66 
FOREST AND STREAM 
first bright day, (and fair days are the rale), carries it off 
immediately. 
We are soon to be summoned to a grand Thanksgiving 
dinner, and evening frolic at our pleasant hotel, but as we 
look out of the window there is little to remind us of 
November. Letters from home speak of a dreary autumn, 
and we fear it is there what is tersely given in Hood's 
November:— 
“No son, no moon, 
No moon, no noon, 
No proper time of flay.” L. W. 1,. 
Manilmi, Colorado , November 1875. 
For Fomt and iStream. 
FIRST VISIT TO THE RAQUETTE. 
T HIS was an excursion of high expectation and equal 
reality. It had been a cherished day-dream, the 
coming event having long cast its shadow before. I was 
one of four this time, the least experienced of all in North 
Woods travel, and was happy to penetrate the wilderness 
In the company of three well-known and respected fellow- 
citizens. Of these, George and Pickwick have appeared 
before. I now introduce the name of Boz, a man who was 
quite at home in Brown’s Tract, and well understood the 
management of such an expedition, and an enthusiastic 
hunter and sportsman. By his kind advice and assistance 
I became well accoutered for the journey. A pair of black 
canvas bags was provided, one of which was to hold my 
bed, and the other miscellaneous articles. These were 
strapped together so that they could be conveniently shoul¬ 
dered in crossing portages. My bed was of Pickwickian 
suggestion, viz., a deep blanket bag, adapted to surround 
a six foot corporation. By the advice ot Boz, I also pro¬ 
vided a curious head and neck cover, or havelock bag, to 
protect me from insects. It had goggle eyes, and breathing 
places for mouth and nose, but otherwise there was "no 
admittance." A fair hand embroidered over the goggles 
piscatorial eyebrows, a pair of large hooks, a la moustache, 
on the upper lip, black flies for the nose, and an imperial 
mosquito. Thus equipped, I was prepared to frighten all 
enemies away. Inneed, the mere presence of such an ar¬ 
ticle in the woods seemed to answer every desirable pur¬ 
pose. 
We started on August 2d, 1858. Whenever I have taken 
the route to Arnold’s the plan has been to take the evening 
train at. Utica, pass the night in Boonville, and leave there 
early in the morning. At Boonville we reconnoiteied Hul- 
lieri’s famous garden, and caught sight there of a running 
stream. We packed rods and guns together in one careful 
bundle, and made every possible arrangement for comfort¬ 
able transportation on the morrow. A wagon was engaged 
to carry ail our effects, including tent and commissary. 
The tent, by the way, was not required, and I think it was 
a mistake to carry it. It was very heavy, especially after 
being wet by the rain, took up a great deal of room in the 
boat, and after all was only raised once, as we found con¬ 
venient shanties all the way. I remember bow glad tbe 
guides were to be rid of it, expressing the hope that they 
would never see it in the woods again. This is for whom 
it may concern. In the morning we were early in the 
wagon, intending to breakfast at Lyon’s Falls, all but Boz, 
who loitered till "thunder and lightning"calling him broke 
from the lips of the impatient Pickwick. After breakfast 
we made up our minds that we were to have a rainy day of 
it. The rain was coming, and in the spirit of Patrick 
Henry we said, “Let it come; it is vain to extenuate the 
matter," etc- It did not disappoint us; all day long wc 
had the pleasure of its company, such as it was, but it 
could not drown out our good humor or prospects of fe¬ 
licity. At evening, comfortably sheltered and surrounding 
a supper table, prepared by Arnold’s daughters, Ed. Ar¬ 
nold, who came with us, said, “If 1 had been comiog out 
to-day I wouldn’t have come.” But why not? All’s well 
that ends well, said a greater than Ed., and there we were 
at our destination, with good appetites, and none the 
worse, and, between you and me, we here took leave of 
raiu, seeing or feeling nothing more of it for the remain¬ 
der of the excursion. 
In the morning wc were soon at the forge, -where 1 no¬ 
ticed the grave of Lo! the poor Indian, alias Grid, respect¬ 
ing whose taking off I had read an erroneous account in 
Headley, the facts in the case being written in “Babes in 
the Woods," chapter v. Just below the dam I threw in, 
and immediately threw out. I took half-a-dozen good 
sized trout then and there, a feat which I have never since, 
at that particular spot, been able to renew; need I add that 
I never expect there to do as well again. Our guides from 
this point were Alonzo and Bill Wood. There was a third 
man, hut I do not now recall his nanie. Alonzo married 
one of Arnold’s daughters, and lives, I believe, at Long 
Lake. Bill, noted lor his great strength and endurance, 
laid down his life at Fredericksburg during the war. They 
were both as good and capable guides as the North Woods 
contained. 
Once more upon the waters, yet once more, 
And Lhe waves bound beneath us as a steed 
That knows his rider. Welcome to—the oar; 
Swift be its guidance whereso’er it lead, 
We moved forward, onward and upward, till we struck 
the shore of Third Lake, where we slinntied over night. 
During the night Boz went after venison, and came home 
-with i t, so that we did not lack for fresh supply. At some 
point during the excursion George shot two deer. They 
were uot a source of pride to him, however, but only of 
regret and compunction, for they were not needed. There 
they lay, dead on the shore, the glory with their life de¬ 
parted. Instead of adorning the lakes, and enjoying them 
with their natural beauty and groccftd movements, their 
lives were thrown away, and the responsibility was on Ilia 
hands, I relate it to his credit that he condemned him¬ 
self, would have paid largely to return them to life, and 
even felt like going home. In these days of wanton and 
remorseless slaughter of these vexed, persecuted, and 
harmless animals, it is refreshing to know that there are 
some relentings. The sacrifice of them has always been 
too bloody a work for me. Though I partake of venison, 
I never yet fancied the occupation of a butcher. 
We passed up the Fourth Lake in sunshine. I recollect 
the quick eye with which Bill Wood detected in the dis¬ 
tance a recumbent deer. Ho taught me that it was nearly 
useless to troll for the lake trotll in August, and that they 
would not. bite again "till next spring,” a lesson of infor¬ 
mation which served an excellent purpose for me when next 
spring came, on that very lake. And yet, with his assist¬ 
ance, I took four of these lakers, being in this respect 
more successful than my fellows. Having passed the next 
night on this lake, in the morning Pickwick asked George 
it he did not hear a panther during the night. Mow Pick¬ 
wick had tromboned with his nasal organs very much lo 
the discomfort of George. He said he had not. owing lo 
oilier Bounds, but added, “If you blow the trumpet again, 
as you did last night, you’ll hear a panther.” 
Now for portages. 1 enjoyed them for variety. There 
is a pleasure in the pathless woods, and even a greater in 
woods which have a path to them, and where W oods are 
leaders. 1 remember the stalwart slnmglli with which 
Bill walked off with his boat and laid it down agaiu, reany 
for farther acLiou. We will not tarry long on Fifth and 
Sixth lakes, for there is no length to them—that is the long 
and short of it; but Seventh'"is the gem. How serenely, 
grandly it opened to the view, after being hemmed in on 
all sides of the narrow outlet, though even there our sight 
was bounded by a profusion of wild roses. Oh, what a 
palace of nature is ibis Seventh Lake, in sunshine or in 
clouds, with the mists of the morning overhanging its 
mountain heights, or the breezes of evening rippling its 
quiet waters. A pair of antlers, set for the purpose, di¬ 
rected us to camp, where we found ample accommoda¬ 
tions for our Bojourn and for fascinated observation of the 
charms before us. On a wooded elevation our table was 
prepared, where, with thankful hearts, we feasted our eyes 
as well as our palates, and praised God from whom all 
blessings flow. 
Boz had frequently affirmed, in the course of the jour¬ 
ney, that “the cat is a remarkable animal.” Why or 
wherefore did not appear, as no notice had been taken thus 
far of his asseveration. Hearing the statement again, we 
began to look into the matter, and asked him to account 
for it. He was at a loss himself to solve his proposition, 
I tried to help him out, alii.miug that tho cat is a remark¬ 
able animal as possessed ot mi-ee tails. How is that? Why, 
no cat has two tails. 1 suppose you are all ready to admit 
this. Weil, every cathasone more tail than no cat, certainly. 
Yes. Every cat, therefore, must have three tails. Q. E. D. 
Everybody felt relieved, and we heard no more of me mat¬ 
ter. You will call this nonsense if you are a man of sente; 
but 1 must plead for it ns the celebrated Robert Hall, ot 
England, plead for it in similar circumstances. Indulging 
in levity in the woods, in company of a young aud con¬ 
ceited minister, who undertook to reprove him, l-lall re¬ 
plied, “Oh, the difference between us in this respect is not 
so great after all. It is simply this: 1 let off ail my non¬ 
sense in the woods, while you keep yours for the pulpit.” 
We found the portage between Seventh and Eighth lakes 
very entertaining, by reason of the luxurious raspberries 
winch abounded there. They were in the prime of excel¬ 
lence, and all enjoyed them. These constitute one of sev¬ 
eral agreeable attendants peculiar to a late or summer ex¬ 
cursion almost anywhere in the North Woods. Bathing 
is another, which we did not fail to improve. Oil Eight!i 
Lake, near the landing, wc caught u young loon, aud re¬ 
turned it to the water. His anxious mother knew he was 
out, aud kept up maternal screams, but at sale distance, 
uot presuming loo nearly to claim her own. Gliding over 
this lake without slopping, aud crossing the final portage 
after numerous twists aud turns on the inlet, we iu length 
reached the fair, delightful waters of our ultimate destina¬ 
tion, the enrapturing Enqueue, where we aimed for Con¬ 
stable Point, and setup for lhe iirst time our tabernacle. 
This point was more favorable then for encampment than 
it is at present, as its trees have been cut down; hut a good 
spring is there, and the prospect is commanding. Thence 
we sorlied in all directions, as was necessary if wc would 
see the Jake, which stands peerless in its irregularities, and 
for expansiveness and the wild picturesque, next to Luke 
George, the queen of our inland waters. 
We visited what is now Murray Island, and the adjacent 
native home of our trusty guides, the W oods, where we 
saw their father, one of the early settlers, with his pipe. 
There was still another Wood, whom we met in his boat; 
a man who, being naturally short, was much shorter by 
reason of amputation at both knees. Still he appeared U> 
enjoy himself, and he had reason to amid suclt surround¬ 
ings, as he was healthy from his knees upward, and could 
fish in his boat heller without legs than with them. We 
visited also llie venerable Mr. Beach, quite a patriarchal 
looking man, who received us kiudly, and showed us the 
caudal remnant ot a great fish he had recently caught, and 
the large hook he used. The remnant was of mammoth 
proportions, being itself larger than ordinary fish, and 
represented, I should say, thirty pounds. Mere curiosity 
would like lo know what ever induced such a man to settle 
for life all alone in those parts; but concerning tastes there 
must be no dispute. Slot no minis umbra. We visited also 
Forked Lake, where we found Helms in his mansion, since 
destroyed by fire, where, in the language of I lie Psalmist, 
slightly altered, not the barren, but tho bearin’, woman 
kept house, and was the joyful mother of children. 
On one occasion, with my guide, 1 was separated from 
my companions, when, stopping; for a few moments at the 
ublic house kept on the lake, 1 was presented with New 
r ork papers by a gentleman who arrived the preceding 
evening, and received information that the Atlantic cable 
was successfully laid. 1 started immediately iu pursuit of 
my party, whom 1 soon met in the midst of the lake, and 
lo whom I communicated the glad intelligence. Victoria 
was well, and had just been heard from by submarine tele¬ 
graph, The wilderness and solitary place immediately 
rejoiced. Waving our liats and kerchiefs, we all shouted 
out our jubilation in full concert there with the millions ot 
both hemispheres. It was even so, and ere another wuek 
was passed we enjoyed the illuminutions of Utica in cele¬ 
bration of the grand event. 
Bill went ashore about this time with his rifle, and 
brought down a great hawk from the topmost branch of a 
lofty Liee. The hawk seemed reluctant to leave his perch, 
or dilatory in yielding to tho force of gravitation, but at 
length he reached terra tlrma sure enough. I clipped his 
wings, aud they flew home with me. But the report of a 
rifle iu this region, as iu others, is not “‘only this and noth¬ 
ing more.” You hear it again and again, echoed and re¬ 
echoed, cracking away across tho lake, and breaking out 
anew on the other side. I have observed this effect on 
Tupper’s Lake aud elsewhere with great admiration. 1 
can almost apply to it, with accommodation, Scott’s lines 
to his Harp ot the North.— 
" ’Q’is now a seraph hold with touch of flrs; 
’Tls now tho biusli of luiry’s frolic wing. 
Recoding now the dying numbers ring 
.fainter and fainter down the rugged dell, 
And now the mountain breezes scarcely bring 
A wandering witch-liote of the distant, si-iefl. 
And now ’us silent alb enchantress fare thee well.” 
But where am I f I was going to tell you something 
shout--well, I will, and hasten lo a conclusion. We went 
up the Marion River, some further than the vest., Relum¬ 
ing, we found Mr. Pickwick at a spring-hole, disconsolate, 
ami wanting to go home. He had just lost an enormous 
trout,, which he described as being of the dimensions of an 
oarpaddiel Hugh! I saw him catch a fish, and it was 
after this fashion. He threw out as far as possible from 
tbe boat, indeed, but where it was sure to catch the lily 
pads. He was snagged, but disengagiog the line a trout 
look the bait and ran back into the pads. Pickwick de¬ 
termined to break or bring him in. So he broke away the 
second time, the trout still clinging to his hook. At last 
he fetched him in, kerflummux right against, the boat., 
when the trout flapped his tail and vamoosed to parts un¬ 
known. I saw him shoot a loon in a similar mauuer. The 
gun we will suppose was faithfully loaded and discharged, 
but when the shot took effect on the water the loon was 
somewhere else. He disappeared, it is true, for a moment, 
but that he was not hurt lie soon signified by rising. 
I will not-weary with the production of further incidents 
connected with this eventful hip, but desire to allude 
briefly to my last evening at Arnold’s. Desiring to carry 
home with me fresh trout, as well as to prolong while T 
could the pleasure of taking them, with Alonzo 1 descend- 
etl the Moose River a mile'to fish in two spring-holes there. 
The slant rays of the sun were gilding the trees which 
bordered aud shadowed the water, the trout were eager to 
he caught, and for an hour an^i a half I enjoyed one of Hie 
most pleasurable fishings of the trip, catching about sev¬ 
enty, which were in Utica, and part served on table, before 
they had been twenty-four hours out of lhe water. We 
left Arnold's in the morning at daybreak on horseback, 
and by nine o'clock were out of the woods, having trotted 
sixteen miles. We rencked Boonville in time for the utter- 
noon train, so that before evening we were safely at home, 
having accomplished in less than a fortnight an excursion 
of unalloyed health and enjoyment, for which I will not 
cease to be thankful while memory endures. 
Utica, January 2(itk, 1870. . Amateur. 
Adventure with a Panther. —The Suratogina gives 
the following description of a remarkable encounter with a 
panther, which occurred recently in that county: 
"Aman by the name of George Hinckley was, on Friday 
night, February 25th, driving from Corinth to Conklingville 
somewhat belated. There was no moon aud the road was 
uncertain, owing to the rough weather which had prevailed 
in that section for two weeks or so past. He was in a light 
cutter, well protected from the cold by robes and blankets, 
aud was driving a spii'ited horse. It was about U o'clock, 
and he was nearly at his journey’s end. The road lay 
through some undergrowth of woods. While the horse 
was jogging along at a moderate trot, suddenly ho stopped, 
threw iits*ears forward, gave a furious snort, and relu i‘d 
lo go further. The driver urged him to go, and finally 
struck him with a halter, the strap end of which was tied 
to tire cutter in order to prevent its dropping out aud be¬ 
coming lost. The horse jumped forward in a frightened 
manner, hut before he had taken three steps it huge 
panther sprang from behind alow evergreen close by the 
track and leaped into the cutter. As it struck the cutter 
its fore-paws came with great force against Hinckley’s 
breast, and with one blow with its powerful nails lire man’s 
clothing was stripped clean from his skin. Hinckley had 
the halter with which lie bad just struck the librae si ill iu 
ins hand, and instinctively he laid it with all his might 
over tke head of Ids assailant. By one of (lie blows the 
headstall passed over the panther’s head. It being a 
slipping noose, the next effort to strike drew the noose 
tight about the panther’s neck. Then a desperate, lmnd- 
lo-hand, as it were, tight ensued. The man struggled to 
throw off the beast, but succeeded only so tar as to prevent 
it from fastening its powerful jaws upon ids now hare 
neck. The panther grabbed the man's left arm, which it 
bit through and through, the blood which flowed only 
seeming to make it mine furious. With his strong right 
arm Hinckley tightened the slipping noose about the 
animals thiout. bo tight was it drawn by that strength 
which comes of desperation that the pautlier wasebnked so ■ 
that it let go its hold on the man’s arm and gtisped, at- the 
same time stripping Us victim's clothing and lacerating his ■ 
skin with its sharp claws. With the first spring ol the i 
panther, accompanied as it was with a wild, fierce growl, 
the horse took fright and ran at full speed, every leap 
fairly lifting the culler from the track, Thus, while 
Hinckley was struggling for life in the cutter, the horse 
was running away. But the running away of the horse 
proved to be tho salvation of the driver; for in making a 
short turn iu the road the cutter was overturned, dumping 
driver and panther out upon the frozen snow. The mo¬ 
ment they struck earth, however, they parted company. I 
One cud of the halter being fastened to the cutter and the 
other end tight about the wild animal's neck, the latter i 
was dragged after the flying steed, its body jumping and j 
bounding'' along the road. The running away of the . 
horse saved Mr. Hinckley’s life. He was left by tbe road¬ 
side, whence he in course of time found his way to a habi¬ 
tation. The horse ran till lie got loose from the cutter, aud 
then he went to Conklingville. The culter, badly shattered, 
was found half a mile from the spot where the panther 
leaped from behind the bush. Tho animal was dead, 
choked to death, and badly bruised. The substance of the 
correspondent’s story is as given above, and we forbear 
from casting any doubts on so tTagic a tale. 
Crows as Mathematicians. —The crows of Germany 
are abie lo count. The gamekeepers protecting young 
pheasants wage Constant warfare against them, hut the win y 
birds keep out of shot, bays (lie Scientific American:— 
“It is found that the keepers must go to the cover in par¬ 
ties of six or more, llien depart one by one until six have 
left, leaving one or more behind to lake vengeance on the 
crows. Should a less number than six visit the shelter, 
and all but one leave it, the crows perform the Bublracliou 
correctly, arid know that there is yet no safely for them. 
Beyond six, their mathematical faculty fails—or did some 
years ago; perhaps they have learned to count more by 
this lime.” < 
A Maine farmer tried the same strategem to protect his 
c6rn, but found that our American crowB can only count 
as higli as three. Four or more persons entered the sliel-i 
ter and alter three had left, the crows came out. to their, 
breakfast. Thu experiment, was tried repeatedly, but the 
crows invariably lost Ibeir reckoning when the number ex¬ 
ceeded three. 
