, that lasted, I am sure, quite twenty min- 

 utes, finally yielded himself captive to the noble Ned. 



Our third day was good from beginning toend.and when 

 next morning we had to pack up our traps for home, it was 

 witli no .small regret we te!t that imperious business would 

 not permit a longer stay. On our return to the "Hub" we 

 did go for Fred C., not for his "skulp" though, but 'to dine 

 that worthy Waltonian at Parker's, where, with tine.- ,,, 

 less exaggeration, we recounted the incidents of our trip, 

 and then separated with the unanimous verdict to mark 

 henceforth in our lists ihe Scuoodics as in every way a 

 "good" place. Thomas E. Lambert: 



«»«- 



FOr forest and scream. 

 A WILD GOOSE CHASE. 



BY FEED, 



AITIOPOS to the many fabulous stories related of suc- 

 i' In! limiting and fishing excursions, I propose to 

 relate one, o/Ve-tf/-*/, giving the other side of the question, 

 Not that I wish it to be considered a fair sample of my 

 hunting tours, as I have a pardonable pride in that respect, 

 but merely to show what may sometimes occur to ex- 

 perienced sportsmen. The neophyte, ou hearing the won- 

 derful exploits of veteran sports, often minks be has but to 

 go forth.lo see and conquer. He shoulders his gun proudly 

 and marches forth, wlieu lo ! Ihe Maine, for some unac- 

 countable reason, seems wild, or at all events, fails 10 come 

 property to bag. At the sudden "whirr" of a quail or 

 grouse, his gun goes oil prematurely, and the bird, with the 

 greatest audacity, continues to sail away. Everything goes 

 wrong,- the bird rises before he is ready, and so on with an 

 innumerable string of hindrances, until he linds that to ac- 

 complish all the feats of shooting, one needs a little ex- 



perience. But, I will proceed on my own personal ex- 

 perience. I had heard frequently of the immense numbers 

 of wild geese and other large game in the Northern part of 

 Wisconsin, and determined at no distant period to take a 

 trip Northward. This was at, an early si aire of niv sporting 

 career, and though I was inexperienced, I felt the impulse 

 Strong within me to make my "mark" among sportsmen, 

 as an unerring shot, etc. My desire to go to this Northern 

 Eldorado was augmented by the following note from a 

 friend at that point:— 



Friend F , I shall expect you up here in a few days 



to help diminish the game of this vicinity. Wild geese are 

 abundant, and partridges, (/. e. ruffed grouse,) also. Come 

 as soOn as possible. ~ Your.-, M. 



I answered lhat I would be on baud, and a few days 

 afterward was en route for the shoot inn Melds. Arrived and 

 received a cordial welcome from my friend, who replied to 

 my anxious enquiries regarding (ho game, thai it was not 

 quite so pleuly as before, but we might perhaps gel a lew 

 geese at a lake three miles Westward. We therefore "agreed to 

 start for the lake the next morning in season to arrive there 

 at daylight. If my dreams were intermingled with visions 

 of scores of wild geese and mallards, it was not a rare oc- 

 currence, and at an early hour We started for the scene of 

 carnage. Daylight was just beginning to appear as Ihe 

 lake was reached, and sealing ourselves near its margin, 

 beneath some trees, we awaited further developments. As 

 ihe sky grew lighter the lake was eagerly scanned for any 

 appearance of geese. All at once my companion touched 

 inv arm and enquired if -I did not see something off East- 

 ward which might be wild geese. Certainly 1 did, now 

 Chat he had called my attention to them, and I observed 

 further, that they were working nearly toward us. "Now 

 lay close," whispered I, and perhaps they may come near 

 enough to obtain a shot. Vain hope. Thev seemed to 

 scent danger and veered to the opposite side. of ihe lake 

 Aly companion wished now to make a detour ami approach 

 them from the opposite side. Daylight had fully dawned 

 now, and I knew it would bo folly to attempt to do 

 this, as wo would lie seeu at once. During this lime the 

 geese were holding an animated conversation, and decided 

 the matter for. us by rising enmasss and coming directly 

 toward us. Over they came, and through the overhanging 

 branches crashed three loads of B. B. ou deadly purpose in- 

 tent. But the boughs had prevented accurate aim, and not 

 a leather rewarded our shots. Rather discouraging, but 

 "better luck nex time," thought we, and passed ihe inter- 

 vening space between this and noon by banging a few 

 ducks. At midday, while eating luncheon, live individuals 

 of Ihe variety awscr come slowly sailing and plunged 

 into the lake, and titter a reconnoifer swam to the shore 

 and began eating the small slells which lined tub beach. 

 These live were reiuforced by three larger flocks, and they 

 first swam a short, distance out to keep "vigil." How 

 stupid we thought ourselves, for right lo Ihe left of these 

 wary fellows were two excellent hiding places, where we 

 should be now to get a shot. Dad we been at these places, 

 (which were made by some careful hand at easy shooting 

 distance from Ihe lake's margin,) we would doubtless havV. 

 bagged four or live. I carefully drew away from my place 

 of concealment and tried the pot hunters melho.l, viz; — 

 Sneaked along carefully toward the game, now crawling 

 and concealing myself by the bushes to secure u shot as 

 they lay upon the water. I humbled myself to the dust, 

 literally, but the wary birds saw me and soared aw ay. 

 Now, 1 thought, we shall be certain of it fair show id' game 

 to-morrow, for we knew their lime of coming, their feed- 

 ing grounds, and all Seemed propitious for good luck. Aly 

 friend and myself thought it best to make a "blind" alitlie 

 nearer the shore, of brush and debris, made to Ionic as 

 natural as possible by cutting long brush and sticking them 

 in front of our blind. We then' stalled for home, conli- 

 demly expecting a large Oag of game on the next day. Mi 

 did not accompany me the second day, and I had for com- 

 panion another valued friend, C, an enthusiastic sports- 

 man and jolly fellow. As we did not arise in time lor the 

 morning flight, we prepared to be in season for the midday 

 (light, and were at the lake at eleven o'clock, A. M. I eu- 

 sconsed myself in the hiding place I had built the day 

 before, and C. occupied one of the "holes." Shortly a lew- 

 deep "kronks" were heard, and a flock of twenty geese ap- 

 peared off ou the Southern horizon, and alter making a 

 circuit of the lake, lit in its very center. Others soon ar- 

 rived, and the air seetued laden with their ciamor. But 1 

 uoliced that all eyed with suspicion my newly-built blind, 

 and would not approach within shooting distance. Pres- 

 ently they began to move oil' slowly and finally brought up 

 at the opposite shore, where I hey waddled about for a short, 

 time, and llien, apparently, discovering something unusual 

 as they lifted their necks, and after a succession of calls, 

 all arose and betook themselves away and soon were lost lo 

 sight over the hill tops. Jly friend C. arose from his posi- 

 tion and came forward, wondering, the same as myself, 

 what frightened the geese. The cause ol this soou ap- 

 peared, however, in the form of a hunter, bearing iu his 

 baud a combined rifle and shot gun. He was dressed in 

 the usual hunter's costume, from the tanned moccasins 1.0 

 the otter el cc(eran, which go to make up the suit ot a back- 

 woodsman, Alter passing the usual salutation* he inquired 

 if we were hunting geese, to which I replied that we were. 

 lie then asked "who built the brush house there." "1 

 built it yesterday, to get a good shot at the gee>e," said I to 

 this euquiry. The stranger curled his lip with a scarcely 

 perceptible sneer as he asked if we thought they wero "sueh 

 tarnation fools as lo come up to a hut like that," pointing 

 lo my hiding place. I was rather abashed, but told htm I 

 supposed they would. The hunter thereupon gave me 

 some reasonable advice, and after au interesting that with 

 him, (by which I gathered much information,) lie took his 

 leave. No sooner had he disappeared than that "hut" was 

 levelled lo the ground, leaving no trace of ili objectionable 

 features. My pride had by this lime Buffered a consider- 

 able fall, aud 1 inwardly resolved never lo try so foolhardy 

 a plan again. Although il had seemed perfection itself on 

 the day before, 1 now looked on it as the source of all my 

 troubles,and I fell cheap euough at my handiwork. "Well, 

 Unit is fixed now," said I to O, "and we will stand a chance 

 to get a few to-morrow." lie assented wiili- a right good 

 will, being no less angry at the "thing," as he called it, than 

 myself. Home we went, empty handed, and to the banter 

 of" our friends, replied thai we would show them some 

 game the next day. B:,t did we? Let's Bee. The next 

 day we started m hue spirits, notwithstanding our previous 

 ill-luck, but determined to B hoW that we would baj 

 as any other sportsman. ItVe discussed the matter tUor- 

 oughly, and contrived signals, etc., which we would use 

 when the birds arrived, and how we were uoi lo lire until 



sure of two or three, at the first, shot, and another with the 

 second. After nearly two hours weary waiting, till patience 

 is nearly exhausted, and forbearance almost ceases to be a 

 virtue, our game was descried, coming! My heart was 

 nearly in my mouth, and I held my breath in' expectation 

 OS I saw them alight fearlessly and boldly approach mefl 

 Now I will let them cluster together and kill three the first 

 shot, was my thought; then cut one. down nicely with the 

 other barrel. Four geese ! That will open the eyes of my 

 friends a little. Alas! Iliad forgotten the good old adage 

 of "counting chickens before they are. hatched," for as I 

 looked up, the horde were again "making their way across 

 the lake. My chances suddenly seemed diminished, and I 

 would be eouleut now with three, or even two. Ou they 

 went, tit times Hinting and splashing about in the water, 

 but coming no nearer to myself oi my friend. An hour 

 passed, and C, tired of the useless waiting, arose and 

 asked if we had not better start for home. Hearing the 

 noise, the flock of sixty or seventy arose, as on the first 

 day. Hying toward us. C. quickly dropped again, and as 

 the Hock passed over my head at perhaps ten rods, gave 

 them both charges. One fell and the rest started upward, 

 so that when they passed over C. they were out of range. 

 Rather hard, was it not, to endure three days' hunting for 

 only one wild goose, and iu a locality, at that, where they 

 were abundant. Talk about the stupidity of this noble 

 game bird, and of killing ten or twenty from a flock at two 

 or three shots en; the birds know what is the trouble. 

 Perhaps a place exists where this can be done, but I have yet 

 lo see ii. Hut may be (he chums and acquaintances did not 

 banter me on my wonderful luck uiilil I wished, (though 

 heaven forbid,) that the wary anser caaadenm did not ex- 

 ist. Hut now I ask for no better sport than wild goose 

 shooting, where the birds are plenty, though on the fore- 

 going excursion il proved a "wild goose chase" that served 

 lo show me in its full force the meaning of the phrase. 



FISHING IN CANADA. 



ElllTOU F0KE3T AND STREAM:— 



In all the Asians and bunting stories published in the FomtsT and 

 Stream, I see no notice taken of the abundant Held, or railier water, to 

 be found in the neighborhood or K ngston, In Canada, or iu the waters 

 thereabouts, and t propose lo give you my experiences. 



One bright morning in September last, I fo.ind myself in the pleasant 

 Hole town of Uelle\ilie, Canada. I had been ordered North by my doctor 

 for rest from literary labors aud so took a flying trip across the lakes. 

 The sun R u< beginning to show his ruddy face over the bills as I walked 

 down the main struct in search of a boat, for I intended liHliing— some- 

 thing I had not attempted for several years. The stores were beginning 

 lo open, and lite was once mine wakening lo the duties of another day. 

 Clear and cool, the air was bracing and invigorating, so that I Meiu ex- 

 cellent trim when I reached the wharf where Captain Jack— not the 

 Mode* Chief, but a sunny-haired little Scotchman-kept boats for 

 hire. For a dollar I secured u boat and a boy lo row it: so we were not 

 long In getting ready, and wero soon out on the hcaaiiful sheet, of water 

 known as the bay of Quinte. A Bliarp pull of two or three miles brought 

 us to a bar where my buy said wc could rind some rock bass— Oswego 

 bant, he called lliem. Jimmy had provided himself with a pole, all 

 crooked aud weather beaten, bavin- on the end a Bliort bit of line, and a 



!>:. rouB hook. As soon as he bad dropped the anchor, Jimmy baited 



hi? line with earth-worms and dropped lhem over the side. 1 bad, before 

 leaving New York, stopped at Ruck's, in Park Kow, and equipped my- 

 self with a good pole, and all the necessary adjuncts: so putting on s 

 hook with a few ^ray feathers ou it, 1 cast my line in the direction of a 

 few rnahes I could sec bobbing up and down in the water, and com- 

 menced to rlsb in good earnest. 



NOIia But those who have escaped from the drudgery of a desk in the 

 city, can reali/.e Ibo pleasure 1 experienced while thus employed. The 

 sou was how quite warm and the haze hud lifted off ttie bay, and re- 

 vealed a beautiful scene. The towns which we had left, appeared to 

 bctler advantage than t had deem. .1 possible, and the BtillhesB was agree- 

 ably broken by the whirr and hum of the steam saw mi IN, as ibey 

 gnawed away at. the logs so plentifully sprinkling the coves and bays. A 

 steamboat bound for Montreal (Wis taking In freight and passengers, and 

 considerable bustle was observable at her wharf. There was no turmoil 

 or deafening iioim- of conmle-s v.-bieU'S. and just in front of me abarc- 

 fooirdjuss m pink calico was driving home the cows from pasture. A 



hickory tree for nut-. I frit happy and mused over the utter change of 

 SCCUo a tew bouts of railroad travel laid accomplished 



Suddenly Jimmy pulled up his line with a jerk, us thongh he was fishing 

 lor whales, and of course found his hook empty. Seeing me smile at his 

 eagerness the boy exclaimed:— 



"1 had a leg lute, and uo mistake. What have you?" he contlnned, lis 

 1 bee-uu to reel in, 



"Oh, I've got nothing. Its a lly; don't you see." 

 "Call them fealhers ally," he retorted. "You won't catch tish witlubat." 



'Well, we'll try il a bit first, and see," I replied, as i prepared for 

 auoiher and more decided cast. 



I'p came Jiu.iny's pole us I spiiUe. and with it a huge perch, with every 

 fin sot in rucre at his capture. But my hue had gone, aud a- ihe fly fell 

 neatly among the rushes, 1 saw a ripple on the water aud down mm 



." ■!'.!.'wb''ri l -.'i'"l'rv:tin>'V.-i' aboj again', and fo'.g-.l i be hoi '.|,d 



my perch catcher, "You've got something 

 quiet, and don't set the bout dancing so; 



I I M 



ICgOod-B 



Kiiongh isas go id as a teat. Is on Old masim, and so finding that tho 



-not I pai iced up an J h.iiie- -linen v pull for home, f spent 



.. fishing after '.hat mil had uo such liiu run uf nick, for it 



■ and fi.i water began lo sei giceij. Fishier l-eing out of 



. 1 got a gun aud gutted altui du..;*- Some day I may tell 



your readers huw 1 faied. 



Gbouue Forbbsxjui; 



