404 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[June 31, 1883. 



§mi\e $a$ m\d 



<M )//■; i; list > irr.s.— w,' am always glad to reeeiw forjiub- 



rh nntrx uf ilexienhle ijnme rrsorh us may lie nf help 



to tlw readers of Forest and Stream. Will not MM" isorre- 



ais favor it* with .inch advieet 



THE CAMP. 



XT was 1 1 1 < ■ oiose <>f a hot dusty flay toward the middle of 

 August, tlmt a parly of adventurers lighted their camp- 

 fire on Elizabeth Point, on the eastern shore of Thirteenth 

 Pond, a small lake jflsl beyond the hither bounds oi the 

 northern -wilds. 



A group of four, all of middle age, men whose harsh 

 hands gave token of daily toil, though they had left their 

 Cares and labors, turning their backs for a season upon the. 

 harvest field and tie- workshop, toey had crane hither for 

 rest. 



Their mission here was to give respite to muscles, long 



taxed, to divert minds from aconstaul unvarying round of 



cares. The location and arrangement of their camp showed 

 that they were no noviees at least in this branch of wood- 

 craft, for their tent was pitched OB a little timbered promon- 

 tory Commanding a view of the whole western shore of the 

 lake, some three miles in extent, a roue.h and jagged moun- 

 tain line coming down abruptly to the water's edge, indented 



here and there with sharp gaps between peakB that loomed 

 darkly against the evening sky, and threw their black 

 shadows now quite across the lake at their feet, An army 



lent set with front toward the lauding, formed an awning 

 under which boxes of provisions and utensils were arranged 

 for convenient use. four stakes supported the large square 

 ue of the boxes for a table, towels hung from a 

 line overhead, a bar of soap lay in a notch cut in the side of 

 a convenient tree, and by the side of a huge log upon whose 

 Ml or two of the pari v were sitting 7 , glowed a pile of 

 coals which, fanned by the little gusts of wind now and 

 then whistling up from the lake, threw old a genial warmth 

 quite pleasant in the somewhat chilly evening, which in these 

 forest wilds often succeeds even a hot day. 



They had evidently finished their supper, for the tin plates 

 and cups were neatly washed, arranged bottoms up ou the 

 table, and, save a kettle steaming ou the Are. a frying pnn, 

 and tea kettle- hung from nails driven in trees 

 conveniently near, no other utensils of cookery were to be 

 Hcen, huts covered box adjacent to the table and now used 

 ns a -ear. is strongly suspected of being the corner cupboard 

 of this forest kitchen. The party sat some time in silence, 

 looking dreamily at the decaying tire, or watching as the 

 darkening shadows close over woods and lake, till tile sharp 

 cut outlines of the opposite peaks become only the dark 

 background of a dim, uncertain picture, growing more in- 

 distinct even under the eye of the observer. 



But now an armful of dry Branches thrown upon the 

 lire sends up an inverted shower of sparks among the over- 

 hanging leaves, and soon a bright and cheery blaze brings 

 out in clear relief the figure of Tiim who is evidently the 

 chief cook of the party, as now stirring into great activity 

 the crackling pile, oi' kicking back some straggling brand, 

 he finally lifts with a knowing jerk the lid of the kettle on 

 the lire, peers for a moment into its steamy depths, replaces 

 the cover, and turns his bpek to the lire with the remark: 



"Will. bojs. there's the foundation of our breakfast, any- 

 how, provided we can't do better, but I'm bound to try 

 again to coax those stupid trout to bite in the morning." 



An instant's pause— a deprecating glance at the dull smoky 

 sky and. "It's up hill business, this confounded dry weather 

 though." The speaker, "Vulcan, Knight of the Hammer," 

 spare, muscular, square-shouldered, above the medium 

 height, with a forehead and phrenological development 

 combined with a quick decided movement that proclaimed 

 him at a glance a master of whatever he undertook, now 

 stood feeing the others with the question, "E., did you 

 notice how much below the mark along the rocks the water 

 has fallen?" 



lb- addressed a farmerlike-lookiug person, who replied 

 familiarly, looking up for a moment from a breech-loading 

 rifle which he was cleaning, and then with some casual re- 

 marks, resumed his work. 



Seated on the box previously mentioned, with elbows ou the 

 table and his head resting on" both hands in an attitude of 

 deep meditation, was perhaps the most remarkable man of 

 Hie party. Slighllyroiuid-shouldered, but with a chest both 

 broad and deep, fully six feet in height, with massive limbs, 

 somewhat uncouth in manners and person, his strongly 

 marked features and the accompanying head made up au or 

 ganization that Fowler would, untouched, have pronounced 

 one of great power. 



Here was a man of signal ability, and one who, upon oc- 

 casion, could reel oil yarns or swear oaths which bis great, 

 prototype in morals and creed, perchance in person, glorious 

 old barbarbic Ethan Allen, might have equalled but cer- 

 tainly never surpassed. 



As" was his wont when thinking hardest, oblivious to all 

 surouudings. with ever and anon" a monotonous whistle or 

 humming go much of melody as might he dictated by an ear 



Charmed equally by heavenly tones of Sweden's Jenny or 



discordant screech of Tamil on engine, "The Battery" was 

 roaming deep in unknown lore, bill whether of Ncwlon, 

 Euclid, Or Blaekstone the historian sayeth Dot. 



An animated conversation ensued between the two at 

 tin- lire, who were soon joined by the fourth and last of the 

 party. 



Taller Ihan any of the others, the listless manner and 

 languid step proclaimed the invalid. Gaunt, lean, dyspeptic 

 and cross, Paul Devereux seemed but a sorry companion in 

 a buntine camp. 



Various topics were discussed— the procuring of a guide, 



i of getting deer; the locality and distance of other 



lakes, hopes of rain were expressed, and though the evening 

 was well advanced and I lie party evidently tired with the 

 labor of bringing in their "traps" and arranging camp, there 

 was no indication of a desire for sleep. 



It was plain that the party was not yet complete, and 

 that they were expecting au addition of some sort, for their 

 plans were not definite, and a listener could have heard 

 Occasionally an expression like, "We'll see about that when 

 he Comes," or "He knows the ground belter than we do," 



r-ation at last began lo fail, the seat by the 



table was emptv. but a pair of enormous long-legged boots 

 projecting into" the firelight at the front of the tent, and a 

 steady rumbling snore of wondrous depth and power, stun 

 iug a shade below double B flat, and rising a semitone or so 

 under the I idlest pressure, neither of wdlich could by any 



possibility have pertained to anyone, but "The Battery," 

 accounted for the vacancy. 



As conversation waned, the numerous sounds of the wil- 

 derness became audible, the chirp of the tree frog and 

 cricket. Hie weary note of Ihe circling night hawk and dis- 

 tant -ry of the loon, the whole family of owls, each with a 

 different note, all served to till the vast space otherwise left 

 lolotal silence. 



The fire bail burneil low, till just enough of light temained 

 to render visible the thin wavering spire of smoke that 

 wound up among trees, when a faint ticking as of oars in 

 'he row-locks came up from toward the. foot of the lake, at 



first scarce audible, but regular, and becoming gradually 

 more distincl. ••Coming from Bennett's Landing." says 

 one "Yes, but who is pokimr about ou the lakeODMUChs 



night as ibis?" ""Why, if a darker than the Stygian Pool, 



and none too smooth at that," 



"They are not steering toward us anyhow," said Paul, 

 who was intently listening. 



"How do yoifknow?" 



' 'Listen to the stroke and the echo, that boat is in the bay 

 below Shanty Poiul, across, the lake and a good half mile 

 from here." 



The rowing now ceased a moment, and was again re- 

 newed, not. however, with the light, one-handed movement 

 of a hoat at landing, but with a full sweep and a double 

 Stroke, as if the rower looked or listened a while and then 

 pulled ahead. 



It was decided to strike a light, and a few dry pine 

 branches soon sent up a blaze that could hardly fail to be 

 visible from that part of the lake from which 'the sounds 

 proceeded. A few moments passed, and a distant, faint 

 haloo came across the water. 



Vulcan bounded to his feet, "O. B. for a thousand," and 

 an answering veil rang through the woods, over the waters, 

 and was echoed back from the mountains beyond. Another 

 haloo and its answer, and the oar-strokes rang quick and 

 clear again. "I thought 1 knew that yell, only h 

 little out of breath. Well. I don't w " 

 has pulled tap from Bennett's Lai 

 Mind von, it blows out on the lake." 



A lighted lantern was bv this time 

 and as the Tight streamed across the 

 came back thai left no doubt as toth 



"What in creation brought you here? I was looking for 

 you on Shanty Point." 



"All burned over; bare as a fallow." 



"Oh, ho, it is, eh'/ But this ain't good camping ground." 



"Wait till you see." 



As the. boat touched the shore, out jumped a wiry little 

 fellow, awl with a mimic bow. "How are you all? happy to 

 see you, how's your friends, wives and babies? wasn't look- 

 ing for company this evening, hey? hope I don't intrude, 

 brought my knitting work you see." And he hauled a 

 bundle out "of Ihe boat and began scrambling up the bank 

 toward the fire without stopping to look for the path, or 

 waiting for the lantern lo lead the wa\ , all the while rattling 

 his jokes, questions and comments, never waiting or caring 

 for any answer either. Arrived tit the lire be pitched his 

 pack under the table and plumped down on the log with— 

 "Hain't got no deer. no. nor trout either. I'll bet it, couldn't 

 do nothing till I come, no matter though, we'll have 'em, 

 'lacks of 'em, I'll show you how," and immediately began a 

 ili.-eourse on hunting, fishing, and woodcraft in general, and 

 of this locality in particular, telling Of at least forty places 



ider that he is if he 

 ling against the wind. 



iown at the landing, 

 lark waters a whoop 

 romer. 



on this lake wb 

 any time, of more Bu 

 could visit in a week 

 ingly no end of anect 

 in fact from the limi 

 life of the party. T) 

 Paul had sat CrosS-le 

 tree, taking little or 



could not fail of catching trout at 

 re places for deer than the whole party 

 and interlarding the whole with seem 

 fetes of bunting adventures of bis own, 

 his feet touched land, becoming the 

 mug the latter part of this performance 

 Iged on the log with his back against a 

 part in Ihe conversation but regaini- 



ng the speaker, at first with an air of total indifferen 

 iviiich succeeded a half quizzical smile as he listened, vastly 

 amused in spile of himself at the animated Storicsand quaint 

 jokes oi 0. B., who but for Vulcan, several dint t, essayed lo 

 iiiup a tire brand at. him. as the little rascal declared "just to 

 wake the poor devil up." 



"Had a cracking shower at the Port yesterday; rain any 

 here?" 



"Not a drop." 



"Pitv, can't catch no troul till it rains, that's certain. 

 Say, I drove my mare from the Port up since ten o'clock 

 Ihi's forenoon, and not a wet hair when 1 got to Bennett's. 

 \Vliat do veil think of that?" 



"Oh. pshaw, that's nothing." This answer came from 

 The Battm " 



"Ob, hut I had a load in my buggy, myself and baggage, 

 a bag of oats for my hoarse— by George, I forgot my corn or 

 we'd have a roast— I had a sack of green corn, and blankets 

 and so on ; a load, I tell you. It's more than any of your old 

 racks of bones can do." 



This much of a hostile demonstration would draw the fire 

 of that "Battery" at any time, and with a short pause it. 

 came, 



"Ho— buggy! that straddle-bug concern I kicked across 

 the canal by Vulcan's shop the other day, and you stuck on 

 top of it like a flea on a "anther graybeard," it's a pity if a 

 horse couldn't make seventy or eighty miles in a day." 



The little one roared with laughter, laying back over the 

 log and kicking up his heels till his bead nearly touched the 

 ground, and coming back with a brisk slap on "The Bat- 

 tery's" knee, sprang to his feet, and started on a tour of ex- 

 ploration around the tent, exclaiming, "Let's see how you 

 gotit anyhow-," pitching headlong over three guy ropes in 

 Succession Without the least ruffling his temper, or slopping 

 the string of comments rattling from his tongue, which 

 seemed to run just as well when down as up, he soon 

 emerged into light from the other side, having made the cir- 

 cuit, with the ""remark, "Prettv well, pretty well after all, 

 most as well as I could have done it myself;" to which "The 

 Battery," by the fire, rolled up hiseyes in geometrical aston- 

 ishment, with a sub-bass growl of, "Thunder, bear him 

 go it, forgot his corn, he hain't got none, too darned 1 

 pack it down to the boat, I suppose, anyhow." The subject 

 of the remark having finished his survey of the outside, now 

 literally dove into the lent for an examination of Us contents, 

 reminding one of nothing so much as a vigorous terrier in 

 hot, pursuit of a rat, he proclaimed the name and qualily of 

 each article, hauling out to the light whatever he could not 

 determine by other means, whether it be gun, fishing tackle, 

 wearing apparel, eatables or what uot. and keeping up the 

 while a running lire of remarks for the edification of the 

 company. Suddenly, however, the hubbub ceased, and to 

 the astonishment of all. even the irrepressible member no 

 longer w T agged 



Pot an instant all were at fault, but the silence was broken 

 by Vulcan with. "Come out of that I say! come out of that, 

 or I'll— '■ 



What the threat might have been we shall never know, 

 for ihe Knight seized a." blazing brand and made a furious 

 rush lor the lent. As the light began to play about Ihe en- 

 trance . there came a sound as of opening" the valve of a 

 suction pipe under a heavy pressure, and tin? curtain being 

 lii ed bowed the occupa.it Seated Baton the ground by a 

 box of "stores" tugring at his boot-straps as if trying to 

 force the bottom out. and muttering in a strangely 'altered, 

 voice about "wet feet" and "that plaguy boat," "dry 

 socks," etc. 



Vulcan, however, was incorrigible, and proceeded to ex- 

 amine his treasures, when a package of Dr. Whitehouse's 

 famous "specific." which, in his zeal for the welfare of the 

 party, the worthy doctor had with his own hands prepared, 

 and with corks securely tied and safely packed for the jour- 

 ney, committed to Vulcan's charge with many and full 

 directions for use, was found in a bad condition, slrings 

 broken and contents partly gone'. Upon interrogation the 

 accused stoutly denied all knowledge ot the matter, declar- 

 ing thai the suspicious sounds must have been produced bv 

 pulling oil' his wet boots. 



The lateness of the hour compelled the party to seek that: 

 sleep which was to prepare them for the morrow's sport, 

 leaving the question undecided. 



The curtain was buttoned. down, and wrapped in blankets 

 spread above the beds of soft and fragrant evergreen 

 boughs, the hunters forgot, in dreamless sleep ihe labors of 

 the day. its mishaps and its jokes, so also their anticipations 

 of the future. 



And now. though the pen of Paul hath even become rusty 

 by reason of long disuse, I lie readers of Pobest and .Stt(Ea3i 

 may rest in the assurance that if the fates be propitious, they 

 shall certainly, in clue, time, bear of the days that followed! 

 Paul Dkvekelx. 



FLOR1DIAN EXPERIENCE. 



I HAVE just read with regret "Didymuss" scathing article 

 in Forest and Stream of May 24 on Florida, and the de- 

 ceptive nature of the accounts of hunting to lie had there. 

 Without wishing to cast reflections ou the writer's veracity 

 or the sincerity of his opinious, I still do most severely con- 

 demn the spirit in which he so publicly and harshly" criti- 

 cises that Si ute. I am not at present a resident -of Florida, 

 but from November, 1880, to February, 1882, I spent mv 

 time on Indian Kiver. and conversed with gentlemen who 

 had hunted the coast from St. Augusline to Tampa. From 

 my own experience, and from the remarks of these sports- 

 men, 1 have, formed an entirely different opinion of the 

 sport and accommodations obtainable by genuine lovers of 

 line and gnu. It is to be regretted that persons will go into 

 a new country and expect such a style of sport and Hying as 

 "Didymus" was looking for, and particularly is it to be re- 

 gretted and reprehended, when such persons, not finding 

 every thing as Oosy and comfortable as at home, write for 

 publication articles condemning at one sweep hotels, game, 

 and the country at large. "Didymus" is not to understand 

 that 1 am taking sides againsl him in his description of 

 Central Florida. I admit that quail shooting in Central and 

 Southern Florida is anything but first-class, both as regards 

 size and disposition of birds and the country shot over. But 

 1 do take a sland in opposition in defense of the sea and 

 gulf coast, where, with exception of St. Augustine, lie does 

 not seem to have gone. As the editor very tellingly ex- 

 plains "Didymus's" experience at St. Augustine, 1 say noth- 

 ing about it, but have a few words lo say in defense ot In- 

 dian River and the surrounding country. For deer, bear, 

 ducks anil fish this river as nearly approaches the ideal 

 sportsman's paradise as any Other place one could find. 



1 am sure "Didymus" would have enjoyed himself here, 

 providing always that he is prompted by a true sportsman's 

 spirit to make the most of what he finds good, while bearing 

 and excusing what seems unpleasant, or not quile up lo ex- 

 pectations. Unless one is prepared [0 do this, he had better 

 confine himself lo the other States, wdiere he can easily find 

 shelter from rain and sun, and where all disagreeable work 

 can be shunted to the shoulders and hands of an attendant. 



Leaving quail shooting out of Ihe question, and that, by 

 the way, can be found hearer home by us all; if anyone 

 wishes' first-class duck, deer or bear shooting, let him go to 

 Jacksonville and take one of the daily boats to Stanford, 

 There he can find semi-weekly bonis "to Lake Poinsett, a 

 point on the Si. Johns, opposite Lock Ledge, ou the Indian 

 River, distant about two mile.-, or perhaps by this time the 

 new road from Enterprise to Titusville, on Indian River, is 

 open to the public. Rock Ledge is twenty miles south of 

 Titusville. If you go by boat fromSanford to Lake Poin- 

 sett, (here will be a rough two miles' ride, across to Rock 

 Ledge. But once there you will find yourself within reach 

 of afi the conveniences dear to a sportsman's bean. 



The large, new hotel built in : 81 by Mr. Wilkinson, of 

 Richmond, Va., is kept up in the latest and most approved 

 style, and here can be found boats for hire by the day, week 

 or month. . ... 



If duck shooting is desired, cross the river in front of 

 Rock Ledae to Mr. Cleveland's. From there a tramp of two 

 miles will take vou to New Found Harbor, one of the finest 

 ducking grounds of America. It takes rank with Currituck 

 Sound 'ami the Chesapeake in th*t respect, No boat is ' 

 needed The shore is covered with small ponds, where Ihe 

 iluet.-s 'conm-i-eate in immense numbers. Mallard, teal, 

 widgeon spoonbill are here, besides many other varieties. 

 The liunier has only to take a stand by some hastily con- 

 structed blind and'he can have all the shooting he desires. 



Bear are found in large numbers iu the northern part of 

 ihe Merritls Island. For deer, this island was at onetime 

 unsurpassed, but now they are found mostly on the 

 prairie, back of Etui Gallic, a small post-ofhee eighteen miles 

 south of Rock Ledge, and opposite the southern point of .the 

 island. This prairie extends from Kan Gallic o Okeechobee, 

 and back to the St. Johns, and deer are tound there in num- 

 bers Mv deer shooting was confined to the eastern shore, 

 a narrow strip between Indian River and the ocean. One 

 morning 1 shot three between eight and twelve 



Turkey are not found on the eastern side of the river, but 

 in February and April are to be found in droves near Okee- 



" If any of your readers wish fine .port with deer, beer, 

 turkey, ducks OT fish, let them go to Rock Ledge, and take a 

 boat to (.'apron, opposite Indian Kiver inlet, there, .Mr. 

 Jim Paine has a small hotel always open to sportsmen, and a 

 table well supplied with game and iish. His brother lorn 

 and he are both ardent sportsmen, and can put you up to all 

 kinds of sport, Jim Paine was extensively engaged in ttn- 



