158 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



i-'.y this lime wo had reached the farmhouse, and were 

 shown to a room, where Optics and myself put on our 

 shooting clothes; while Corney bethought liim that the buBi- 

 nu is that, had taken him to the station had been forgotten 

 by hrn i md 1 s xeuso 4 .himself, with assurances that he 

 I urn soon and join ujs 



bo the field that had the "two hundred 

 birds in it. We saw many signs where they had roosted, 

 and Tat challenged occasionally; but the birds having been 

 driven to the woods and adjoining thickets, there were poor 



3ts lor much sport this morning. The birds hopelessly 



■H' M-d would not gather till afternoon, but would then be 

 all right ning shooting. 



give Fagin and his master a wide berth if 

 h ill I., i b anting the fields thoroughly, we hunted 



up wind through the adjoining woods without success. 



••'. Iptics," I then said, "let us go down over that run and 

 beat that cover on the hillside yonder, for a pheasant or 

 two." 



"No, my dear fellow, I'm too sick this morning and will 

 hunt about here until you come back, I can't follow your 

 anyhow," answered he. 

 Hie on Pat ! down the hill we go; crossing the icy brook 

 in (he hollow, over the fence, and we are in a thick slashing 

 that covers about twenty acres on each side of a spring run; 

 just the place tola lew 'pheasants, but a little too close to a 

 barn on the hillside above. Pat is ranging in a very hand- 

 some, stylish manner, keeping within gunshot, when, as I 

 a ., from a fence he suddenly challenges; then roads 

 cautiously forward, and comes to a point; the first on any- 

 thing bet prairi( chickens since I. owned him. He is stand- 

 fcht £ Ige of the thicket in front of a log heap, through 

 ■■'' i Struggled some thick undergrowth of hazel and 

 ■".'■■ Ho i boi be careful, now !" said I, when 

 whir-r-r-r from the opposite side of the log heap rises a fine 

 old co' ! phi : : iii . the gnu is up in a twinkling, and bang 



foes the right barrel. Hang Hall! too quick as usual, and 

 ird not covered with the lift. However, he is cut down at 

 foOjn forty to fifty yards, but ho is not killed; he falls into a 

 1 iein the run, and is making the water fly with his 

 bing wings. "Charge ! Pat, you scoundrel ! I'll cut the 

 hide oil' you if you dare to stir," said I, as the dog evinced 

 uneasiness at heiu-ing the wounded bird fluttering and 

 floundering in the water. "Down! charge sir! I want no 

 lri.-:l charging here." Slipping in a couple of shells, and «n- 

 ing up to Pat, and in a kind voice commending him for his 

 .no behavior, 1 went on to where the bird had fallen in 

 n. All about was feathers, but the bird was mm est. 

 I finally found him away up under a log, which projected 

 into the run, and from beneath which the water had washed 

 tjie earth. I poked him out with a pole, and found him 

 dying, piping blood from his throat. "A lung wound has 

 fixed you, my poor bird, " said I, and showing him to Pat, 

 m, shook his head, and sneezed with delight 

 and approval of the. success, looked expectantly for my 

 orders. I bied him on, and beat the remainder of the cover, 

 ■ ledwB had secured the only specimen of Fera 

 n 'i contained worth the sportsman's effort. 



and of these shots had imigorated Optics, who 

 braced up and started in my direction. In three-quarters 

 of mi hour, on taking tin, back-track, from the objection of a 

 farmer, who was willing I should shoot rabbits and squirrels, 

 but a a, ph asant on his farm (and I here take oc- 



casion to say I ,■ I I .ve;,.-: respect the objection of a farmer, 

 a rule, found them liberal in their courtesies 

 ci iicctablc sportsmen, and in this instance the objection 

 I [j in the ground that he had promised to keep 

 the birds undisturbed for a couple of friends of his own), 

 I ran lino Optica again, and we started together up a 

 .■" of fche surrounding country, and 

 Select toe a that promised shooting for the morning. 

 udf-way up Optics gave out, and declared he would 

 have I o return to the. house, as he couldn't keep up, and 

 Wouldn't spoil reiy sport by having me wait on him. With 



eegiaU I parted t Him, and was soon over the hill out of 



■.: agingnv course now somewhat, as I heard and 



Corney a hall mile away in the valley, running, 



yelling and cursing, throwing his arms wildly about in the 



]ui in. when he broke shot* Anon there 



■■ ■ . . be two little puds of smoke emitted from his gun, 



followed b\ the n port of "double shots;" then would follow 



. ,ii: charging ('.'), dashing back and 



forCl leaping in i ; .e air. and Corney vociferously swearing 



and tearing after him'— overtaking the unfortunate brute; 



i i ,, stamping, and pounding him, while poor 



Fagin's rolling, tumbling, retreating form, emitted dismal, 



piteous and heartrending yells, in fearful discord with the 



i i blasphemy of his infuriated master. 



keeping that two hundred quail out of that field at 



of labor to himself, thought I, not to speak of 



tlie i : ■ mi -iind'-rhtaiiding between poor Fagiu and hii n- 



] I i , ned my steps away to be out of ear-shot of the 



toil alii y, and struck for a corner of woods to my left, where 



u i ai ni buckwheat patch. As I entered, Pat, 



who was r aging rapidly down wind towards me, flushed a 

 . i , bevy of i ruafl with a whirr, and, startled, they came right 

 nt'ui separating rigid and left as they passed. Pat 

 dropped to wing, ashamed of what he had done, but sheep- 

 i-hl . niia ,1 thi air in the direction of where the. birds rose, 

 winking his eyes with becoming humility as I rated him. 

 .i ! tin nral as they passed, and gave them both barrels, 

 hut in i hi an at baste missefl with my right, covering and 

 [Jutting my bird down in a satisfactory manner with my 

 left, Quick ly recharging and bringing iu the bird, I allowed 

 Put to smell it as an incentive to better behavior, and ad- 

 monishing him, hied him on after taking him around to 

 heel, in order to gi re him the wind of the birds I bad marked 

 down in the woods adjoining. Pat was now much excited, 

 and had to be brought in once or twice for disobedience in 

 ranging too for. Oornfly was now heard banging away, 

 jftat at the foot of the hill, and bearing closer to me I was 

 retting i a as, lest lie should come up with me: then 



i :_ d-li; :■ iu - 1. ma in;- in comfort, thought I. 



_ Is and ministers of grace defend' me from this evil 

 spirit; this loud-mouthed desccrator of God's fair fields; 

 this murderous pounder of an innocent, uneducated, and 

 imiorlimalelv ill-bred dog; this reckless prodigal of pow- 

 der, shot ami" safety ! defend me for one sweet half hour, 

 now that 1 am iu this very Eden of the sportsmen, and I 

 : I homage to good St, Hubert!" Whirr-r ! a stop 

 Ujddi ii';, | nit, to this soliloquy by the rising of a quail from 

 : I a my veryfi et. I turn bio iiim over at about thirty yards, 

 and Pat crouches down lor a moment at the Bound of the 

 ,,,, i! ,,i,i. i i) tiuu to K..i I nil him to "hold up,"aud 



- ;,:■■ uv workfoi • '■■< ■-[■■ ■ "'- half an hour as 



i a my good fortune in mijev. Point after point 



; ■ ■,, i ii -.a, ' te in anal,, succession until they 



annul) , ight, Idedini shots and seven 



,li indulged in mutual admiration. 



knocked down a bird he, like a sensible dog, dropped 



to shot and grinned and sneezed in admiration when he 

 struck a point staunch and true. I returned him manv com- 

 pliments while he, with staid and solemn dignity, stood 

 riveted to earth in a trance, magnetic, grand and beautiful— 

 a feast to the eye and a stimulus to thclieart. 



It was now growing towards the middle of the. afternoon, 

 and Corney, hearing the reports of ray gun, came up at last, 

 his face red as a turkey-cock, and reeking with perspiration. 

 Poor Pagin! the burrs' all pounded off him, was now covered 

 with yellow clay and loam; and skulked shy, lame and worn, 

 to Corney's heel. Pat made for him at once, swelled with 

 the pride of his recent success, among the. quail, and Corney 

 punched him back with the muzzle of his cocked gun, which 

 exci ted my apprehension to an unwonted degree. Finally, by 

 accident, he punched poor Fagin instead, and this was con- 

 sidered by Pat a signal to go in, and he did, much to my 

 horror and dismay. He had poor Fagin by the neck in a 

 twinkling, and was rapidly wiping up that comer of the buck- 

 wheat patch with him, Corney punching them both with the 

 muzzle, of his cocked gun, varying it with reversing thegun and 

 chopping at them with the butt. The air was thick with the 

 now hoarse curses of Corney, the piteous cries of Fagin, and 

 the victorious and savage growls of Pat, as he shook his un- 

 fortunate victim. The uncertain movements of the in- 

 furiated Comoy and the liability of his gun to go off any 

 moment, kept me dancing a cfoisi back and forth to keep its 

 muzzle directed from me. 



At length he punched them apart, and aiming a tremen- 

 dous parting kick at Pat, accompanied by a fearful oath, he 

 missed the dog and lost his footing at once; his heels flying 

 in the air, he fell heavily on his back, stunned; his gun 'flew 

 from his hands, striking the ground, both barrels going off, 

 fortunately for me, in an opposite direction. Gasping for 

 his breath I helped him up, and Pat coming near, the sight 

 of the dog revived him, and he kicked then to some purpose. 

 Knocking the breath out of my dog, ho tried to jump on him, 

 but I pushed him back. 



After this excitement had subsided and Corney had, at my 

 request, refrained from recharging his gun — and to encour- 

 age him in this I took my own charges out, but slipped them 

 in shortly after — I assured him it was time to go home, as 

 the birds were all hopelessly scattered. I then asked Corney 

 what success he had met with down in the creek bottom. 



" Oh, " said he, "I killed more nor a dozen down there, 

 but can find none of thim. I think it's becos Fagin got him- 

 silf overhated and couldn't smell thim." 



"I heard you making it hot for him down there, and sup- 

 posed that would be the result. We'll go to the house that 

 way, and see if Pat can pick them up for you." 



Ho showed me just where he had stood and blazed away 

 at them and killed his birds dead, and just where he saw 

 them fall, but not a feather could be found. He comforted 

 himself by assuring me that "them quails were the buggers 

 to hide away," toad said he'd often known them to run a 

 mile or more after they were knocked down. 



Returning to the house I found Optics much improved 

 by his rest, and much pleased at my success and the good 

 account I was able to give of Pat's behavior on this his trial 

 hunt; and although I regarded the bag as rather slim, he 

 declared it was more than fair under the circumstances. 



However, the object of my winter holiday was accom- 

 plished in so far as testing the qualities Of my new dog was 

 concerned, and moreover, had I not been regaled with some 

 novel hints and observations upon dog handling, etc., etc., 

 that were valuable to— avoid' 



But'by no means had I afforded the sport I desired for 

 my valued and genial friend Optics, but may the fates 

 kindly decree us another opportunity when we ar j both in 

 trim tj hie ourselves away to the pleasant fields in autumn, 

 where with staunch and well-tried brace of setters and 

 plenty of birds, spend the swiftly, yea, too swiftly, passing 

 hours of a bright October day, amid the thrilling scenes of 

 pointing dogs and rising quail, and the soul-enchanting 

 music of the booming and reverberating guns. 



South Foek. 



AMONG THE PINES. 



IT is incredible to suppose that a jolly party in search of 

 sport and adventure, knowing of a chain of beautiful 

 lakes abounding with fish and fowl, could long resist the 

 temptation of a few days' sport upon their attractive shores. 

 We certainly could not, and after a hurried preparation were 

 off. "Nine procious souls, and all agog to dash through 

 thick and thin." The complete pleasure of an excursion of 

 this kind is somewhat marred unless you have congenial 

 companions, and in this respect we were particularly fortu- 

 nate. Our party consisted of several young southerners full 

 of fun, a young English sportsman fresh from the "tight 

 little isle" (entirely unacquainted with the ways of American 

 youth), and an experienced hunter, who was thoroughly im- 

 bued with frontier customs and manners and an excellent 

 hand to "rough it" on occasions like this. At early dawn we 

 drove out of one of the most picturesque villages in the St. 

 Croix Valley, if not in Minnesota; and an interesting drive 

 of several hours through dense forests of pine and lonely 

 tamerack swamps brought us to the shores of Forest Lake; 

 the first and most beautiful of the chain. Among the 

 numerous lakes we have visited this one BBeffled especially 

 interesting, situated as it is in the heart of a dense forest in 

 the wilds of the Northwest. We have spent hours in silent 

 Contemplation of the moonlit charms of Italy's twin jewels, 

 Como and Sugano; caught our first view of Geneva, the 

 mirror of the Alps, as we came from the frozen passes of the 

 Simplon; and have studied the beauties of the Irish and 

 Scottish chan, , ,n,i ay point; but bright and beautiful 

 as they all are. thev f lilcd'l.o impress us as did this obscure 

 lake in the wilderness. In the former, the practical de- 

 mands of civilization destroy all sentiment. The shrill 

 whistle of a locomotive or the "wash" of a passing steam- 

 boat awakens the poet from his dream, and reminds the 

 student of nature that the glorious Idiss of seclusion and 

 solitude is not td be found there. But on the banks of this 

 northern lake one would suppose the sound of a human voice 

 had never been heard, so intensely impressive is the silence; 

 a fit place "To dream o'er the buried past, enjoy the living 

 present, and build such lofty and enchanting air-castles for 

 the glorious future." Here the deer is still master of the 

 forest; the fish as plenty and as unsophisticated as the 

 aborigines in the days of Columbus; while the speckled 

 beau a - liave a "high old time" in the many sparkling brooks 

 ■I ., - I .., -. ,,, i ,,,,!, I ah these dense/shades. In many 

 places tl - 1 . . ■ . i . - i . i ■-; - - a L a ,,-a'a ,:,;' firm, clear, white 



sand with a liberal sprinkling of cornelians, while at inter- 

 vals tiny dikes of boulderS reach to the water's edge, A few 



glances ol adm ratios aad Bx,olam tions of delight, and all 



turned their attention to pitching camp and pre,, 

 the night, The staunch batteaux, which served fur wagon- 

 bed and parlor car during the day, was successfully launched; 



ly, who had been gathering 

 rare en route to the river 

 They were a hungry and 

 .d a Turkish bath would have 

 they were the most unclean 

 ty. Some of our fellows 

 before — especially our 

 d that his auburn 



horses properly cared for, and 6VETJ one in good spirits in 

 anticipation of sport or adventure. ' The first thing to be ac- 

 complished was to obtain fish for supper, which I 

 camp readily volunteered to do; but we concluded that we 

 could only spare a couple for that pleasure, aa 

 plenty of work in camp for tin, others. How natural iris for 

 every one the moment thev go into camp to start, off directly 

 on a fish or hunt, expecting the others to pitch tents, do the 

 cooking, etc., etc. Those of our party who were, so inclined 

 were unanimously selected as a returning board, with 

 power to investigate the fish question and scale, clean and 

 count in a suitable mess for supper — while ono rare youth, 

 who had already started into the brush with gun at right 

 shoulder, was recalled, and promptly made chairman of the 

 fish committee. He modestly declined the honor in a suita- 

 ble speech, but at last yielded to the urgent solicitations of 

 the entire camp. It seemed wicked to catch more fish than 

 we needed — but soon after supper, while the pipes were being 

 relit for the second or third time, an incident occurred which 

 aroused the camp as well as keeping the fish from spoiling 

 on our hands. This was the unexpected arrival of several 

 aborigines of the Chippeway fflj " 

 cranberries in the swamps ami 

 settlements to dispose of then 

 noisy set of "varmints," 

 wiped them out of exist.em 

 rascals we ever saw by a large _. 

 had never seen an uncivilized Indii 

 English friend, who, upon being 



locks would not be appropriated for ornamental purposes, 

 made their acquaintance and begged them to "stop and sup 

 a bit." The invitation of our hospitable friend was not in 

 vain, judging from the manner in which everything eatable 

 upon the premises disappeared. After having grunted their 

 satisfaction they produced pipes, and helping themselves to 

 our tobacco, intimated by idiotic gestures their intention of 

 remaining and "making 'a night, of it" with us -which by a 

 strict party vote was seconded, as their arrival in our camp 

 was as welcome as a stern-wheel circus in a country village. 

 We cannot relate the many incidents of the night, but it is 

 sufficient to say that story, song, and yell was in order until 

 early in the following morn — when by sharp attention it was 

 not far distirut timber-wolf could now and 

 r. Then we slept— or tried to sleep— but 

 lger boys we ru up to all manner of mischief 

 icomfiture of our Englishman and to the 

 annoyance of others. Early the next morning our guests, 

 the "Chips," silently stole away, taking with them a few 

 things which were handy (as mementoes we suppose)' — a 

 way they have of expressing their gratitude, mud a way not 

 exclusively confined to them — judging from the well-filled 

 prisons everywhere. After breakfast we packed some sup- 

 plies into our boat, and leaving four of our fellows in camp 

 who preferred still fishing near bv, we started for a tour of 

 the lakes. The scene up the lake that morning was sublime, 

 and had a decidedly refreshing effect upon our party. The 

 wind was just rising, and the dark green waves were tumbling 

 about and chasing each ot her up thu clear sandy beach at our 

 feet. We improvised a rude sail, which improved and ac- 

 celerated our speed, and we soon approached a gem of an 

 island — upon which we bunded, where a rest and some still- 

 fishing was indulged in. Our English 

 himself in geologicid research, and reti 

 with a peck or more of what he thought wi 

 which proved to be common pebbles, an 

 formed of this he W8S Ll blQQdj land" for : 

 decidedly English. To have joined in the bv 



ascertained that 

 then get a howl i 

 some of our yot 

 — much to the d 



npaniun buried 

 led to the boat 

 cornelians, but 

 upon being in- 

 rhile. which was 

 mid ha- 



re proceeded up tho lake 

 isently we unturud what 

 rihlrice. As we passed 

 ?ry dip of the 



I,-.., OS, 



ii time i 



thill local- 



llgll thCHIl 



ud the 



Yankee to the buckbo: 

 the shores drew together, and p 

 proved to be a thicket of lilies and 

 further into it, hundreds of duck 

 oars, and we had good shooting fo 

 ii v. We forced a passage for sore 

 fields of rice -the heavily laden g 

 with every passing breeze. Wild fowl 

 feasts furnished bv the liberal hand of nature soon become 

 so fat that they can barely fly. In feeding they incline their 

 heads horizontal with the wafer, and with their bills saw 

 asunder the stalk until it falls, when they can leisurely and 

 easily get at the kernels. After passing through this thicket 

 we entered Boot Lake, the second of the chain— and a charm- 

 ing sheet of water it is— a few miles in oirrmrafi re 

 lecting a suitablo place for camp, we landed. Spei 

 balance of the day in shooting and fishing. We :•., 

 fine bass in this lake, but too many pickerel, alihou 

 weight and very palatable. Having left our ten 

 previous camp we slept in our blankets, and soundly 

 notwithstanding a complimentary serenade te 

 strolling band of wolves and mosquitoes, W, 

 breakfasted, and were afloat just as the beams 

 dancing on the water. On our return trip 



canoes in a well-sheltered 



who asked us for tol 

 eternal I y hunting st 

 dian's life from the 

 romance pictured the youn 

 edge as Longfellow's "51 

 dusky Indian roamed the t 

 only sound of life upon th 



ad : 



lethin 

 ,'radi: 



So- 



r tents at our 

 iin.-lly enough, 

 oh n ,1 us by a 



arose, bathed, 



if old Sol were 



ve saw several 



manv Indians, 



They seem to be 



i object iff ,ui ln- 



rlreaming with Cooj 



turb. d bj tin- shrill 

 thing and everythin 



did not resemble tl 

 tnre?, mid art, pnrti 

 shores of America. .• 

 and her tribe, and 

 anon. 



•and Longfellow until we were die- 

 ies of the Vagabonds cm shore lor any- 

 I'pon a closer inspection the maiden 

 beautiful creature which history pic- 

 s an welcoming our ancestors so tho 

 irief stop, a last farewell to Minnehaha 

 i were off, homeward bound. More 

 I'nANa L, Tha-keu. 



For f'jresf. and Hlr/fim, 



ANDREW JACKSON FOSTER, THE ME- 

 GANT1C GUIDE. 



WHO has visited Lake Meguntic during the last fourteen 

 years without meeting or hearing n? old FosterV It is 

 ary to say from whence he came, his ,, 

 tiei-ntly establishes his nationality. He held a position its 

 scout or pioneer in a New England regiment during 

 • unpleasantness,'" but as the job didn't suit him a 

 "dropped out," and took up hit quarter* Ml Mi 

 with his wife and daughter 



Lake, near" the j miction , a, I, Spider 



Rivers, where by hunting and trapping hi 

 to pick up B decent living - 



