16 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[August 19, 1880. 



with tbe fragrant pond lily that is almost universal here." 

 BUI lays me up to the Hr>t spring hnle withoxit noise or 

 wake, and I cast my flie- across t)ie clear, ccld water in 

 Tain. Chubs and siiineirt rush madly on the liooks. but 

 trout will not rSe. Bill takes a shapeless piece of chub, 

 puts it on that hook of his, and presently drags out a 

 pound trout. To say I am disgusted is putting it mildly. 

 I am swearing mad. He explains that there is a time 

 late in July and early in August when trout '-lay deep" 

 and wdl not rise to fly. --Ifwe had wums," says Bill, 

 ••we catch 'em." That is just my idea, and it happens 

 that 1 hare the "wums." Brought iliem with me, know- 

 ing they were not to be had in the forest. While he is 

 paddling to the next spring hole 1 take off my leader and 

 replace it with a large hook and strong snell, bait it heav- 

 ily, and make a cast as the boat glides slowly within 

 reach, It is taken on the first cast, aud I bring a half- 

 pound fish into the boat with small ctremony. Bill 

 catches, as usual, a larger one, and than I stubbornly re- 

 fuse to mal;e another cast. He does not understand'it at 

 aU, but padoles to the lauding and I walk up to camp, 

 scrape acquaintance with his daughter, wlio is educated, 

 inteUigent and a school teacher among the .St, Regis, 

 epeaking and writing Englii-h ilueiiily. She showed me 

 specimens of chirograpby, and was pleaictl wheulpraised 

 her handwriting, which was really fine. Then I took 

 the pappoose by his basket handle and carried him off 

 into the woods. I stood luru up against a spruce and 

 made him a speech in mixed Chippewa, Portuguese and 

 English. I explained to him the brutal manner in which 

 his ancestors had roasted and scalped my forefathers 

 and foremothers. I brandished a big knife about his 

 baby head, saug a snatch of Chippewa war song and gave 

 Che 'war whoop, A white baby woidd have gone into 

 convulsions. He looked at me calmly with those dark, 

 fathomless eyes, and when I gave a final wlioop, broke 

 into a placid sniUe that covered his face all over like a 

 burst of sunlight. 



An Indian baby doesn't scare much. 



After a dinner of trout — again— Bill left me in peace, 

 while be went to look after a. bark job somewhere among 

 the hiUs, and I took my blanket, bunted out a dry, cosy 

 nook, rolled myself up and was having a grand snooze, 

 when I was awakened by some one calling nay name. It 

 was ye Chief BiU, aud 1 knew he meant business. He is 

 bound that 1 shall have sport, if it kil ls me. We are to 

 fish that spring hole again, which I don't care for, and 

 then watch a deer lick, which 1 do care for. He sti-aps 

 on that everlasting pa.ck-basket, gets out his shooting 

 gear, and leads off again, but by a sliorter route, to the 

 game spot I fished the night before. I am soirv to see 

 that Bill's shooting- ii-on is a veritable old musket of the 

 Continental pattern, from which two of the three bands 

 have been abstracted to lighten the piece. He excuses 

 hunfielf for carrying such a clumsy concern by saying 

 that it is the best barrel to throw buckshot that he can 

 find, and he likes a buckshot gim for floating or hck- 

 Wdtching. When I see him load it with about forty 

 grains ot powder and eleven small buckshot I lose faith 

 in him, rather. At the spring hole it was the same old 

 story. The chief caught two tine trout ; I landed one. I 

 refused to throw another fly, and began to pack up, to 

 Bill's disgust and surprise, 1 explain we have plenty of 

 fish lor the trout supper which he has planned, and by 

 the time that i.« over it will be time to cUmb up to the 

 I blind for lick-watching. He acquiesces, silentlv stu lis his 

 own traps and mine into that pack -basket and gUdes up 

 the trad at a pace that keeps my sliort legs at a hail' trot. 

 As we pass up the trail Bdl points out a bark-roofed 

 camp on the side hUl, where we are to put in for the 

 night. I suggest that it may not be easy to find our way 

 in the dark, ••Got lantern," he says, and we gUde on. 

 Fifteen minutes of sharp walking and we turn to the 

 riglU, cross a low rid;^e and coiuf out on one of the 

 lovely fairy-like spots that one may find evciy day in 

 these woods. It was simply a moss-covered level bank 

 on the margin of a trout stream, about twenty rods long 

 and half as wide. But what a beautiful dry carpet it 

 was, and the timber, all spruce and tamarack, just far 

 anough apart for shade ai ' with no under- 



growth or tangle. All tl - the Indian, who 



only said curtly : '-Vou u. ^ . over by Uck ; get 



some grub there." He di^aipiai.,, auu i proceed to make 

 the lire, selecting a tall spruce with two projecting roots 

 that answer as tire dogs. I soon have the tea-water on, 

 and betore it comes to a boU Chief WiUiam is l.iack. He 

 has a lantern and ample supplies. Hiving into the depths 

 of that ever-to-be-remembered basket he brings out bread, 

 pork, tea, sugar, butter, salt, pepper, tin drinking cups, 

 and lastly a large round shortcake. .Shall I ever forget 

 that supper ? 1 still hold the opinion that the trout of 

 this region are the sweetest and beat flavored I have ever 

 caught. Also, they are mostly of the dark orange col- 

 ored sort that I like as regards the flesh. They may be 

 no better than the while fleshed ; naturaUsts pronounce 

 them all the same. But 1 vastly prefer the rich red color. 

 Supper over, tinware, pack-basket and camp duffle were 

 hurried tmder an immense slab of bark, and the chief led 

 . off for the dck with the silent, elastic tread of a panther. 



p. S. — I have said Httle about the venomous flies that 

 render the JSorth Woods a terror and a torment to tour- 

 ists, sportsmen and naturalists dming the summer 

 months. This is probably the country to which Mr. Ten- 

 nyson refers when he sings of a land "Where each man 

 •walks with his head in a cloud of poisonous flies." They 

 are nothing to me. I walk among them through these 

 grand forest aisles safely as in a nunnery. This paper is 

 too long already. If it linds favor I will in my next give 

 a simple recipe by which any one can flank punkies, mos- 

 quitoes and even the black ily. 



Foot of atilhcuter, Jones" Vamp, (.Have lout the date.) 



AlilROiiDXCKS.—SjjringUdd, Mans., Aug. 11 f/i.— Several 

 of the Beaver River Club are going to the North Woods 

 Boon, and I \?iU report when tlirv come back. I re- 

 ceived a kiud invitation trom Chas. Feutou, Esq., of Wat- 

 son, Lewis County, Number Four, to come up and stay 

 with him, but am obhged to refuse. He says he has now 

 seventy-seven boarders, which with his servants and fam- 

 ily make about one hiuidred at his house, and he has re- 

 fused scores of appUcations for want of room. Twenty- 

 five slept in Ida bam one night, for want of room at the 

 house, which goes to show how poptdar the North Woods 

 ai'e for recreation. But I tldnk it is sad for us hunters, 

 as game and fish must become scarce. In fact, I see a 

 great change since my first trip into that region. F. B. 



id lilooming rhododen- 

 iiitain load, where voices 

 se of tbe beautiful camp 

 . then a dump of willows 

 lat in the dense forest 

 shutting us in so that but 

 ?re the sun has but slender op- 

 ■ilh his mid-dav beams. 



1 lir; 



ivldcb is lo 



CAMP NOTES. 



^ BY BODI.VES. 



I PROMISED to tell you how we live in camp. Let 

 me commence by describing our grounds, and the 

 preparations we have made for resting in the woods. 



We are on a narrow point of land that is completely 

 sbailed by ili.- wiriely reaching branches of two immense 

 beech trees and an equally stately elm. At the extreme 

 point are two tall idnes, leaning to the right and left, af- 

 fording us a view of a long and'quiet pond that nestles 

 at the toot of a high and densely wooded moimtain. On 

 both sides of our i<rotmds, so near that they can he 

 touched Willi a tishiiiir rod, are running mountain 

 streams, clear and s|ia;lding. To our right a" deep pool- 

 where the tiou: delitrbt to splash when the sun has dis- 

 appeared behind tlie western luouiitaiii— its shore orna- 

 mented with moss covered rocts and boulders, from be- 

 tween which are growiu 

 drons. Above them all, 

 are now and then heard 

 below. To our left, the 

 and beyond a meadow. 

 aud surrounding mount; 

 little sky is seen, and whi 

 portunity to oppr 



At the extreme point of the camping grounds, where 

 the two streams meet to form the Ion;; pond below, and 

 between the two leaning pines, is const rueted our fire- 

 place, made by erecting a stone waU fcau- feet long and 

 eighteen inches high, with sliorter walls at each end in- 

 tersecting it at right angles. The stones are covered w ith 

 sods and cl.ay, and over the top is laid tw o parallel iron 

 bars upon which rest the colTee-pot. boiliiiK-kettle and 

 frying-pans. This arranaement is a Kreat economizer of 

 wood, and, when a good bed of coals lie und-r the bars, 

 affords a cooking stove that perr: '■ ■ -iresent an 



elaborate bfll of fare. Here w, ud lamb 



chops, fry fish, boil potatoes, bilk -. nd what 



sport it is to flop them over ! — st^^ igetables; 



in short, perform any of the culinary feats that we 

 ill tbe habit of seeing in our kitchens at home. In our 

 " dutch oven '' are baked biscuit, johnny-cake, fish, beef 

 and beans, in a manner, too, quite enjoyable and sur- 

 prisbig as well to our city visitors. Oiu- party is one be- 

 lieving that good, wholesome food, and plenty ot it, is 

 not inseparable from a camping-out expedition. We see 

 uo reason why we should not live as well, here in the 

 woods, as at home, so we keep our larder well stocked 

 with meats and other comforts obtained from the city 

 twice a week. In the bank next to the mountain we 

 have excavated a place large enough to receive a box four 

 by six feet and four feet high. It is coveretl with sods, 

 and has a door upon its uncovered side next to the creek. 

 Tlds is fiUed with ice, procurefl from the I'arm house close 

 by, and here we keep our meats, butter and other^erisha- 

 ble commodities. Next in order cc'iiies the dining-room, 

 consisting of a canopy under which stands a table of 

 ample dimensions, rustic in design and build. Four 

 benches are arranged at a convenient distance about it, 

 their several legs firmly planted in the ground. Over the 

 t■^ble a shelf is suspended from the ridge-pole, upon which 

 is kept pepper, salt, sugar, butter, spoons and other con- 

 veniences of frequent use. Under the table, on the 

 ground, is our potato and onion bui, and just above, a 

 shelf where dishes are placed when not in use. These 

 dishes are of novel construction, were devised in this 

 camp and have been such a great comfort to us that a 

 description of them seems warrantable. They are made 

 of tin ; no crockery of any sort is used in the camp. All 

 who have camped out know that food becomes cold very 

 quickly when served in the open air and upon tin dishes. 

 It is not pleasant to sit down to a broUed chop, for in- 

 stance, to find a rim of cold mutton tallow arotmd the 

 margin of your plate, the chop itself frosted with the 

 same unsavoi-y grease and your potato cold by the time 

 it is buttered and ready for your palate. To overcome 

 this very serious objection to an outdoor meal we have 

 our plates made double. Two ordinary round tin plates 

 are soldered together by a nan-ow rim that unites their 

 edges, leaving a half inch cavity between. In the rim, 

 at opposite points, are two half inch holes, with a collar, 

 in which corks are fitted. At meal time these corks are 

 removed and boiling water poured into one of the open- 

 ings whfle the air escapes at the opposite one. The corks 

 are then put in place, when, lor an hour or longer, j;ou 

 have plates too hot to handle without napkins, keeping 

 yoitr food as hot as when removed from the Are untflthe 

 ineal is finished, Three larger dishes, with covers, are 

 constructed in the same manner, from which meat and 

 vegetables are served. The plates being too hot for but- 

 ter, smooth, round stones are used for individual 

 butter dishes. Clam or muscle shells have answered the 

 same purpose admirably, Under the edge of the canopy, 

 so as to be shielded from the rain, are arranged two large 

 camp chests, in which our provisions and utensils were 

 transported hither. They now serve as cupboards. One 

 of the chests contains large, square tin cans (fancy 

 cracker cans), in which are kept flour, corn meal, rice, 

 coflee, tea, dried fruit, sugar, etc. ; in the other is stowed 

 away the bread, crackers, tlried beef, pickles, baking- 

 powder, candles and the like. 



Back of the diiung-room, and further up tire slope, 

 under an immense birch tree, is pitched a waU tent 

 which serves as a kind of store-room for our trimks and 

 extra clothing ; and, back of that, the large tent, 16x20, 

 and 9 feet to the ridge pole, upon one side of which bunks- 

 are built and covered with ticks fiUed with straw. Over 

 these ticks cotton-filled quilts are spread, aud over them 

 sheets and blankets, affording a bed that woulil be quite 

 desirable in more pretentious quarters. The remaining 

 portion of the floor is covered with new-mown hay, with 

 hassocks lydng about Inviting a fellow, when so inclined, 

 to a lounge upon the fragiant floor. Tbe sides of the tent 

 have pockets in which pipes, tobacco, magazines, papers, 

 needles, thread, buttons, and sundry articles of that 

 character are lodged. lu the center of the tent stands a 

 table, made of a barrel with .a cheese-box lid for a top. 

 Upon this do we indite epistles to our friends at home 

 and to Forest asd Stki-a-M, To the left, and at the foot 

 of a musical, sparkling cascade, is spread another canopy, 

 under which is our reading table and a hammock. In 

 front of this is George's tent, where he rests when not 

 engaged in the cooking department. Around and among 

 the tents have we budded many flower beds, in which 



are growing and blooming the various wild flowers in- 

 digenous to these woods. The paths are flanljed by ferns : 

 mounds covered with mosses and delicate vines, sm- 

 round tlie tnrnlvs of tbe trees : tiie floors of the dinlng- 

 hall and kitchen are swept clean, and all our sim-ound- 

 ings in the neatest p>is~il,le trim ; and this is our moun- 

 tain home, where evei-y year we spend tiie month of ,Iune. 



In former camp notes, 1 wrote what we did when it 

 rained; let me now give you a sample of a bright and 

 clear day. 



This morning we were awakened at .5 o'clock by the 

 singing of the birds, and flie bnglit light of day shining 

 through our tent walls. The music outside, the clear, 

 balmy air, and the prospects of an unclouded sunrise, 

 werenresistiiilt. A fellow could not iieabedif he would ; 

 so. as ii liy general consent, afl the Campers were found 

 as.spmbled by llie shore of the creek, performing their 

 ablutions and looking skyward, aU faces lighting up 

 for the application of the clear, cool water, and the 

 prospect of a perfect day. 



George had already builded his fire, the lea-kettle was 

 sending a cloud of vapor from its mouth, while the lid 

 over the potato-boiler wa.s diuieing at a lively rate. The 

 table was set, the trout sisshig in tbe big pan, and fJeorge 

 ^igorously stirring a ()uantity of l>atter that would soun 

 be converted into flap-jacks." jVs we were chatting ai)0ut 

 the table (to which we had been summoned by George, 

 who had converted the empty fish pan into a gong by. 

 beating it with an iron spoon), the sun made his appear- 

 ance over a notch iu the eastern mountain — right on 

 time — indicating 6 o'clock. What a delightful breakfast 

 we had there in the cool morning air, hstening to the 

 warbhnss of the birds, and watching the stmbeams 

 dancing ever the rippling water and upon the trembling 

 leaves "of the trees,»while squirrels and chipmunks 

 climbed out upon the overliaugiiig limbs looking in- 



Suisitively under our canopy to see what we were up to. 

 iitterflies. bumblebees, aud" insects of various colors and 

 forms were flying about helter-skelter, without any spe- 

 cial object in view, save to enjoy the glorious morning. 

 A boy, on horseback, rode along the mountain road over- 

 headdriving cows to pasture, singing merrily the while 

 to an accompaniment of the lowing animals that made 

 the mountains ring with their deep, bass voices. Every 

 note from man, animal, bird, insect or machine, seemed 

 to ring out with a clearer tone, intensified by the 

 still, cool air. Indeed,' all our senses are quickened, for 

 wc can see further, hear better, smeU keener, and tasto 

 more satisfactorily than during the rainy days just 

 pa.ssed. 



Breakfast finished, we smoke. Then, some of the 

 j>artv paddle on the ponds ; others go in search of birds 

 and flowers ; the boys make ovens in the sand across the 

 creek, ard those inclined go Ashing. 



I being one of the "incHned," took down my rod from " 

 Its rack against the beech, buttoned a landing net on my 

 back, shouldered my creel and walked leisurely upstream 

 to where I pricked"a fine fish the day before. I must 

 cross the creek, and, not ■ ■ ' ,_ - ::et wet before 1 

 reached the fishing gron 1 1 : i ■ pa.ss the swift 



running water over a fall : ched from bnnk 



to bank. This tree waswL. -i - i. tpray that arose 

 from a boulder, against which tbe current splashed be- 

 neath, and was quite too round in form to permit of an 

 easy or secure foothold. Reachuig the center of this 

 rustic bridge by means of two rheumatic feet and sun- 

 dry and niultitiidiuous balancings of arms and legs, a 

 coniounded kiofttisher flew just under my nose, and, 

 with an unearthly chatter, startled me, at which I lost 

 my center of gravity and fishing-rod at the same mo- 

 ment. In trying to regain the first, whUe the second 

 floated swifllv down the rapid and took lodgment in 

 some willows," you might have witnessed, had you been 

 there, some diiiicult feats in grotesque posturing. One 

 moment I liad decided to go in on the upper side of the 

 log, but instantly changed my mind and center of gravity 

 for the lower one ; and then, when my arms flew about 

 like those of a windmill, I hesitated and wondered until 

 no living mortal could have decided for me. Auothei- 

 shp, a uniijue bend of the back, a thrust of the hips back- 

 ward and shoulders forward, fashioning a capital letlti 

 Z, changed the situation of aflairs agam, making it ex- 

 tremely doubtful to myself as well as a keen and much 

 amused sjjectator on shore, wbicli side of the hUmed 

 tree would ultimately be selected for the plunge. At 

 last a decision was reached, when I took an Jnlermediaia 

 course, and sat rlown with most consummate skill and 

 great alacrity w ich a leg upon both sides of the log. Al 

 that very lu'oment a total eclipse of the stm occiirrerj, 

 and stars— shooting stars— gUttered and sparkh-d all 

 about me. This celestial phenomena lasted until 1 

 gently shd from my resting place into the babbling 

 brook and cooled my confused brain in its crystal waters. 



Gathering myself and rod from the stream, I sauntered 

 on quite regardless of the dew-covered grass, but all the 

 better prepared to admire the sparkling gems that gTeetect 

 my eyes everywhere over the bright green meadow. 

 Right in my path, from a tuft of weeds, flew a ground 

 sparrow, who chatted to me as he hopped along before, 

 to lead me from his cosy nest (which I stopped u moment 

 to admire) and its three blue eggs that were so lavishly 

 spotted with raw sienna. The owner was a merry and 

 hospitable little chap, who seemed rather pleased than 

 otherwise that I should have made this call at his beauti- 

 ful Uttle home. Different was the action of the old hen 

 partridge that I surprised a few minutes later, while at- 

 tending her young brood along tbe mountain road. How 

 she fluttered almost under my feet, giving me mme iUus-. 

 trations of the terrible sufferings and hobbhn^ of the 

 maimed than you wotdd have imagined it possible for 

 any creature to mvent. One leg was badly crippled, as 

 though from a compound, comminuted fracture ; both 

 wings paralyzed -dud dragging upon the ground utterly 

 useless ; blind in one eye ; deaf in both ears ; feathers 

 all stuck in the wrong way ; she seemed a wretchedly 

 dilapidated creature indeed. But try to lay hands on 

 her, and it is wonderful how she manages to keep out of 

 reach. FoUow her in these writhings aud bwpmys for 

 half a mde, then see her suddenly recover from all her 

 aflments and fly into the deep covert with a chuckle of 

 satisfaction at "having led you so successfully from her 

 family of little ones, which a moment before you heaid 

 peeping so sweetly among the bushes, and you conclude 

 it is reaUy worth the ramble to follow her thus, if only 

 to hear her note of delight upon leaving you. 

 {To be continued.) 



