Dec. 1, 1883.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



363 



Mountain and NlCtOV, on the Tobique, anil the double sum- 

 mit of Blue Mountain. To the northeast, far off, Squaw's 

 Cap, on the Restigouche. and Hie Mountains of Gaspe, on 

 Bay Ghaleur; while in the utmost dim distance of the south- 

 id Katahdiu, graudflst of them all, the well-.suug 

 mountain of Maine. 



Wlii'M»'i'»nl back to camp we found Ranolf had been 

 very successful in his sport, but Sam had been wasting his 

 □napahrof loons. He had wasted also an im- 

 mense deal of powder and shot nn those provoking birds, 

 aud there they wore now, placidly floating, two black specks 

 far out on the bright surface. Even as Sam was detailing 



his futile efforts their mocking laugh came ringing over the 

 lake, and Sam shook bis fist at them. 



Next day was hard paddling, as the river between second 

 and third and between third and fourth lakes is almost cur- 

 rentless. Before reaching the upper Toledi Lake we came 

 to the IIoiiou Branch, a 'famous trout stream, up which we 

 poled six miles to what is called the Big Jam. Here we en- 

 damped for a couple of days in the pleasantest quarters im- 

 aginable, among tall elms and water ash aud poplars, and 

 the fishing below tile Jain was all that heart could wish. 

 Almost a virgin pool, its stores seemed inexhaustil 



cak 



Hanged round the shores at iuti 



gl Hood-battered trunks, ami timbers, t 



do to attend lo his own ever-busy reel 



to his neighbors. We came to be in d< 



Mat, grown suddenly sick of slaughtt- 



and tied away from f'hc spot. A hall' day's paddling brought 



us uiit on upper Toledi Lake. Before reaching this 



desired haven, however, two charming adventures fell t 



the 



i had all he could 

 d gave no thought 

 lv earnest. But at 

 >ke the spell 



them charming, but 

 mewhat different light, 

 esof all these streams 

 k that have fallen into 



the batiks. We were 

 !pti but rapid current, 



hand, in the stern of 

 hiriously in the how. 

 n, immediately before 

 completely across the 

 ir W. B. in his recum- 

 g his head, and 

 >f Stepping over 

 a; canoe. So vet 



duel- 



Strauiou's shaic. \\ e 

 Straniou seemed to viow them in 

 It must be remembered that the 

 are fringed in placet! with dead 

 the channel from the underminit 

 gliding ple,isanilv onward witha 

 Straniou ahead, ami standing, pc 

 his canoe, while W. & lay bad 

 As the canoe shot round a shur 

 it was seen one of Ihcse tallcn 1 

 channel. There was space curat, 

 bent position to puss under it. 

 Straniou resolved upon tin- ricxlt 

 the obstruction and resuming his 

 once more was il proved that— 



"The l.esl. laid schemes o' mice am! men 



iS.tiiK oil a-jdey," 



foi' Straniou indeed got one foot safely over, according lo 

 calculation, and it took its place triumphantly in the cauoe. 

 Bui a malicious little projecting branch seized the other by 

 the moecasiu, and held on. The canoe wouldn't wait, so 

 Stranion stayed behiDd with the captive foot, and then 

 dropped into the water. Bui we rescued him. The next 

 time we approached an obstruction of this kind Btranion 

 profited by his experience and stooped under it. This tree 

 was higher above tin water, 80 the latter method was obvi- 

 ously the most feasible one. But auotber malicious branch 

 entered into the question. The branch was long, ana 

 strong, and sharp. It reached down just at the critical mo- 

 ment when Straniou was bending his manly shoulders be- 

 neath it, seized the back of his shirt, and 'almost dragged 

 him out of the canoe, failing in this, however, it ripped 

 the shirt open and ploughed a long red furrow down his 

 back, A whole ocean of glycerine and arnica went to the 

 healing of this wound, 



On the upper Toledi We found a brisk wind blowing in 

 our favor. 80 with the aid of our poles we lashed the canoes 

 together, with a space of five or six feet between, after the 

 fashion of a Catamaran. Then hoisting sail we sped right, on 

 down the lake, without fear or labor. On the lower lake the 

 wind failed us, so we separated and resumed our paddles. It 

 was late in the afternoon, a golden, hazy afternoon, like those 

 of Indian summer, when we drew near the outlet, a place of 

 quiet and exquisite beauty. The lake terminates in a deep 

 cove lying westerly, so at this time of day the suta shone di- 

 rectly down it. The shores were fringed with second 

 growth, ot a luxuriance we had not met with elsewhere, and 

 a projecting knoll of deuse firs gave strength to the picture, 

 and shut off the actual outlet from the view. A little fur- 

 ther back, to our right, a bleak hillside studded with "ram- 

 pikes" taught us to appreciate this green nook. 



Here we overhauled an Indian who had been visiting his 

 traps up the lake. We recognized htm as "Old Martin," a 

 well-known haunter of these hunting grounds. Plying his 

 paddle, with philosophical deliberation from the stern of the 

 most seedy and dilapidated old canoe we had ever dreamed 

 of , he deigned us no further salutation than a grunt. But 

 the prospect of refreshments, when he saw we were going 

 to camp here for the night, quickly developed his friendli- 

 uess. We pitched our tent on some clear sward in shelter 

 of the fir-tree knoll, and Martin set up his very rudimentary 

 "lean-to" in convenient proximity. Round 'the camp lire 

 that night, while a noise of hidden rapids stirred the air, 

 Old Martin forgot, the red man's taciturnity. Sam was busy 

 trying tobacco, while the rest of us lounged about in the 

 glow on heaps of hemlock branches, testing the results of 

 his hiirhly original culinary efforts, ft will be remembered 

 that, when the catastrophe befell us at the Squatook Falls 

 our tobacco was nearly all in a certain tin box which we 

 fundly imagined water-proof; When the little store in 

 Stranion's canoe was exhausted we went to this tin box to 

 replenish our pouches. Alas, the box was just so far water- 

 proof as to admit the water and keep it, so' we found a de- 

 lectable mess. After enduring the lack of the comforting 

 weed for two or three days »c became desperate, and now 

 Sam had undertaken to dry this mess, out of which all the 

 good had been well steeped. He squeezed it, therefore, and 

 rolled it tenderly, and spread it out in the frying pan over 

 a gentle heat till quite dry. But oh, it was poor Btliff] 

 Keeping jus! a little to fool with till we should regain civil- 

 ization and '■Myrtle Navy." we bestowed the remainder 

 on the 



•Prior tnrlian, wliosf -untutored mind'' 



led him lo accept, il gratefully. I feel confident he threw it 

 all away with scorn in the night, He was gone next morn- 

 ing. Probably the tobacco had something to do with it. 



Suddenly Sam's proceedings were interrupted by a repe- 

 tition of thai terrible cry which had frozen our blood on the 

 gquatook a few nights back. It was more remote this time, 

 coming apparently from the shores of the upper lake. But 

 the rest of the party, while Sam and I looked at each other 

 significantly, leaped to their feet and drew closer to the tire. 

 Old Martin grunted, "Ugh! Clote Scamp's dog! Big storm 

 Mine-bye!" And he looked somewhat, awed, but in no way 



frightened. He said il would not come near us. It was 

 heard sometimes, in the night, as now, but no man eversaw 

 the dog nowadays. It ranged up and down all round 

 these regions, howling for its Blaster, whom it would never 

 And. For Clote Scatirp had been struck down in a deep 

 valley north of the St. Lawrence, and a big mountain placed 

 upon him so he couldn't stir aud no one could find him. 



This started old Martin in the narrative vein, and hefound 

 us most attentive listeners. Of Clote Seaurp, a hero some- 

 what after the fashion of Hiawatha, universally benevolent, 

 and wise, and powerful, he told us many legends; aud with 

 the memory of that weird voice in our ears we were ready to 

 give him fullest credence. 1 will repeat one of the briefest 

 and most striking of these stories, making no attempt, to 

 reproduce the quaint, language of the speaker. Through 

 all the 8torie.s beasts and birds aud fishes are represented as 

 speaking our language with man, and holding familiar inter- 

 course with him antl with each other under Clote Scaurp's 

 paternal rule. I have meulioned above the supposed fate of 

 Clote Seaurp; hut Martin said this was only what Ids people 

 (the Melicites) were wont to tell. The oim thing certain 

 was that Clote Seaurp disappeared, and that earth had been 

 a sorry place for the red man ever since. An old Mohawk 

 lives among the Madawaska Melicites. whose version of 

 Clote Scaurp's departure, as Martiu rendered il to us, i* a 

 wild and beautiful legend, dimly reminding one of the 

 "Passing of Arthur." This is I he 'drift of it: 



After a great many years, the ways of beasts and men 

 grew bad, and Clote Scaur]) spoke to them, and talked to 

 them, till at last he was angry and very sorry; and be could 

 endure them no longer. So he came down to the shores of 

 the great lake and there he made a. great feast, and all the 

 beasts came and feasted with him. But no men came to the 

 feast, for they had grown altogether bad. and Clote Seaurp 

 talked to the beasts very heavily. And after the least Was 

 done he got into a big canoe, and took bis uncle, the Great 

 Turtle, with him. and sailed straightout from shore over the 

 big lake into the setting sun. and the beasts looked after them 

 until they could see them no longer. But Clote Seaurp was 

 singing, "and so was the Great Turtle, and the beasts listened 

 to them singing as they sailed away, after they could see 

 them no longer. Aud at last they could' not even hear them; and 

 all the beasts were silent. Then a very strange thing hap- 

 pened. All the beasts who had always spoken our tOTgUC 

 were no more able to understand each" other, and they Red 

 apart, each bis own way, and have no more met together in 

 council. And Clote, Scaurp's dog, his hunting dog. whom 

 Clote Seaurp would not lake with him because his ways had 

 been evil with the other beasts, goes wandering u'p and 

 down the world searching for his master, and often he 

 howls aloud in the night.' 3 ' 



None of us woke next morning till the sun was high up, 

 and the dew all gone in (he open places round the camp. 

 The air was sweet with all sorts of wild perfumes, and alive 

 with birds and butterflies. But when we had stretched our 

 selves and taken a look at Hie morning, we were puzzled to 

 account for a faint angry buzzing I hat seemed to come from 

 under our blankets. We though! il wiser not to investigate, 

 however, until breakl'asl was safely over, the tent struck and 

 most of the packing done. Then, as we threw aside Hie 

 blankets, out streamed from a deep hole in the ground an 

 indignant host of wild bees who hatl been made unwilling 

 sluggards, kept from their morning's work bv our luxurious 

 sluthfulness. But, they seemed to bear us. no serious grudge, 

 being too delighted over their recovered liberty to pay us 

 the slightest heed. We left them feasting on some sugary 

 remnants of our breakfast, and made no attempt to rifle 

 their little hoard of sweets. I hope the industrious colony- 

 has prospered, and not been discovered by Bruin's inquisi- 

 tive paw. 



it was near noon by the time we were fairly afloat on the 

 Toledi River now. This is a larger stream than the Squa- 

 took, more violent, and rapid, but less obstructed by rocks. 

 The "falls" are less thau half a mile from the lake, and 

 many travellers "cany round" by a well-beaten trail through 

 the woods rather than risk the, descent, Indeed, the mighty 

 plunging swells, the succession of leaps, the roar and" the 

 tumult down between those rocky walls, rendered the prospect 

 by no means enticing when looked at in cold blood. We had 

 surveyed all this the night before, and unanimously resolved 

 to carry round. But, a sound night's rest, and the buoyancy 

 of morning in that fresh atmosphere brought more audacious 

 counsels. We were then as unanimous in the resolution 

 to "run it," and we did. It is no use attemping to describe 

 it in detaii, or tell how we did il. I only know we all yelled 

 with fierce delight as we darted into the gorge, and 1 imagine 

 our eyes stuck out. and our hair rose. Our muscles were like 

 steel and we tingled l o the linger tips. Then were a few 

 wild moments when every man did his best, without know- 

 ing exactly how, for the white surges clashed deafeningly 

 about us, and with shouts and cheei's we swept into the big 

 eddy below the fall, drenched but safe, Here was a cele- 

 brated trout-hole, but the passion of travel was upon us, 

 and we did not dream of staying. All the rest of the run 

 down to Temisconata is like a dream. Few rocks, few 

 shoals, a deep channel, and always this tearing current. 

 Chutes we would have stopped to explore in cooler 

 moments, we rushed through now without a pause, and 

 panted for those to come. At four in the afternoon a last 

 mad rapid hurled us out into the expanse of Temisconata, 

 where a heavy wind was blowing down the lake. This 

 tamed our excitement, and very quickly brought us to our 

 sober senses. We wished to cross directly, which brought 

 the wind on our broadside, a condition of affairs sorely try- 

 ing to birch bark. The lake here is several mile's in width, 

 our canoes were deep laden, and there was ruuning an ugly, 

 heavy, chopping sea. This was the only serious danger w, 

 had yet encountered, and required all our energies. Thanks 

 to Stranion and Kaunlf, who were steering the canoes at the 

 time, and on whom, therefore, all the responsibility and the 

 heaviest share of the labor devolved, (he passage was safely 

 accomplished, but only after a severe struggle of nearly 

 three hours' duration. ' Then the little French village of 

 Detour du Lac received a party of live well worn oul men. 

 From the villagers we obtained refreshments such as we 

 were much in need of. fresh bread, milk and eggs, to say 

 nothing of "bacca." This turned out execrable Tail an ini 

 provement oh Sam's fried article. 



Leaving Detour du Lac early in the morning a paddle of 

 eight miles or so over the now unruffled waters brought us 

 to Madawaska River, the oul let. A broad, quiet, quick 

 Stream tins, and we ran on all day gently and without ex- 

 ertion, delaying at several noted pools long enough to land 

 a few good fish, and stopping now and again to exchange 



♦ Governor Gordon got this storv in almost the same form from 

 some Indians on theTdbique River. See pace Ha or '-Wilderness 

 Journeys." i -. (}, t> h 



the news (pretty stale with us), the weather or the crops 

 with some battered looking old habitun. These French 

 Canadians arc always polite, always hospitable, always 

 ready to confound one's notions of French by an incompre- 

 hensible volume of patmii. Unless the traveler is a fluent 

 talker in French and understands the Acadian modifications 

 thereof, it is wise to feign complete ignorance in self 

 defense. This course will be sure to bring out some native 

 who is familiar enough with English for all practical pur- 

 poses. However, if "you get- one hihitan alone, you may 

 safely air your French upon him, if you so desire. 



About seven we took tea in the old log house at Mud 

 Lake portage, where we had encamped on the first night 

 out from Edniuiiston. Late as it was we were determined 

 to push on and reach Edmundston that night, About a 

 quarter of a mile above the village a series of rapids com- 

 mences, terminating in the "Little Falls" spoken of in the 

 beginning of the paper. When we drew mar this place it 

 was between ten and eleven, the night was moonlight, but 

 obscured with drifting clouds, and we had to descend the 

 rapid in the gloom to within fifty yards of the falls. It was 

 uncomfortable work, but, luckily "there were no had rocks 

 on our side the river, and the water was not too deep for us 

 to use the poles to advantage. So keeping the canoes 

 checked cautiously and holding ourselves back gingerly, 

 we dropped down to our old cainping ground without acci- 

 dent, hauled up the craft in a little cove, pitched tent as best 

 we could in the dark, and soon were sleeping the sleep of the 

 just— once more in Ednuuidslou. 



Cn.vni.Es G. 0. Roberts. 



Fn^oEninToN, \'e\v Brunswick. 



A MUNCHAUSEN WHALE STORY. 



BV EDWARD MANNI.NO. 



r |MlE good steamer Katahdin was bound to Boston. The 

 \- last bell had boon rung, aud as the gang-plank was 

 hauled in and the lines cast off, the great: wheels began to 

 revolve, and soon she was steaming down the beautiful and 

 placid Penobscot, The city or Bangor gradually passed 

 from view, and walking forward T took a camp stool, and 

 seating myself near the capstan on the hurricane deck I 

 prepared to enjoy the picturesque and beautiful scenery that 

 extends back from the river on either shore until it is lost 

 in the gloom of the distant hills. The throb of the engine, 

 combined with the balmy air, had a peculiarly quieting 

 effect on the nerves, and the inclination to doze was almost 

 irresistible, despite the beautiful and ever-changing views 

 presented to the eye. 



While enjoying this delicious sensation and oblivious to 

 all things else, 1 was aroused by loud talking and laughing, 

 which came from a group &f brown and hardy-looking men 

 who were seated near the rail on the starboard side of the 

 steamer. They were apparently sailors, aud as they spoke 

 in vry loud tones 1 could not fail to hear their conversa- 

 tion. One of the group was a powerfully built colored man, 

 with hands and feel, of immense proportions, and as he was 

 called "Doctor" by his companions, I inferred that he was 

 or had been a ship s cook by profession. He had evidently 

 been telling some improbable sea story. The others were 

 laughing and chaffing him about the "marine" story he had 

 told. Kinallvoue of them, whom the others called "Chips," 

 said "if they would choke their jaw-tackle he'd tell them a 

 whale story as is a whale story —and don't, you forget it 

 either. Doctor." 



This raised a laugh, and after a brief discussion of Chips's 

 reputation for veracity, he was told to "heave ahead." 



•■Nearly twenty years ago," said he, "1 fotnd myself Out 

 to sea on a bluff-bowed old bark that was bound on a whaling 

 voyage. The old hooker looked like- a box under sail, and 

 when she was on the wind she'd make as much leeway as an 

 old mud scow. Her spars were rotten to the core,' and it 

 was a mystery how they could hold themselves up. The 

 mizzen topmast was in a particularly bad condition. The 

 rats had eaten a big hole into it, near the heel, aud when the 

 yards were braced up on the port tack the wind would blow 

 into it and make a ghostlike noise. 



"The captain of the old What Cheer (that was her name) 

 was an awful big man, and his face was shaped like the 

 stern of a Dutch man-of-war. But he was a good man, aud 

 treated his crew well. The only weakness he had was his 

 love for the old bark. He was very particular with her 

 decks and he kept us washing and holy-stoning them about 

 half of the time until we arrived on the whaling ground. 



"I was coming aft one day to relieve the. wheel, and just 

 as 1 was going on the quarter deck I accidentally dropped a 

 quid of tobacco. I don't chew much, and this quid wasn't 

 any bigger than a pea. The Captain happened to be stand- 

 ing on the starboard side of the quarter deck, for'ard, when 

 1 dropped it, and he saw it. 



" 'What do you mean, sir! what do you mean, sir, by 

 soiling my decks with such great chaws of tobaccov' he said, 

 very much excited. 



" 'It was an accident, sir,' I replied. 'It is only a very 

 small piece. I'll pick it up and throw it oyer the side, sir.' 



-" 'No, sir; you shall not! It's as large as a cocoanut! Go 

 for'ard anil get, a shovel aud broom.' 



"I went for'ard, and after getting a shovel and broom, he 

 made me sire, p this tiny chew of tobacco into the shovel. 



" 'Carry it carefully for'ard, sir, and when you get on the 

 t'gallant fork'sl, toss it as far lo lu'ard as you can, sir.' 



"He was so polite about it I thought I had better accom- 

 modate him, and I went on tile t'gallant fork'sl. and just as 

 1 tossed the shovel the old hark gave a heavy lurch to lu'ard . 

 I let go the shovel, and it went spinning overboard When 

 I let goof it I threw up my hands and caught hold of the 

 jib sheet. If I hadn't done this I should have followed the 

 shovel. The captain thought I threw the shovel overboard 

 intentionally, and he punished me by keeping me on deck 

 my forenoon watch below for a week. 



"Well, at last we reached the Artie. You see. we were 

 after the right -whales, and hatl to go there to find them. 

 We cruised for a long time before we saw a blow, and once 

 or twice the old hooker came near getting ripped in the ice. 

 If this had happened she would have been squashed as flat 

 as a pancake. 



"One day, about this time, the lookout in the cro'nest 

 sang out 'land ho!' 



"The captain was surprised, for lie didn't expect to see 

 land hereabouts. He sent the mate aloft to .sec what iie 

 could make, out of it. He hadn't been aloft long when he 

 hailed the. deck and reported tin- laud to be a large floating 

 island. 



" 'A what, sir'.'' replied the captain, astonished. 



"'A big floating island, sir!' replied ttte mate. 



' ' 'You're crazy, sir! Who ever heard of a floating island 



