472 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jajs. 10, !8?t. 



ten or fifteen, which our Indiana told us wis an 

 answer to too one that had been accidentally made 

 in the forenoou by Item, the Tahk-neesh who made 

 the second one evidently thinking that then- were Chilkat 

 traders in their country, this Icing a very usual signal among 

 them when thus engaged. It was worthy of note as extend- 

 ing this peculiarity of signals, so common among the Indians 

 of the Plaius, to these tar oft' tribes, hut I was not able to 

 find out whether they carried it to such an intricacy of dil- 

 t'event meanings by compound smokes. It is very doubtful 

 if they do as the necessity for such can hardly arise. This 

 new kite cm which we had taken up our northward course 

 Is called by the Indians of the country the Tahk-o (each lake 

 and connecting length of river hns 8 different name with 

 them), and receives a river coming in irom the south, which. 



water 

 map-makers 

 rmapa, and 

 land its Re- 

 ne, either by 

 est explorer 

 r ton river, 



followed up to one of its sources, gives a . 



of the Pacific. This stream, which hypothetical 



have drawn in full waving lines to* fill out tin i 



which they have dubbed the Tab -co 'sec "Alask 



sources'"), "when it is not known by any such nar 



the Indians of the country or the right of the fi 



(really there can only lie one geographical exploi 



so excuse the tautology) to name it such, is said to be by tin 



Indians smaller than the one we came over, and therefon 



We COIlld consider that we were on the Yukon proper so 



far 



THE GUN SWAP. 



"Hail! laud o' cakes ami brrthpt- Scots, 

 Frao Jlaid>nkitk to Johnny QrootS, 

 If there's a hole in a' your Coots, 

 i rede ye tent li ; 

 A chiefs am.ine.yu, taln'u' notes, 

 And, faith, he'll prent it. ' 



SOMEBODY has said, fivn »umii» zenrprr .-mpient,.-'. or 

 "words to that effect," and the occasional follies Of men 

 who are generally wise are oftentimes the source of much 

 amusement to those wild are in a stale of complete sanity. 

 Indeed, most frequently our merriment comes either from 

 our own weaknesses or those of our friends, ll is thus that 

 foliy is not an unmixed evil, though candor compels me to 



fowling piece, and the mechanical excellence exhibited in 

 the workmanship. His Dext step was to inquire of Quint 

 what he gave for it. To this inquiry tbe owuer replied, that 

 it was "second-hand" and then handed him the bill. 



After Mud had looked over it, he again took up the gun, 

 and gave ii another look, his eye sparkling with delight, as 

 its delicate proportions came to view, lie was enamored. 

 His cupidity was aroused. He had in his hand a gun which, 

 if he owned it, would enable him to triumph over all com- 

 petition in his hunts. Eight, Cylinder; left, "not for ball." 

 That was just what he needed. That choke barrel would 

 bringdown the bird at long range after be had "grassed" 



mid bos 

 L. Q. fr 

 vhich he 



caking 1 



one with the right. His score would 1 

 of bringing up the rear as usual, he 

 left Teceef, Duffrey, Wells and .lit: 

 mind was active as to the means lrv 

 gun from Dr. Quint. At last after s 

 the elegance of the little beauty, he 

 for bis conscience was smiting bin 

 was the owner of a very fine Scott, whi« 

 would he willing to exchange. Then he r 

 to swap. Quint said he didn't know anyth 

 that he bad very little use for a gun of any 

 posed one would do him as well as anothe 

 looking at the gun with intense delight 



■ ha 



which sn (listening his ki 



toward the counting 

 Teceel. So soon as tht 

 himself to Quint, "onbeknownst" 

 the wink." Quint then protested a, 

 little use for a gun any way, that a gun W£ 

 that, he was foolish to 'have' in vested so ta 

 always happy to accommodate his friend 

 his kinsmen," and if lie knew anything of th 

 in swap he might be disposed, as a mat lei 

 make the trade. Mud's anxiety vi asm, ; > s u; 

 Quint's confidence in the judgment of Te 

 that T. knew the gun, and would 

 , represented it. Then Q. called U 

 To I Ins inquiry the answer came that it, wa 

 that he had long wanted it himself. He ad 

 rtllii 



ised. * In 

 it how 1. 

 • behind. His 

 could get that 

 high terms of 

 rerv timidly — 

 little— to 'say that' he 

 which cost $250, and 

 osed squarely 



of Muo's gun. 

 t, and he sup- 

 Mud was still 

 k being 



Mud, and 

 n that he had 

 tin was all he 



■el she, 



ubslantial 



ide> 



Stii 

 ally 



n'n. 



■njoyment 

 ithslanding 

 lish a lit lie 

 rould be a 

 ed by a de- 

 He? there- 

 in, affords 

 is an enemy 

 re in which 



say that I think it f 

 from wisdom than from its 

 we are toiti that the -'wisest 

 nonsense," and practice it lie; 

 rather stupid worlo if not oc 

 parture ftoui the right. Line of oaleulat 

 fore, who, while meaning and doing no ha 

 amusement to his associates, is not to be classed 

 to society, or as one who is worthless in the spin 

 he move's. I have known some really great men who had 

 idiosyncrasies apparently inconsistent with their characters 

 which afforded diversion to those who were far from being 

 their equals in intellectual points, and who, in their turn, 

 exhibited far more folly loan that at which they laughed. 

 Indeed, every neighborhood has, its man who stands out pro- 

 eminent for some particular quality, and this quality is now 

 ami then on the ludicrous side of the line of human action. 

 Such a one is often the butt of his fellows, and his conduct 

 se.ms 10 amuse as well as interest those who bear of it or 

 witness it 



Among my sporting friends is one whom 1 have often men- 

 tioned in the columns of the Forest an'o Stream, using 

 Mud as his nom <h plume. Now Mud is not his name. He 

 beats, as a given name, that of a man — a statesman — born 

 on the soil of Virginia, ami developed into the brilliant pro- 

 portions of one of the mightiest orators of the century in the 

 State of Kentucky, by which Stale he was often honored 



anted, 



that he was 



id especially 



■apon offered 



alter ot kindness, to 



a strain, and knowing 

 ! Teceel, he. told him 

 bimthat il was as he 



d asked the question, 

 nice gun, anil 

 l the tradi 



exploit has gone, and when Mud meets a friend one of tile 

 first inquiries made. Of him is: "Have you a gun ton want 

 loswap?" We told it on htm at Jo Duffrey 's in Chatham 

 county, last week, whose house, on ' 'Hickory Mia; , i 



visited to find amusement among the birds • 



Leach left in that section when he was "grootnitv 

 for the show at High Point,. Some account of tint u I 

 hope to find time to prepare before many days fcr the 

 amusement of the readers ot the Forest and SpIj. \ e Per 

 haps I should not use the word "amusement,'' for it is far 

 from being eel lain that the description will contain anything 

 kely to produce that result. Nevertheless i shall try to 



forward 

 dispj, 



T n l* 



.omething in regard to it. Which 1 trust wilf not 

 Wells. 

 . N.c., Deo. S3, 1888. 



SKY PICTURES. 



ruing and evening glow in the heavens has been 

 bed by the wise men to cosmic dust, etc. I What 



iay be" it is not our purpose to conjecture tin 



an by the writer from a '■hooting box on the Jamr 

 made 



with a 

 The remaiui 

 surest fortiti 

 attack, mile: 



resorted to S 

 of Troy. M 

 educational 



physical cou _ 



' unyielding. With all the 



ich ot 



of 



ocial 

 and 



the halls of the Federal Cong: 

 the name was once regarded as the 

 y could have, rendering il safe from 

 V sealed, or used a battering ram, or 

 y as the Greeks employed in the siege 

 an of intelligence, has had superior 

 idvantages, possesses high moial and 



controlled by a sense of duty, wdiich 



adahlc qualities he 

 occasionally— nay, very often— startles his friends by the 

 commission of acts not very complimentary to his under- 

 standing. 



Mud is the owuer of a Scott Premier, lti-borc and °-8 inches 

 long. It is a beautiful little gun, aud worthy of an atten- 

 tion which is Tardy given to it. Mud is scrupulously neat 

 iu bis person— almost dandyish— and yet he allows "Little 

 Anna" to become very foul and to remain so. In this de 

 plorahle condition he often takes it, into the field, and, in 

 such coses at, least, fails to get as many birds as his bag will 

 hold. Frequently when he hits, the wound is only a flesh 

 one, and the game comes— as he expresses it— "limping" to 

 the ground. Besides this his eye is not always clear nor his 

 mm steady— not Uom whisky— and, like many others, he 

 charges the fault of his mishaps to the wrong cause. On a 

 recent occasion he went out on a bird hunt, with his neigh- 

 bor and kinsman, Teceel, and nut with such poor success 

 that he became disgusted with his gun, and came to the 

 conclusion that he would 



ttinity presented itself, _ It st 



One of our town physician; 

 termiiied to relax himself son 

 plasters, ordered a 16-borc gu 

 Boston. In due time the gun 



d of it as soon as an oppor- 

 n came, aud thus it was: 

 Quinl Wovingtoii, having de- 

 ft hat from the uses of pills aud 



from a well-known dealer it 

 ith the bill 



It was not expensive— the charge being only $35. For ce 

 tain reasons— not had ones— he concluded to play off on tho< 

 who chanced to see it, and accordingly placed the .figure 

 lust before 35, so as to make it appear that he had paid $131 

 The gun was at the drug stoic of Tole & Wovington, and 

 Dr. Quint called to Teceel to come in and look at it. Alter 

 inspecting it a while, Quint asked what he thought it was 

 wortb. He replied, that if it had been from first hands he 

 should suppose not, more than $50; still less if it was from 

 second bands To this surprise was expressed, aud the bill 

 exhibited. Then Tceeel told him to send the gun back, f or 

 the charge was exorbitant. Thepitifntto— was it not one? 

 _,v,w e/,,,tv, s sed. 



ested then, that he send over for his cousin 

 turn take a look. Quite promptly this erect 

 lumanity made his appearance, picked up Ha- 

 il an exceedingly critical inspection. After 

 ug glance lie tried the locks, then threw the 

 gun to his face, then looked closely at it all over, unbreeehed 

 it. peered at the bolts, closed it, sighted along the barrels, 

 inspected the sight, viewed the slock, opened and looked 

 Through the barrels from each end, look it to the light, re- 

 examined minutely in every particular, and expressed his 

 high appreciation of the beauty, finish and handmess of the 



I that ii he was Willing, he (T.) would pay him for his 

 outlay, get Mud's gun, and with th.8 money Quint could 

 purchase a less expensive article. Willi this assurance the 

 Pill Poller reluctantly consented to the exchange. 



Mud, being intent on getting an excellent bargain, now 

 wanted the shells, loading tools and case thrown iu. After a 

 little chaffing this was agreed to. Mud was highly delighted. 

 He indulged in the following audible soliloquy; "Well, I 

 maybe stuck, but a trade is a trade, you know. Quint. 1 

 never back out when I have agreed ; I always stick. Of course, 

 you won't back. Yes, a trade's a trade, "Quint. This is a 

 very fine gun. I am satisfied. You got it cheap. But mine- 

 is a' Scott premier, vou know. That means the best quality. 

 It cost originally s25u, and is in good fix. Well, T., are-voti 

 ready to go home'.' I'll take the grin along, Quint, anoTde- 

 liver'the other to Teceel. Will that suit ?" 



"Yes, cousin Mud. 1 am afraid I'm Cheated. Ii was 

 foolish in me to pay so much for a gun, anyhow. But, I 

 don't back out. A trade's a trade." 



Putting the gun on his shoulder, and telling Quint that he 

 would get the other articles during the afternoon, he stalked 

 proud!] out of the store, accompanied by Teceel. and sought 

 the retreat of his home, glowing with the anticipated joy of 

 communicating his brilliant achievement to .Mrs. Mud. As 

 they walked along the sideway, he was "full" of the excel- 

 lences of his trade. Indeed, be got upon the. verge of brag- 

 ging what he could now do iu the stubble aud sedge and 

 brush, When they reached the gate at his dwelling— for 

 laud is not SO Valuable with us that private residences are on 

 the walk, but stand from thirty to seventy feel back— he 

 stopped and said to his companion, "1 am satisfied with my 

 trade, and you must come in and get the other gun. But 

 what did Quint pay for this one? I expect he told you. Ik- 

 said he got a small' discount. What, did be pay? It makes 

 no difference, of course — for a trade's a trade." 



Yes. he told me, but il is best that I keep the price to 

 myself, for if 1 should let you know, it might dissatisfy 

 you." 



"Oh, no, it wouldn't. We have made a firm trade, and 1 

 always stick." 



They had reached the piazza of the bout 

 said: ""Now, Mud, a trade's a trade. You must not recant. 

 He told me, and, as you ask, 1 feel justified in letting you 

 know, but I fear you will be dissatisfied." 



"No danger at all. 1 know this is a very fine gun. 1 can't 

 be deceived. 1 am too good a judge of mechanism for that, 

 I assure you." 



"Well, then, he paid just $35 for it!" 



At litis announcement Mud raised himself to an unusual 

 perpendicularity . disgust, clouded away his smiles of joy, and 

 with an emphatic gesture he held forward the "fine gun," 

 saying: "Take il. It is a cheat, a swindle. I'll not be de- 

 frauded iu that way." 



"No, sir! Hxeuse inc. A Hade's a trade," 

 So overpowering Was Mud's disappointment and humili- 

 ation that, without another word, he opened the door, 

 entered, slammed the abutter in TVs face, and left him 

 standing in utter amazement at the conduct of the shrewd 

 trader. ' 



After he got indoors Mud placed the "stumbling block of 

 offense" upon a settee, covered it well with shawls and over- 

 coats, and with gloom in bis heart and on his blow, moodily 

 asked how long it was to dinner. "Few and short were the 

 WOrda he said," and so soon as the cravings of his ever 

 anxious stomach were satisfied, he quickly left ihe dining- 

 room, took op the covered gun, and, with rapid andlirmand 

 indignant tread, wended his way to the facus in </</<> the 

 swap was made. Quint met his scowling lace with his 

 blandest smile, and meekly inquired wdiy the tempest raged 

 —why "so foul the fiery plague, within." 



"Sir, you and T. have practiced a fraud upon me. You 

 have combined to swindle uie. You have entered into a 

 base conspiracy, sir. to victimize me. But I'll show you 

 that, youeaij'l 'compass' me in that way. Take your 

 able gun. I wouldn't have it, Y'ou only paid $35 for it. 



lean impression that will remain through life, 

 one of ihe grandest displays tb.it Nature lias evei per- 

 mitted him lo enjoy. 



The battery was* moored some distance heiov. 

 quarter of a mile, and though it way still , g od H 

 to daylight, we were astir, and a few minutes later pulled off 

 from the yacht. An early start was necessary, as the 

 heavens would soon take on their goigcous coloring, and the 

 fowl were not. obliged to wait for daybreak, but w < >i; I. i " " 

 to trade with the first led glow in the east. 



The moon had long since set. and save for the bi illiani 

 sparkle and flash of the silver lamps above, the daikness 

 would have been intense. Tliethrohhing water mirrored the 



stars in its depths, and returned Hash for Hash andsparkte 



for sparkle, until we seemed to Boat suspended amid Ihe 

 starry worlds. It is impossible to resolve into words the 

 keen sensations of mingled awe and rapture which talo 

 possession cri one at such, times, It will suffice if the read- 

 ing of tliis sketch may perchance touch a responsrvi > 

 in the breast of some FpmssT asp Stream comrade; memorj 

 of like scenes will paint for him the picture. 



At lasl we arc reclining in the narrow box, and listening 

 to the ripples as they sweep 

 subdued laughter a< ihey d: 

 sob away into the dark 



T. thei 



id i 



the rivtsr in 

 whirl whiu-u-u u-u-uuu t 

 of wings comes down to 

 fainter, the heavenly fir 

 glory fills the eastern 

 moment Before' invisible, 

 burnished gold it, the ?.<■ 

 red near the horizon, am 

 and upward like banner; 

 they fade into the steely 

 stand out in silhouette ■• 

 the calm surface of the : 

 the seen:,, we find ihe 

 though, like theAzt 

 god. Jupiter, the h 

 through the glowins 

 rich colors, as tho-fti 

 sky pic 



iles; we hear their 



they semi to 

 •ss, borne l,v the resistless flow of 

 toward Ihe sea. Wbish-sh-sh sh- 

 verhead in the still, cool air ihe rush 

 IMT, aud while the pulsations grow 



s begin to burn and ii wondrous 



Ivies.' A few tieeev clouds, but a 

 are wanned into life and glow like 

 ith. The color deepens !o a blood- 

 shafts of go ■- ■ ■' ■ !i ream out 



until, lost in a blushof sofi o ifigi 

 .lueo! the firmament. The. decoys 



jainst the reelected glor\ flooding 



ever, and to add to the rOl 



a all turning toward the 

 if old, awaiting Ihe rising of their 

 •aid of the morning, is now mounting 

 atists, and a gradual deepening of (lu- 

 shing touches are given to this superb 

 completion, and when with fi 



sudden burst of light the sun throws his golden ray 

 all. we are lost iu silent wonder Truly — 



"The heaven* aeclare the glory of God! 



And the lirmmueut showeih His handiwork." 



WINTER 



SHOOTING IN 

 CALIFORNIA. 



ik two r-APEits. — i. 



NORTHERN 



Mud, and let 



specimen of 

 gun, and gave 

 the first admit 



If I could find tt justice of the peace 1 would have both of 

 vou arrested, and held to answer a charge of 'obtaining 

 goods on false pretense.' The cheat was bad enough, jib- 

 was beginning to cool off a little]. But T. will tell Wells and 

 Mr. Duffrey, aud I'll never hear the last of it. The fact is, 

 I expect Wells will tell the readers of the Fouest ami 

 Stream of il. and 1 shall get notoriety, if not reputation. It- 

 was a mean trick iu vou."" And out of the door he Stalked 

 to reflect upon his favorite sav :ng, "a trade's a trade." 



Sure enough. Teceel did tell Duffrey aud Wells, and 

 Wells "took notes" of the transaction and sends them to the 

 Forest and Stream. All over tbis section the fame of the 



r pilE particular locality constituting the scene ol Ihe 

 X shooting of which 1 am about to give a brief account, 

 comprises a diminutive promontory in .Mendocino county, 

 Upper California, and is designated on the map as Point 

 Arena. Here, a few years ago, 1 was the guest of a friend 

 for the greater part of the month of December. The 

 weather during my stay at the place referred towns of the 

 prevailing California winter type, being to-day distressful]} 

 wet and stormy, and to-morrow clear and sunny, as weD 

 delightfully genial. When .lupitei Fluvialis bore sway we 

 were of course house-bound; but wheu he laid down his 

 scepter we duly*improved the occasion to take a hand in the 

 outdoor sporls 'of (he section, choosing mainly the reerea 

 lion to be bad with the gun, since we regarded this pastime 

 with exceptional favor. 



Our trips afield were never of a uoticeabl) extended 

 nature, the plentilnlness of the shooting sparing US a pro 

 traded search for it. Usually we went about our errand 

 mounted on mustangs. It will be understood that in thus 

 pressing these creatures into our service, it was not so much 

 the saving of shoe-leather that we sought, as the aid thai 

 they might render us in transporting the impedimenta repre- 

 sented by our game and "traps," and, of course, when we 

 set ourselves earnestly tit our work our saddles were vacated 

 Our animal outfit also commonly included a certain setter 

 whose acquaintance it was our privilege lo enjoy, But it, 

 was more for the looks of the Hung than anytime 

 we induced this quadruped lo accompany us, as he has long 

 since retired from active business, and he only bestirred him- 

 self to auy real purpose, when, from our point of reckoning, 

 il w-a.s altogether too late in the day, but when R. fit Of »en 

 limciit was sure to transform him for the time being into a 

 model of professional energy. 



it has already been stated that the neck of laud on which 

 we were located was of inconsiderable dimensions. Tehe 

 more explicit, it may be said tle.t its total length was some 

 four or five miles, and its greatest width, two or possibly 

 two and a half miles. Being skirted by lie- Pacific on one 

 side and ou Hie other by the Gossier River, It bore ihe 

 impress of ihe work of both of these formative agencies; 

 boasting equally of fresh and salt bogs and tears! 



and lagoons of like dual quality, anfl stretches of ] > - 



sand and alluvial mud flat. These features, however, wwe 

 more distinctly characteristic of its shoreward portions; and 

 elsewhere in not a little of its ten i ■ the sit me 



make-up normally proper to the California coast line; and 

 wherein a jumble' of hills and ravines in all WHys of a crude 

 and lawless style of construction were set off tu Ihe rarest 

 spirit of Study and discrimination with living streams anil 

 brooks, greyea of redwood and evergreen oak, and tracts of 



