FOREST AND STREAM 



275 



have much to do -with the size and development of the 

 birds! for hevond question there is a striking difference in 

 them. But this is Becoming along winded afl tele, and, 

 for fear you might rt-pu.! i:.i r, it, is most respectfully closed. 

 ii. 187* J- n. B. 



-»<«- 



BUCK FEVER. 



WE had just pitched our camp, Tom. Hank. Ed., and 

 I, on a headland running out into Little Tapper 

 Take, which lies in that section of the Adirondack!! be- 

 tween the Racquette Lake ami the Cold River Mouti 

 We had not seen a deer as yet, and many were the boasts 

 and bets as to who would shoot the first. Our guides had 

 told us that all novicesupon seeing their fir?! deer had what 

 is known as the "buck fever/' They described it as a reel- 

 ing of great "goneness." In fact, a becoming so debilitated 

 as Hot to be able to hold a gun. Of course /had no fear. 



Our morning Tom set all our hearts jumping by saying, 

 "Well boys, we have trot to shoot a big buck to-night, or 

 starve, one or t'other." All was commotion in camp, get- 

 ting readv, cleaning guns, preparing cartridges, and fixing 

 "jacks;" a jack, by the way, being a small box, made of 

 birch hark,' with one side open, and containing two candles. 

 This is placed in the bow of the canoe. On hearing a deer 

 feeding ill the lily pads, the candles are quickly lighted, 

 and the auimai, fascinated or bewildered by the glare, 

 immoveable. The least noise and he is gone like a 

 flash, How we prayed for a dark uighl, and that it would 

 not rain or blow. At last it came. The darkness settled 

 down upon us thick and close. Not a lent' stirred, every- 

 thing seemed asleep; even the frogs had stopped croaking 

 as if to listen . But despite the seeming sleep of all things. 

 we knew that out there in the night were many red deer, 

 that, with uplifted heads were scenting the evening air, 

 and whose sharp ears were strained for the slightest sound. 

 In a whisper Tom says, "are you ready boys?" (Our 

 watches indicated ten o'clock.) "Yes," is the answer, and 

 we go softly to our canoes aud are soon being paddled 

 swiltly across the lake. We take Smith's Inlet, and Hank 

 and F'd., Hock Pond. Wedging myself in the narrow bow 

 of the canoe, we say "good hick," and soon are lost lo 

 each other's sight in I lie thick gloom. The lake is soon 

 crossed and wc reach the inlet. With a whispered word 

 of caution from Tom, I cock my breech loader, and set 

 my teeth to stop the heating of" my heart, for the least 

 noise now, (if the deer has ever been shot at before) the 

 dropping of gun or paddle, would banish all hope of get- 

 ting a shot athim. The inlet is three miles long andlen 

 yards wide, with pads nearly filling the whole stream. 

 Through this we must go silently as the flight of a bird. 

 Straining our eyes through the fog, and with all our senses 

 alert, we creep on like some huge serpent. A shake of the 

 boat by Tom warns me to listen. Splash! splash! splash! 

 and then nil is still. Willi trembling hands the candies are 

 lighted and turned toward the sound. The trunks of the 

 trees and the bushes look like spectres, witlHhe fog setting 

 around them like thin mantles. Many shapes, weird anil 

 grotesque, pass through the avenue of light. But regard- 

 less of all these, my eves (having become accustomed to 

 the light) are riveted on a deer, standing, looking blindly at 

 us, and with the sight t am struck Wtft tlie palsy! "To-m," 

 I gasped, '•shall I aim at his heart V" "Yes," whispered 

 Tom. Then a long silence. "Why don't you shoot?" "I 

 am ir- going to," I said. Then another long interval of 

 silence. "Tom," I queried, "there is something the m-niat- 

 ter with the lock; I can't pull the t-irigger." "Don't get 

 nervous," whispers Tom, and again I point my gun and try- 

 to pull the trigger. The muzzle points alternately at the 

 top or bottom of the bushes, but for my life it would 'nt go 

 near the dear. "Shoot," hissed Tom. 1 make a desperate 

 pull, and the gun goes off. Wondeis upon wonders! the 

 deer had never moved! There he stood, still as a statue. 

 "Another cartridge," says Tom, "and tire lower." 



Once more I aim and 'the gun goes oil'. Mira 

 there he stands! I am all of a cold, clammy sweat, and my 

 heart nearly pushes me out of the boat. 



"Tom," I gasped, "is he dead?" "Load again and shoot 

 low," is all the answer 1 get. What cm be the matter with 

 the gun!' 1 can't find the hole to put the cartridge in. 

 Once again I aim— bang! The bullet strikes the water two 

 fee! in front of the deer and splashes it all over him. With 

 a snort like a wild horse aud a bound like a rocket, he is 

 gone. Holding on to the sides of the boat to steady my- 

 self ("for I felt cold, and the boat never was so cranky be- 

 fore) I said: "T-Tom, what in-made that deerstand s-siillso 

 hmgv" He is a voting one, and has never been shot at 

 before, and was stupefied by the light," is the answer Of 

 Tom. "I was as cool as could be, was'nt I?" 



"Yes." 



"1 sat still as a statue did'nt I?" 



"Yes.' 



'1 guess it was bectmse I am not used to night shooting- 

 thai, f did'nt hit him, don't you think so?" 



"Yes." 



"Well," I answered, "I am glad to hear it, for if I did 

 miss him so many times, I had much rather have that told 

 than to have it said thai I had the fever." Picking up my 

 gun with a steady hand I siini at. different object:-, all the 

 u hile feeling confident of not missing the next shot. Tom 

 said we couhi'nt see or hear a deer in a mile yet, if 

 we did at all. So I calm myself and enjoy the wilderness 

 aud solitude. More than a mile have we gone aud no 

 sound save 



"The waters leap and gush, 

 O'er ctinuudleu roek mid broken bush,' '" 

 when snap! my heart bumps as if trying to get out. And 

 hark! splash! splash! splash! just to our right/and not more 

 than six or eight rods off. Buck glides ilie boat, and the 

 prow is turned toward the noise: "Quick!" says Tom, 

 "he's a big one," and the light Hashes out to the shore. 

 No unsophisticated deer now. Not ten rods off. with head 

 thrown up and eyes like two burning coals, stood a buck, 

 (seven years old, Tom said) the glittering of his tawtL} hide 

 in the bright light, the sombre woods behind, the shining 

 water in front, aud all shut in by deep darkness. One 

 awakening from a dream ami seeing the picture, might 

 have fancied the noble animal to have been chosen by ihe 

 great god Pan, from out all the wild woods, io be monarch, 

 and was now being crowned by tire. I saw all in a. second. 

 "Aim low," said Tom land his voice trenibicdt and again I 

 am palsied! 



"Shoot for sake, right between the shoulders," 



"Yes," came to my lips, but it never left them. 



Clutching my gun, aud aiming just Where Tom told me 

 to, at oue of the bucks — for somehow I saw three or four 

 now — the gun went off with a roar like a young eaanoti. 



Then with all my inner man struggling to get out, I drop- 

 ped the weapon,' and seizing ipy knife felted to Tom to 

 put ms ashore. Being near if, I made a wild leap, and 

 landed in three feet of mud and a foot of water. Through 

 , .wed for the bushes, I had a presentment I 

 should find the buck somewhere. 



"Quick, quick, Tom," I shouted, he will get away," 



"I guess he will," said Tom; and then slopping and look- 

 ing af him out, of one eye (for the other was full of mud) 1 

 saw him, by the light 'of the jack, cutting out a quid of 

 oil i i. ii'otn a very large plug. 



''Tom," I roarcd/'thisis awful— it's dreadful! ThaUleer 

 may be seeking some place to die in, and may be suffering. 

 I should not lie a bit surprised if he was crawling through 

 the bttshes this vcrv minute, trying to get away from us."_ 



"1 s'nould'nt wonder," said Tom— and he said or did 

 nothing more. 



Then it struck me that possibly I had missed again, and 

 with the conviction came silence. Not a word did I 

 answer to Tom's quiet encouragement, "You'll hit him 

 next time!" Silently I was borne home, silently I crept 

 under my little blanket, and pulled it over my head. But 

 I had this consolation, that outweighed all my disappoint- 

 ment; if I did'nt shoot a deer, I hacl'nt Ihe "buck fever." for 

 Dk. L.Rcoo. 

 -».«- 



RICE LAKE. 



FOR a long time we had heard from Indians and trap- 

 pers that, back in the wilderness, a few miles from 

 the iron pathwavjthat traverses this country, was a vast 

 lake in which green wild lice grew, and to which in the 

 Fall ducks and geese iu countless myriads resorted to feed. 

 Putting our light boat and Carlo, the prince of retrievers. 

 and a curly headed veteran on the train, we moved away, 

 and in an "hour were lauded at Pillager Station on the 

 Northern Pacific Railroad. 



A team and driver that were to meet us here, were not on 

 hand, so this necessitated a four-mile walk in quest, of Ihe 

 aforesaid drivel, who was toiind enjoying his dinner in his 

 comfortable farm house on the hanks of the most beauti- 

 ful stream in the Slate— the Crow-Wing. True Moore's, 

 for that, is his name, was never known to let any on. 

 his house hungry, and as ihe sharp walk had given us good 

 appetites, we needed no second invitation lo dinner, io 

 which we did full justice. This over, a spanking team 

 hitched lo an express wagon was driven to the door, so we 

 got iu while True turned his pack of dogs loose, and soon 

 WetC off over the prairie at about, the gait Ihe team struck 

 that run awav with "Little Breeches." Finally the wild 

 driver checked his team, and bringiug them to a sober trot, 

 drove quietly along till we reached Pillager again, w here 

 we carefully" loaded our boat, tent, baggage, &<:., in the 

 waggon, anil were off for Rice Lake. 



As' we walked along, the dogs racing about here and 

 there, we were advised to look out for game, and soon the 

 yelp of Phil, a handsome specimen of a wood spaniel, put us 

 iin theater! as he dashed into a poplar thicket. Amoment 

 and we found ourselves right among a pack of ruffed grouse 

 that kept every gun in the party busy for a few moments. 

 Picking up eight of these handsome birds we moved along, 

 and found another small flock a half mile further on, aud 

 with them two of those elegant but stupid birds, called 

 Ihe Canada. or spruce grouse."" These grouse will stay slock 

 si ill on a tree and almost allow one to take them by hand. 

 Moore assured us that, he had seen an Indian catch them on 

 trees with a horse-hair noose, fixed to a small pole. We 

 Opened one of them aud found its crop full of pine needles. 

 Four mile.-, over aud we stopped at the outlet, of the lake. 

 A lumber shanty that stood on the bank of Ihe stream 

 was soon eleaned'out, a fire started, the horses attended to. 

 and after a lunch, the boat was launched and slaried up 

 the out let, two of us on the bank and two iu the boat. 



A half mile of paddling aud we entered the lake, or 

 rather rice field, for wc could not sec any water save the 

 narrow stream we were pushing our boat in. At. the first 

 report of the gun, (tired at a si ray mallard which got up iu 

 a hurry and came down again iu like fashion,) the mallards 

 and leal arose with a noise like thunder all around us aud 

 all over the rice fields as far as we could see, and for two 



,.;.,- , fast as we could keep the breech loaders going, 

 we had rare sport, while our friends on shore kept up a 

 fusilade, and assisted by their dogs, made a good bag. 

 Carried away by the excitement, we did not notice where 

 we were going.'so when it grew dark found that we were 

 unahle to fiud Our way out of the rice;' and to add to our 

 comfort a polling shower, which drenched us through aud 

 through, began to pour down. For two long hours we 

 pushed mid dragged the boat through and over the tangled 

 masses of rice stalks, vainly seeking for the outlet or some 

 familiar headland, until we began to think we should have 

 to spend the night afloat. 



"It is very tedious," as the \ r eteran sportsman iu the bow 

 observed as he turned around aud wiped the rain drops 

 from his grizzly moustache, gazing ai'ouud to see if he 

 could discover the location of the outlet. 



The rain came thicker aud faster, the black clouds were 

 gathering overhead, the rice field seemed lo grow denser 

 and denser, and our tired muscles almost refused io do 

 their duty, when the welcome report of a gnu, iu the wil- 

 lows on shore, fired by one of our party, Who, alarmed at 

 our loug absence, had started to find us, gave us the direc- 

 tion; SO driving the paddle into the sedge with a vengeance 

 we surged the light boat through ami over the rice, and, 

 finally, wet through and dropping with perspiration, we 

 struck Ihe outlet aud floated down to camp, glad enough 

 to see the bright fire aud rude shelter again. 



leaning his breech loader by the fire was a new comer. 

 a duck shooter and au old acquaintance, who, belated iu 

 the woods, had seen our camp fire and had joined us. He 

 was a stalwart Englishman, dressed iu "old country" sport- 

 ing suit, a man of means and education, one who had 

 Wisely left the circumscribed limits of his boyhood's home, 

 lo seek for himself and family a home iu Minnesota, where 

 lie can have all the laud he wants aud all the sport, he has 

 time to allele! to. 



The evening was spent in camp drying our clothes, clean- 

 ing guns and listening to stories of Lngii.-h sport, well told, 

 and Moore's tales of rollicking fun among the Indians long- 

 years ago, and wild adventures on the prairie when he was 

 "younger than he is now, and "took a hand" iu all the fun 

 "and frolic that was goiug on. He told us how with a 

 "waggon load of preachers" he and Paul Beaulieu chased a 

 bear sue miles over the prairie and killed him at last with a 

 shot gun, jumping out and running alongside the panting 

 beast^ while Ids unhappy passengers, pitched out of the 



wagon long miles behind, were not in sight. He. told us 

 also of a huge moose stopping his team on the Leech Lake 

 road, and playing about the affrighted horses like a colt till 

 lie had to get out of his waggon" and drive the ungainly 

 animal off with his whip. So passed the pleasant hours 



awa_\ as hours in camp usually pass, and we em I »hl 



our blankets aud dreamed of the sport at daylight in the 

 morning. 



The fog was just rising from the swampy rice field when 

 we were all again astir; the ducks were iu swarms, and the 

 ringing echoes 01 the fasl shooting guns sounded far and 

 wide through ihe dim woods. "Rapid was the shooting, 

 plenty were the ducks and heavy was the bag we made. 

 May we be. there again some pleasant rooming with the 

 same good fellows, is the heartfelt wish of Havu.axd. 

 ♦*♦■ 



AN IDLE IDYL. 



re Ihe body 

 s tartoed Ihe 

 •ks the spot 



'Resnrj 



s giveu him 



tome in Ihe 



that he has 



VIEWING the long hue of flat, beach lapped by the 

 ocean grim, With the constant liability of tangible 



terra fir ma to be submerged by the vast preponderance of 

 fluid, 'one cannot but be impressed with the precariousness 

 of mundane probation. Mo sof our change- 



ful existence are the ever shifting hills of sand that dot 

 these arid salt fields. There is something almost super- 

 natural in the wild surging of the breakers; aud in the 

 commotion of the white-caps afar out, now foaming 

 and madly careering, and then gradually lulling into 

 gentle placid Whisperings. Here is continuity with a ven- 

 geance, and without parallel. 



Sitting here in the mellow Autumnal sunshine, the Utile 

 sand crabs peer forth from their myriad perforations in the 

 earth, purblind, bald, and unaware of constituting a link 

 iu the great Darwinian chain. Snipe scurry along the 

 beach and rapaciously snap up and gobble the I 

 and all unconscious mollusks. Fish hawks emerge from the 

 briny deep with "bunkers" iu their cruel claws. The 

 thatched roof of a wrecker's hu! juts above a sugar loaf 

 knoll. It is covered with dried sea weed, and the dooi it 

 propped tipwilh a whale's jaw. Around the Point, toward 

 the Bay, two huge reels for drying seines loom up like 

 spectres, and a, man winding inside of one, looks iu the 

 grey twilight like a restless spider. 



One day Ihe remorseless waves washed asl 

 of a sailor, a fair youth. On his right arm v 

 name of "Jacob West." A. simple cross m 

 where he was laid to rest, and Ihe sea sings 



"Ah! there is Dogberry, (this soubriquet v 

 in a Pickwickian spirin come to drive me 

 water cart. This worthy of five decades aye 

 been "once to meeting and twice to mill," and is in all re- 

 spects an anomalous character. He "linkers" around the 

 place. He states, as ihe emaciated equine amble-, ; 

 along, that when he is "to hum" he wears better raiment, 

 that he is the last of his race, and has "nigh twelve hun- 

 dred dollars iu bonds and a puny morlagage." 1 

 politics, having served in the capacity of town constable, 

 Though much given to practical jokes and dismal faceliic, 

 he yet has a heart for any fate. After his daily toil he 

 explains the "Miracle of the Loaves and Pishes" 

 uncouth sea-farers, and he loves lo dwell upon the beatific 

 "Parable of the Lily." He mournfully tells of the dissolu- 

 tion of his first wife. Said he, proudly, "1 planted Marier 

 in style, paid forty dollars for a mahogany eoflin with steel 

 lacks. Poor Manor' she is belter off, for she certiugly was 

 terrible pernicotty." 



Dogberry came io grief at last. He looked upon N. L. 

 rum when it, was "rosy," and betook himself to Uncle 

 Zebedee Folsoms' oyster acre and poached, otherwise 

 dredged up, some sue'eulent bivalves, wasapprehei 

 lined. After this shadow fell upon him, his v . 

 psalms were heard no more, and presently he slunk away 

 10 his native heath, quite extinguished. 



There is a grateful live and let live air nbout the house- 

 hold environs. Two rabbits burrow iu amity in a snug 

 hutch under Ihe wide piazza, and a jocund ape, suspended 

 from a friendly cave, by his "aneeodote," grins and chatters, 

 Ihe while, munching almonds which he has purloined. Iu 

 Ihe calm forenoons an oIimi!\ Bal and shepherd d 1 

 npo.i ihe wharf, alternating iu the care of seven new little 

 shepherds. Drift wood from wintry wrecks forms the 

 kitchen steps, aud against ihem wallow several plump, 

 pink pi"-*, accompanied by Iheir ample maternal, rooting 

 complacently, as if the days of her tiny offspring wen- not 

 numbered. Happily she id ignorant of a Christmas picture 

 of his pig-ship embalmed in Summer-savory aud bristling 

 with cloves. A sportive goat, prone to ignobly assail de- 

 fenceless in funis, is now and again incarcerated in a 

 chicken coop, in order to preserve intact from its ruthless 



ith unnumbered p 



a soggy beaver, or rusty 

 the cows answer to their 

 alacrity to the lacteal disr. 

 ed salt grass all day ' 



in their patient eyes that expn 



sumptuousness ol a 

 The reshwus block, 

 ship, crackle-; tune 

 amid hissing billow 

 leaguered erafl-. I. 

 eons aud beams lot 

 embers. The eat pi 

 hand-irons glitter, vi 

 hick is b 



ring apparel. lie considers 



boot a tantalizing tidbit. Then 

 names and submit, wilh cheerful 

 L'usatioii, after browsing the stuaj- 



They seem to have a far off look 



a wish for pastures new < 

 „jadisej Oh! tue iuafi 



k log fire on a chilly afternoi n ! 

 veil from the hull of an ill fated 

 ,-; disclosing no horrors ol death 

 md conjuring up no vision . 

 ; iron bolts that held the stauneh- 

 er. glow aud seetiie in the white 

 on the holder by the jamb, and the 

 r witii the polished "reflector" in 

 .. .^beaten loaf. A chicken cooking 

 on a spit is basted with drawn butler, and wilh the addi- 

 tion of roast potatoes, who shall say that this is not a 

 royal repast? . 



"Now the rii'ored weather-beaten sea dogs circle near tin- 

 blaze and "draw Ihe long bow." The "younkers" roast 

 clams in the ashes, and with protruding eves aud mouth 

 agape listen to the terrors of the main. 



"Dare we penetrate to Ihe garret, where are Stowed away 

 rimey nautical appurtenances. A suggestion of speanninl 

 and pennyroyal pervades it, and festoons ot shrunken pep- 

 pers garnish the lime-stained walls. There are veteran 

 rifles, ■deerepid shot guns and unwieldly fowling pieces. 

 There are trophies- of gunning excursions Long upon the 

 door, wings of ph., . md yellow hammer, and 



claws anufsharp nails of Ihe kingfisher. From my Window 

 may be seen lumber, ice and oyster barges Listlessly gliding 

 by,"and schools of plethoric porpoises floating with the tide. 

 Happening lo awaken at night, one can watch the eel bonis 

 shoof, out, 'like will-o' ihe-wisp, while the light hou.-e lantel - 



WBil'd beacou in the blackness. 

 " Fin Mand, Yet. ISM. SakajH Goodyear. 



