FOREST AND STREAM 
2 
fast at t he Park Pls><- ,/Hotel, where we were warmly wel¬ 
comed by the ger,'.-muost, Air. O. McFarland, ami his ami¬ 
able wile. VY uyd the hotel crowded with summer 
guests, amlrj-aSv^Bouiface” was correspondingly happy. 
As we lu. . / -o r to spare, II. and inyselt. decided to devote 
it to sigh.' ,ceiug. We accordingly engaged a carriage and 
a pairis” ' spirited ponies, driven by a black-muzzled 
‘v. ' and proceeded up the left or east bank of lhe 
Vj u ?issippi. we visited in succession, Bridal Veil Falls, 
. Awn's Leap, Silver Cascade, Sulphur Spring and St. An- 
Jfe thony ; thence over to NieoJIet lslaud, and accross to Min- 
N neapolis, the “beehive” of tile Northwest. St. Anthony’s 
Falls, here turnisnes the most available water-power in the 
world, and among the numerous flouring and lumbering 
mills, and factories of all kiuds, may be seen the largest 
flouring mills iu America. Leaving this busy scene, we 
relurued'down the west bank of the river to the famous 
falls of Minnekaka, where after doing the falls and the 
glen, we do justice to atf excellent dinner. Alt er mingling 
the smoke ol our posi-praudial • cigars with the mists and 
spray of the lulls, we next visit Fort Snelling, situated on 
a high bluff of St. Peter’s Sandstone, near the confluence 
of tue Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. Tile view from 
the old fort is muguifleeut. The bluffs of White Sand¬ 
stone, crowned by tue dark green of Oak leaves and scarlet 
berries of the sumach, with the liver below reflecting' the 
dazzling beams of the declining sun, afford a most pictur¬ 
esque ami charming scene. Descending the bluff, and 
crossing the river in a ferry boat, which is propelled by 
the current, by means of a wire rope stretched across, 
and pulleys, wo uscehd the opposite bluff, aiid return to 
bt. Paul, visiting by tbe way Fountain Cave and a brewery, 
1;he delicious golden beverage being highly enjoyed after 
our somewhat dusty ride. We arrived at the hole! iu lime 
lor supper, nud alter stabling the dogs lor the night, and 
getting our traps together for an early slait in the morning, 
we retired, well satisfied, and much enlightened by our 
day's experience. 
'/Saturday, August \UU .—We arose this morning much 
reflushed, as tue slanting rays of the risiug sun came 
steaming iu through the open windows. "We met, at break¬ 
fast, J. C. 11. and our host, O. MeF., who reported that 
all the arrangements were completed, and every tfiihg O. 
1C. We accordingly proceeded to the depot of the St. 
Paul and Sioux Ci.ty Railroad, where we found a special 
car iu wailing tor us, provided for our party through the 
courtesy of the gentlemanly and popular Superintendent, 
Juo. F. Liueolu, Fsq., who is ever alive to the interests 
and comforts ol' true sportsmen. We left at 7:30 A. Al., 
and ott soon passing through the historical town of Mendo- 
ta, with Fort SucUmg frowning down upon us from the 
heights above. As we are whizzing along the Minnesota 
Paver bottoms we have lime to take an inventory and as¬ 
certain the ■personnel of our,party. First, there is J. C. H., 
whom we Will herealter call “Crip,” the Major Domo of 
the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, in Minne¬ 
sota and Iowa. Next we have O. MeF., familiarly kuown 
as “Mac.” Then there is C. H. L. L., a prominent dealer 
iu cereals, and popularly kuown as “Charley,” and C. S. 
TJ. homily Treasurer, whom we will dub “Cal," all of St. 
Paul J. W. C.., of Ucouomowoc, Wis., whom, for want 
of a belter name we will designate as “Jim," and your sub¬ 
scriber, your humble servaut, of Milwaukee, whom the 
lest ol tue party call “Doc.” But, we must not forget, 
the dogs. There is "Grouse," a large, noble, black and 
white suiter, a son of J. H. Whitman's Grouse. Grouse is 
unfortunately ou three legs, he having had one of his fore¬ 
feet severely bitten iu a “scrimmage.” Then there is 
“Flura," and “Shot,” a pair of kanusome black' and'tan 
Gordon setters. Flora is perfect, except that she has a 
“bobtail,” it having been curtailed by reason of a crook in 
it., and her owner not being partial to the “Black Crook.” 
Next we have “Sport,” a lemon and white* setter, and 
“Major," a red and white Irish setter, and “Dun,” a pure 
liver pointer, an old veteran in the field and nearly bald. 
We arrived at bhakopee at 9:55 A. M., an important 
shipping point on the Anuneso.ta River, at the crossing of 
the Dustings and Dacotah division of the Chicago, Mil¬ 
waukee and bt. Paul Railroad. We here unloaded 
our dogs and traps and put them into a car provided, 
for us uy the latter road, lor we are bound for Glen¬ 
coe, the terminus of this road, about thirty-live miles west¬ 
ward. Wo pass through the thriving towns of Chaska, 
Carver, and Young America, ami arrive at Glencoe at 12:95 
P. M. iu time for dinner. After dinner we organized tor 
the campaign as follows:—“Crip" commander-in-chief; 
“Jim,” uid-de-camp; “Charley,” master of transportation; 
“Cal,” quarter master general; “Mac," chief of subsistence 
and commissary general; and myself as surgeon .general. 
The rank and tile consisted of a lean Yankee and a hurley 
Swede for drivers, turd “Dave," a genuine darkey from 
the Gunpowder River, Maryland, as cook. Our means of 
transportation consisted of two open spring wagons, with 
two scats each, with plenty of room between for the dogs; 
and the commissary wagon, which was what is known iu 
western parlance as a “prairie schooner." The latter was 
then carefully loaded with the usual list of provisions and 
groceries' for such expeditions, not forgetting a supply of 
"bread” in a demijohn. One of the greatest luxuries iri 
this connection was a box of lemons. A lemon carried in 
the pocket iu the field iB very refreshing, and will quench 
thus, almost as well as water. We then put in a light 
in hie willi folding legs, and two boards for benches, these 
took up no room, and helped to form higher sides for the 
wagon. One ot the most usCluland indispensable articles, 
. was a camp slove furnished by “dim." This was packed 
a oox, which it fitted lo a uicety, and inside the stove 
lure packed an oven, stove pipe, and cooking utensils suf- 
i ,nt for a party of twelve. It proved to he a capital 
lake', boiler und broiler. “Dave” said he, was ’stonished 
ri its persisiunce.” An open fire would have beeu out of 
the qn :sl.iou on lhe prairies, with no timber iu sight, but 
;i3 it wa~, a lew fence rails, cut Up and carried in the wag- 
un furnished all the wood required for the trip. At the 
re«r cud pf the “schooner,” was put in theice-box, as large 
atiiy-gooda box as would tit iu; this was filled with ice 
pucktU In sawdust. Ou the top of all were laid two 
i wall ten is with pules and flies. The schooner was now 
3 U.I tod off' under the charge of Dave, with the Swede for 
l iVtvi., )u half ;tu (tour our party got into the spring wag- 
• oil', Milk guffs, rubber coats, and dogs, and obeyed the iu- 
Juticliuiu of the lamented Horace, by going West—tlje 
admiring gaze of all the idlers in Glencoe following us out 
oume road. Our objective point was the Yellow Medi¬ 
cine, and Luc-Qui Parle country, on the border of Dakota. 
Ou the road, hurrah! We are driving gaily over a rich, 
rolling prairie, well settled, with grain fields iu every direc¬ 
tion, grain in slack, grain in shock, and some not cut. The 
crops are the best ever raised in the State, both in quantity 
and quality. As (he close season did not expire until the - 
next day, we did not. unpack our guns, but contented our¬ 
selves \yilb smoking, talking trad lairing iu the beauties of 
the day and the surroundings. Our route lay along the 
.'proposed extension of the Hastings and Dakoia Railway, 
trom Glencoe to Yellow Medicine. Toward sunset, the 
sky became overcast, and we arrived at Lake Marion, fif¬ 
teen miles from Glencoe, in the midst, of a brisk thunder 
storm, which, however, was of short duration, and the sun 
weut. dowh in a blaze of glory, foretelling flue weather for 
the morrow. We took possession of a small school-house 
near the lake during the rain, and when the schooner ar¬ 
rived, pioceeded, to establish our first camp, which we 
■christened “Camp Orippen.” The tents were pitched, the 
stove set up, and a dining-room made under a fly. While 
Dave was getting supper, we took a stroll down to the 
lake, which we found to be a beautiful sheet of water; the 
brilliant tints of the sunset clouds being reflected upon its 
tranquil bosom, and the fringe of trees on its shores loom¬ 
ing up against the sky, formed a picture of quiet beauty 
Unit would have delighted the squl of an artist. After 
supper, pipes and tobacco were in requisition, and as a 
singular coincidence, each and every member of the parly 
produced a supply of “Vanity Fair” smoking tobacco. 
Hitting in the moonlight discussing our future plans, it, was 
agreed, that although the close season expired with the 
night, no shooting would be done ou the next day, Suuduy, 
except just what was necessary lo supply our larder. With 
these good InLeulions, and in mis smulaotery stale ol mind 
we retired lor the night. 
/Sunday, August 15 ih . — All hands rose early on this 
bright and lovely morning, After a refreshing wash in the 
clear and cool water from the lake, we were summoned lo 
breakfast by Dave. The dtjeu,ner consisted cf boiled and 
scrambled eggs, broiled bacon, hot graham biscuits, 
fried and baked potatoes, fricasseed dried beef, and cof¬ 
fee. After breakfast tbe horses were hitched up to 
the spring wagons, and Grip, Ua|, Charley, aud Mae, left 
camp for the purpose of “replenishing the larder." Jim 
not leeling very well this murning, and we both haviug 
conscientious scruples against violating the fourth com¬ 
mandment— Jim said it was the seventh—stayed iu camp. 
During the tnoruiug, however, wo. found it necessary to 
vary our bill of fare by knocking down a few mallards and 
yellow-shunks, which happened loo near our camp lor 
their own safety. 
While idling about, our attention was attracted, and our 
curiousily excited by the singular appearance of a small 
l ree near the lake; its leaves were apparently of a bright 
red color, like tiiaple leaves iu October. Upon nearing the 
tree, we discovered that its fiery appearance was due to an 
immense number of large red butler-flies, which com¬ 
pletely covered the leaves of the tree. We returned to 
camp, and. for want of something better to do, we went Lo 
sleep. We were soon after roused from a glorious nap by 
the arrival of tile Imaging party, who quietly deposited 
the result of the raid in the ice-box. An hour later, the 
rat-a-plan of Dave called us to dinner, when we enjoyed 
the following choice bill of fare: Baked pork and beans, 
broiled prairie chicken, roast ducks; broiled plover, boileU 
potatoes, com bread, apple sauce, pickles, etc., followed 
by rice pudding aud coffee. Alter dinner; while smoking, 
it was agreed, that as we should in another day he loo far 
lrona the railroad lo ship any game to our friends, that no 
more should he shot than could be used by ourselves, or 
tbe farmers over whose . grounds we hunted. That we 
■ would confine our shooting to three hours iu the morning 
aud three hours iu the alteruoon; devoting about five hours 
during the middle of lhe day to rest ourselves and dogs. 
The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to lounging, 
smoking, napping, and “telling stories.” The dogs were 
duly atteuded lo, their feet being bathed iu salt 'water, us 
their first run on the stubble hud made them somewhat 
sore. Grouse’s lame loot was sewed up in a shot bag, and 
kept saturated With tine arnica, so tbat he would be en¬ 
abled to commence business in the morning. Wo retired 
early to-night as the first day’s experience in camp life is 
generally the most fatiguing. With the bright moon shin¬ 
ning down .peacefully upon our quiet camp, we were soou 
dreaming ol “loved one’s at home." 
Monday, Avgust lUth .— This morning one of the wagons 
was sunt iu to Glencoe for a half -bushel-of onions and a 
keg of “lager.” Upon investigation, it was discovered that 
the commissary department had furnished one hundred 
more “chickens" lor yesterday’s—Sunday—dinner, than 
could he used, which were tied up in bunches, ticketed, 
aud sent in to be forwarded to friends in Ht. Paul—“sick 
is life,” and the uucettainity of man. After the wagon 
departed our entire force took the field. The day was 
glorious, not t.oo warm, with an invigorating breeze. The 
dogs were soon eagerly at work. Now “Grouse" winds the 
birds near the edge o£ a wiieat stubble, aud proceeds cau¬ 
tiously ou three legs, his fourth being, as already stated, 
bandaged with a shot bag. Flora, with more confidence, 
pushes along boldly by his side, suddenly both come to a 
point—Grouse crouching close to the ground, perfectly 
rigit^ und hardly breathing. Flora, standing erect, with 
right foot raised — a perfect picture. “Steady, boy!" 
“Ho Girl!" TVhir! There goes one, fully grown/ Grip 
cuts him down with his right barrel. Up goes another, lie 
is itnwediaielely stopped by Also. There go two more! 
Bang, bang! One dead, the .other gets away minus a few 
leathers. Advancing slowly—the dogs still pointing—up 
go two more, both ot which are nearly cut down. Then 
two more go off quartering in opposite directions. "By 
George, missed em both!” On a genii*. rise, at the border 
of another stubble field are Gal aud Charley with “Sport" 
and "Alajor/' while Jim aud myself try the swale with 
"Uou” aud "Stmt," And so it goes for two hours. Whir! 
Baugl Bang! Whirl. “Steady, Don!" Bnug! “Come 
here, Flora!" “Fetch, Sport!” “Here, Grouse, seek 
dead!” “Hohoyl" "Sliiady!” Bang! “Come here, you 
rascal !” Then a sound of a thrashing, given and taken. 
“Mark ’em down!” “See lltein go!” Bang! Bang! 
“Charge Alajor!" 
We returned to camp about noon, where we found an 
excellent dinner prepared for us by Dave, and as our 
tramp had sharpened our appetites, we fell to with a will. 
About two o’clock the wagon returned from Glencoe, when 
we struck camp, packed up, filled the water kegs, and 
started for PrestoD hakes, some fifteen miles fnrthei west. 
As we were dtiving merrily along, our friend Jim was ob¬ 
served to be “on a dead point;” following the direction of 
his gaze, we saw a buxom prairie lassie riding sideways 
upon a grey horse, without a saddle, with a sun-burnt leg 
of extraordinary development dangling below Iter short 
skirl. He was immediately brought to a ''charge" by 
Charlie, when he commenced to quote Grny’s 1 -e g. Two 
of lhe dogs wore now allowed to range, arid we were soon 
popping away at the grouse. After making quite a bug 
the sehMolier came lumbering along, und ive proceeded ou 
dur journey. AVe arrived at Prcslou Lakhs jfisl about sun¬ 
down, and discerned among the rushes alj. the edge of lhe 
lake near the road, a. flock of niallutds j quiet ly feeding. 
We drove leisurely along until within thirty yards, when 
we opened a brisk lire, and banged the eh lire flock of ten, 
save one, which though wounded, uitoi'lunalfly got away. 
We selected a heauUlul spot near the bike, sheltered by 
lhe timber, where we located “Gump Uline." After sup¬ 
per we smoked and talked l'or two hours, and then turned 
n, a gentle breeze singing IlirougU 1 1 1 e leaves of lhe oaks, 
with the moonlight quivering and dancing lb lhe music. 
'1 desday,. August Vith . — Another lovfcly morning; the air 
crisp and bool, the sky clear aud bright,'and the lake crim¬ 
son with the blush of dawn. As we turn out we observe 
Davn preparing breakfast, and having’performed our toilet 
—which cijusitted of a brisk washing of bunds and face, 
aud a simple combing of the hah—{we started on a brief 
tour of observation. . We found Preston lukea to he two 
iu number, the largest about three miles long,, the oilier 
about tivu thirds as large. They tire sepavated by a narrow 
isihnniN, along which runs a road. 'The banks arc beaut i- 
fully shaded by groves of line t-iuihcr; there is no inlet or 
oullel, stud the shores are gracefully sloping will) gravelly 
beacliea, a,nil uu marshes. We observed some mallards 
aud teal flying across the upper end of the lake, and a 
solitary bittern standing near tlie edge of the water. While 
passing ovjel' a slight knoll, our senses were regaled with 
the savory! incense from David's altar, and we immediately 
altered aur course and made tor camp, just in lime for 
breakfast. Alter breakfast we took the spring wagons, 
with three dogs, aud staited ou our morning hunt, leaving 
Dave in eliarue of tbe camp. Tile wagons proceeded m 
opposite directions, with strict injunctions to return by 
noon. AIttc, Jim, und myself look the route toward Buf¬ 
falo Greek.. We are now well out on the prairies, and the 
wheal, fields are few and far between. Wh observed a very 
iuvititig array of stubble fields a mile or two away, but 
upon nettl ing them they were fuund to be oat stubble. 
“No use, boys, we'll find no chickens here.” We then 
went lavilier, tried wheal stubble, ami tlicn the grass, bm 
chickens were lather scarce Iff is morning; inosily old 
birds, -afid very lew coveys, W.e then struck out for the 
i creek, wh teh we found nearly dry, with the exception ol' 
occasional holes of water, iu all of which we found a few 
ducks, bVe also saw several small flocks of geese und 
cranes fifing, but could not get a shot at them. We re¬ 
turned lo camp with iweniy-ilfve grouse, thirteen ducks, 
aud a few yellow shauks. 'i he oilier parly had not been 
much more suceesstul. They had a tew mote gimi.se, but 
no ducks. Afier dinner we wrote letters, as lhe weekly 
mail passed inis point me next day lor Gleneon. This 
pleasant task accomplished, we broke camp, packed up, 
filled every tiling that would hold water, from the wed at 
the “post. -office,” for alter leaving this point good water is 
rather scarce Until the Minnesota River 1 b leached. W e 
then Started lor Beaver Fidls, off said river, taking a south¬ 
westerly course. The sloughs were mostly dry, aud we 
could (fri ve, so to speak, anywhere, lor all'fences were left 
behind litiw. We are anon phasing Buffalo hake, a small 
sliouL'of [water skirted with ‘timber, and which is the last 
timber we will see until we arrive at the river, Soou after 
leaving this lake wo came to a house, around which was 
the remains of a stockade And earthwork, erected at the 
time of the Sioux massacre m New Uim, a lew miles south, 
in 1 Sti2. A lew miles ftirthni ou and there is not a house 
to be seen in any direoliOu—nothing hut a vast expanse of 
prairie. We seem lobe traveling continually iu. the 'bot¬ 
tom of a saucer, always going up towards the rim, where 
the sky and prairie meat, turn never getting ihere. Num¬ 
bers of a. beautilul spucles or swallow, with nurple, green, 
aud violttil reflections, accompany ns, feeding ou the flies 
and insects stirred up h> me horses. "Great Cieseur!” 
suddenly ejaculated Grip, “look at the cranes!" We 
looked ip the direction impelled, on our “port bow," apd 
beheld twelve Or fifteen hill cranes drawn Up in a row 
like a line of soldiers, a • « •' drew uearer to them they 
began to execute the well known “crane dance," the most 
ludicrouis aud umusitig bpuetucle that it has ever been my 
good fortune to witness. Tw.o of them stepped to the 
front, saluted, danced up and back, put their bills together 
and elevated them iu the aif, I ban dm-a dus with wings flap¬ 
ping. Two more then “took pari in lhe exercises.” For¬ 
ward arid back, right ami, Iclt through, bids up, dos a-dos 
with wihg accompaniment. This set would then lnku Uieir 
places ill the rank, ami [a new set would go through wilk 
the same evolutions. Their antics were comical mid gro¬ 
tesque i n the extreme, and afforded us a most amusing cn- 
leptaiunfient "The Kii a-lfy’s are uowhere!" shouted Char¬ 
ley, "Better than the Can-can!" affirmed Gal They coil- 
Mulled tlunciug—it their extraordinary contortions and gy¬ 
rations could he called dancing—until we drove within two 
hundred yards, when they took wing hurriedly, croaking 
their displeasure at the interruption of their sport. 'Die 
Clouds >i.iw began lo thicken, the breeze lo freshen, and 
oiuinus mutter Inga of fffuuUer were heard in the southwest. 
We got oui our rubber coats, but none loo soon, foi a brisk 
aliower was boon upon us, which, however, was of sliott 
eoniimiaiH'.e, The clouds soon passed over, and lhe selling 
sun sin -no out in all ffis effulgence, reflecting his bright 
lihls in the waters of u large slough a mile ahead ul' us, 
wulch iproved to he Niue Aide Slough. \Vu- resolved to 
eatup i 1 n: lor the night, us there Was no waUr nearer than 
Birch Dooley, some fiflyoU in lies fun her on. We fortu¬ 
nately had wood aud water enough lor culinary purposes 
iu lhe tclibouer, which could just be discerned against lhe 
hori.'.on, and it was quite dark when it arrived. The full 
harvest moon, however, soou appeared above the prairie 
like ullage red disk;, aud we made our camp by moon¬ 
light, winch we named “Camp Lunge.” While smoking, 
niter supper, every one seemed to he occupied with his' 
own thoughts, ami, impressed by a feelmg of uttef loneli- 
in s.e,' vai cely a word was exchanged. Noililng could he 
semi [ L 't the slough and the boundless prairie, bathed ffi 
moot At in* eiajala could he beard from Lhe slough 
theft ’ U f.iH lb 1 ' wful goose, the hoarse croak of the crane, 
nr th( , „iJ‘r : of, lhe loon. Soon Dave was heard sing¬ 
ing, i • CW auiljjTff? lilS dishes:— 
* oil a'lif? y nfehf., de union shines brltrht, 
“ tvs? ♦ ' am « <’b e'liUf; 
v J hi tings, sir -'•Urns dey do dunce. 
I / i in .sms j|f ‘ • ‘Uants" 
