26 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Atottst 11 1881. 



' Why," answered Whitten for him, "a deer'B hoofs are 

 much more pointed, spread more, and its dew claws are 

 sharper nnd go into the ground. And." continued the gradu- 

 ate in woodcraft, "you ask why it got among the sheep. It 

 is something in their nature that always makes them go 

 among any kind of stock, when dodging, which sometimes 

 loses a dog completely." 



"Look here, Mellon," said Pat, tiptoeing, "you've hin 

 oulen this stand," when to the mortification of the Cold 

 Spring hero, the dogs trailed in ten feet of him. 



" Wi 11," said Melton, "I did grow restless about an hour 

 ago, and left this stand for just five minutes by my watch," 



"Thunder and Tom Walker!" said the irate Pat, "hain't 

 you one grain of sense? Don't you know that's just, long 

 enough to let a deer pass ? Jist like you town fellers — fine 

 slanders! 1 told you not to go back after your confounded 

 old glove this morning, that you'd have bad luck." 



" Look here, Bowman, you are a little too personal ; take 

 care you don't make a donkey of yourself before this hunt 

 ends." 



The bounds passed to a slope facing the east, which was 

 moist, and they became more eager. "Boys," said Whitten, 

 " it's lying just, over the cedar point." 



"Well," said Melton, with the sharpness of ill humor, 

 " I'll kill that deer yet and redeem myself or break my own 

 01 my horse's neck." 



' ' Yes," said Pat, ' ' you'll play thunder !" Such a roar ! 



"Look yonder, boys, see that deer !" said Saurer. "Now 

 Malmiy, Kendall, here's to the Blaycr," and he cocked his 

 double barrel and fairly rose from his saddle. 



Mi lton seemed no madder tlian his stormy black, whose 

 uostrils spread acid showed his heated blood. Maltuey 

 dashed to Melton as if to banter, and then the reckless ride! 

 neck or deer ! Dash over the rail fence, which flew right 

 and left — spang into the broad field. All took fire, for 

 Kendall was close along with Saurer's careful eye, as Pat 

 came thundering by on his now unmanageable horse. The 

 froth flies from the mouth of the screaming tan pup as he 

 heads out, stretching like a rubber string, fast on the heels of 

 the poor distracted deer. One dash and Maltney's steed has 

 the better of him and passes the deer. Poor Bowman's horse 

 Was now far off at a tangent, and witli crazy fury approach- 

 ing a precipice, and as he reached its edge turned short and 

 over it hurled poor old Pat; and was out of sight! "My 

 heavens!" cried Kendall, " poor Bowman's killed," and in a 

 flash he turned from the chase to his rescue. With a vicious 

 sharp crack from Melton's trusty gun the deer, without a 

 struggle, fell amid gathered rustics, drivers, hounds and 

 horses, and Melton had redeemed himself. 



But poor old Bowman! Where was he? With one ac- 

 cord all bounded to his relief. And where was he, sure 

 enough ? Below the cliff, where he was hurled, grew a 

 heavy topped and bushy hornbeam, with its lithe branches, 

 entwined in which was ihe thick growth of wild grape vines. 

 Pat had fortunately struck this tree in his fall, and his legs 

 were thrust up to his crotch among the tops. Melton's eyes 

 were from some cause moist when he heard of his old friend's 

 fall, but as he peered through the vines at Kendall extricating 

 the fallen hero with his knife he greeted him with "Hello, 

 rooster, why don't you crow ? we've got the deer." "Good- 

 ness ! Melton, there's no f un in this. I'm nearly split open. 

 Ail 1 want is to git outer here to shoot that cussed brute that 

 Bended me over here ;" and Bow. was extricated with only 

 such injuries as skinned knees and shins, and a stiff spine 

 from the Budden jar. 



A week passed off with hunts more or less varied in their 

 results and excitement. The evening before the day fixed 

 for our departure, Melton, Kendall and Saurer had spont in 

 bagging pheasants. The day closed with a sleety rain, chill- 

 ing the bird hunters severely, and on their entering the 

 cheery sitting room they were confronted with a glowing 

 wood fire. "Pat," said Saurer, "brush up the hearth and 

 put a dozen good ripe apples before the fire to roast, and let's 

 give Kendall a farewell with an old-fashioned Virginia 

 toddy." "Enough said," chimed Pat; "maybe it wUlwarm 

 up my stove-tip back." "Melton," said Saurer, "have, you 

 any of that old peach brandy left?" "Yes, look in my 

 valise, in a morocco covered quart flask, and you will find it 

 full of brandy Bill Wallace made four years ago out of fine 

 peaches, from which he extracted the seed before stilling." 

 "Don't take the apples up yet, Pat; let them scorch a lit- 

 tle," said Saurer. "Do you want anything else to make the 

 stuff wilh," said Pat; "any other llavorin'?" "Get me a 

 tea-kettle full of clean water and heat it hot, and some loaf 

 sugar. 1 would like to know how you could improve the 

 flavor of the peach and apple mixed ?" said Saurer. " That's 

 a mess, hot water, apples, sugar and liquor all mixed," said 

 Pat. " Y T ru old scrub, take this glass and take back what 

 you said about it or I'll throttle you in a minute," said 

 Melton. A short interim passed and the moisture came on 

 llow.'s brow, and he said sprily, "Boys, it's better nor 1 

 tho't— let's have another," and he turned and tipped Kendall's 

 glass. "Kindle," said he, "here's to all sich Yankees as 

 you ; here's to them wife and numerous children you talk of; 

 come to my house every year, it shan't cost you a red." 

 "Yes, may he live to tree, you agin next fall, old coon," 

 said Melton. "Yes, cuss you, you'd laugh if I broke my 

 neck next fall ; you've got no feelin' no how!" The cups 

 were drained. 



" Pat, do you know I'm the man who let you loose when 

 wounded at Buchanan at the bridge burning you spoke of 

 the other night?" said Kendall. "By golly, Kindle, I be- 

 lieve it. I believe you were born to save my life. I thought 

 I'd seen you afore, and if you shot me that day and wus a 

 Y 7 ankee, all right." "I was a soldier, Bow.; have found 

 men like you in the South do not harbor malice at us, and I 

 shall always remember you with kindness and return to see 

 you again." Pat mopped his brow, went weaving tothe door 

 wilh "Goodnight, boys." 



The whip cracked over our teams by daylight next morn- 

 ing, and we went sailing homeward. Thus did the hunters 

 of the Gray and Blue mix. 



Caju? in Texas.— Kosse, Texas, July 23.— I now have a 

 fine, never- failing carp pond, or two of them, and intend 

 spending more tune and money so that I can care for the 

 young fishes. I have some beautiful carp, sent from the 

 government ponds year before last, measuring about eighteen 

 inches, and weighing six or seven pounds. I am in hopes 

 that my pond is full of young carp, but so far have not been 

 able to catch any. — S. B. 



Lake Tkotjt Fibiiuig.— Fishing at Lake Keukaisgood; 

 it is said that a Jake trout weighing 171bs. was caught one 

 day last week,— J. O. F, 



TO MY SEl'TKK, "SCOUT.'' 

 Uv Frank H. Sei.den. 



A^OU are a tried and loyal friend. 

 -*- The end 



Ot Me will nnd you leal, unweary 

 of tested bonds that naught can reud, 



And e'en If years be sad and dreary 

 Our plighted friendship will extend. 



A truer irlend man never had. 

 'Tls sad 



Thai, 'uiong all earthly friends the fewest 

 Unfaithful ones shotdd be I has clad 



In canine lowliness ; yet, truest: 

 They, be their treatment, good or bad. 



Within your eyes methlnks I nnd 

 A kind 



And thoughtful look ot speechless feeling 

 That, Mem'ry's loosened cords unbind, 



And lets the dreamy past come stealing 

 Through your dumb, reflective mlud. 



Seoul, my trusty friend, can It he 

 You see 



Again, in retrospective dreaming, 

 The run, the woodland and the lea, 



With past Autumnal sunshine streaming 

 O'er ev'ry frost-dyed lleld and tree 1 



Or do you see now once again 



'1 he glen 



And fern, the highland and the thistle? 

 And do you still remember when 



We heard the bright-eyed woodcock whistle 

 Down by the rippling shrub-edged 1'en 1 



1 see you turn a UBt'nlng ear 

 To hear 



The quail upon the flower-pled heather ; 

 But, doggie, wait till uplands sere 



And then the Autumn's waning weather 

 Will bring the sport we hold so daar. 



Then we \\ 111 hunt the loamy swale, 

 And trail 



The snipe, vhetr cunning wiles o'erconiing ; 

 And oft will flush the bevied quail, 



And hear the partridge slowly drumming' 

 Dull echoes In the leaf-strewed dale. 



When wooded hills with crimson light 

 Are bright, 



We'll stroll where trees and vines are growing 

 And see birds warp their southern flight 



At. sundown, when the Day-King's throwing 

 Sly kisses to the Queen or Night 



nut when the leaves of Life's fair dell 

 lluve fell, 

 And Death comes with the Autumn's even 

 And separates us, who can tell 



But. thai , within the realm or Ueaven, 

 We both together there will dwell? 

 H I ',. /i/>,, 1881. 



A WEEK OF FRAGRANT MEMORIES. 



IT was a quiet afternoon just at the close of June. In a 

 boat on a little lake in Pennsylvania (no matter where) 

 a man of middle age and two boys weie seated ; say, rather, 

 three boys, for on such occasions the man becomes a boy ; 

 or, as one of the boys prettily said : " It is only a difference 

 in years ; we have much the same kind of hearts in us after 

 all." In that boat three hearts beat fast — two with anticipa- 

 tion of the coming sport and one with anxiely that the Others 

 should not be disappointed in their expectations. 



The boys were enthusiastic VValtonians, but hitherto their 

 efforts had been confined to the smaller sorts of fish, and they 

 were anxious to try their hands on black bass. The boys had 

 seen some fine specimens, they had heard and read much of 

 the gallant fight for life made by the fish, of the skill needed 

 to take them with light tackle, and with the ardent nature of 

 boys they were anxious to begin the sport. The trip had 

 been long planned; in tact it was arranged last summer, and 

 when the warm weather and lengthening spring days came 

 and told of the approach of the fishing reason, Tackle shops 

 were visited, questions asked, purchases made, aud some 

 dreams dreamed iu which fish of unheard of size were taken 

 only after inconceivable effort. And now at length the last 

 recitations in school had been made, the examinations passed, 

 aud the boys were free. 



Saturday night brought them to the place of rendezvous, 

 where they were to join their older companion. The hour at 

 which they rose on Monday morning no one knows. Cer- 

 tainly it was long before any one else in the family was astir. 

 An early breakfast over, our traps were placed in the carriage 

 which took us to the station, and never did a railway train 

 carry a happier party than did the train that day. A few 

 hours in the cars and one in a stage brought us to our desti- 

 nation. A hurried meal was taken, and a more hurried 

 tramp to the water. A boat was secured for the entire stay. 

 And now the three boys are in it, and off we go, one gallant 

 little fellow managing the oars adruir ibly. There is a thrill 

 of pleasure as we push off, and the bright color mounts the 

 cheeks of all the party. The senior boy is lull of happiness : 

 It is high pleasure tor him to seethe brightness and buoyancy 

 of hiB young companions. 



1 had been at the lake before. I knew the coy maimer and 

 fastidious tastes of the bass there. Sometimes the wriggling 

 worm is greedily taken, sometimes the minnow is the food 

 they most want, while again grasshoppers arc a tempting 

 lure ; aud there are other times when they will none of these, 

 but greedily rush for black crickets; to the fly they never 

 rise. Hence there must be some experimenting. Supplied 

 with worms and crickets (the two most easily procured bails) 

 we tried our luck, but crickets and worms alike proved 

 failures, and the result of the afternoon's fishing was disap- 

 pointing. 



Next moruiug arrangements were made for a supply of 

 minnows, and till they could be procured we determined to 

 try grasshoppers and trolliug spoons. Again disappointment 

 attended our efforts. Some others, meetiug with a similar lack 

 of success, became discouraged and weie preparing to leave. 

 As we wound up for dinner, 1 said, " Boys, shall we follow 

 their example and go too?" " No, sir," came Ihe prompt 

 reply; " not a bit of it ; we came to fish, and we will not give 

 it up bo easily. No, sir; we will stay." And then we all 



shock hands, and I said something about " the right spirit." 



Our minnows secured, we proceeded to try them. They 

 proved to be just the needed bait. It was not long before 

 I began a fight with a large baas. The whole performance 

 was new to the boys, and their excitement can better be 

 imagined than described. They fairly yelled when the fish 

 gave his characteristic leap. At last he was secured in Ihe 

 landing net, and thence transferred to the boat. He was 

 handled and admired, his size and weight speculated upon, 

 and th'm came most naturally from both boys, "I wish I 

 could take one just like him." They had not long lo wait 

 for the fulfillment of their wish. Harry roon felt the pecu- 

 culiar tug at his line, and with a shout, "I've got him," 

 stood up to begin the struggle. Breathless with excitement 

 as the fish leaped wildly from the water, he almost forgot his 

 part of the work ; the line Was allowed to run loose ; the top 

 of the rod was not kept well up : again, he grasped rod and 

 line with both hands, so that the line could not run out. Do 

 you wonder, kind reader? Do you remember the work you 

 made with your first bass ? And you were a man, too. I 

 have seen men, more than once, break their rods with their 

 first heavy fish. A word or two from his senior recalled 

 Hairy to his work, and right well he did it. Five minutes of 

 battle and another fine fish lay in thejboat. It would have 

 been difficult to say which showed most, signs of excitement, 

 the captor or the captive ; but I kuow certainly that 1 have 

 not often Been a happier or a prouder boy, and he had a right 

 to be ; he acquitted himself most creditably. There were 

 handshaking and congratulations. 



And then came John's turn. John is usually a quiet boy, 

 but under the quiet outside is hidden away a deal of fore/.- — 

 force that will tell when he reaches man's years and enters 

 his life work But just then the quiet outside suddenly van- 

 ished and, with a shout like a war-whoop, John Bprang to 

 his feet ; and then he grew pale as the contest waxed fiercer, 

 and he trembled as the fish sprang from the water trying to 

 shake the stinging hook from its mouth. But with some 

 directions and a little aid he landed his fish, and the third fine 

 bass graced our boat. Then came reverses, for Harry lost 

 two— one just as it seemed ready for the lauding net— John 

 lost one and I lost two. There were some long and not very 

 happy looking faces just then. But, we did not lose courage ; 

 we kept right on, and when night came it found us carrying 

 to our hotel a goodly string of fish. I do not think there were 

 three happier hearts anywhere than the three hearts that night 



in the little country inn beside 8 lake; two because of 



their first experience in bass fishing, and one in the enjoyment 

 of the others. 



Day by day for a week we repeated the work of this one 

 afternoon. Nice strings were taken ; boxes of fish packed 

 in ice were sent to father and grandfather at home. 



And we not only had the pleasure that comes of innocent 

 amusement, recreation and sport ; we enjoyed to the full the 

 beautiful country, wilh its high hills, its fields of ripening 

 grain and its grand old forests. The mountains in the blue 

 distance lent their charm. Light and shade followed each 

 other over the lake and the peaceful fields as sunlighl and 

 cloud alternated in the sky. One night a grand thunder 

 storm awed and yet thrilled us with its terror aud magnifi- 

 cence. 



We used to take supper with us and eat itinthe boat in Ihe 

 quiet hush of the evening, amid the glories of the fading day 

 as the sun went down behind the surrounding hills 'What a 

 delight was that quiet hour, spent in the midst of the waning 

 splendors of the sinking sun. 



But the end of that happy week came. Our lines were 

 Tceled up for the last time, our rods uujointed, traps packed 

 aud good-byes said to the kind people of the inn who had 

 done so much for our enjoyment. We could not but feel sad 

 that our pleasure there was at an end, but no were glad aud 

 thankful that we had been allowed to have so much of it. 

 We turned our faces homeward; the boys to finish their va- 

 cation in a beautiful country town ; I to work. But there is 

 in my life to-day a strain of music and a bit of brightness 

 that was made there by a week with two bright, kindly, pure, 

 affectionate boys. Dear young hearts, I wonder whether you 

 know what a place you have made for yourselves in the older 

 one. I wonder whether you know how much Ihis weckof free 

 intercourse and constant association has endeared you to your 

 companion. May we live to have many such "good limes" to- 

 gether ; and when I shall have unjointed my rod for the last 

 time, may you, in the midst of your enjoyment, think of him 

 who gave you your first lessons, and say in the words of dear 

 old Walton, "May the blessing of St. Peter's Master rest upon 

 mine." M. 



Augmt 4, 1881. 



THE MAGALLOWAY COUNTRY. 



Magalloway Rivek, Maine, July 26. 



AS I have been in different sections of the country for the 

 past eight years 1 think I can safely say I have discov- 

 ered a gold mine this season in the way of hunting and fish- 

 ing. Large game is very plenty, embracing moose, caribou 

 and deer, and small game is abundant. With a good fly-rod 

 and iandmg-net you can have all the fun with the speckled 

 beauties you desire. Our friend Eaton has just returned 

 from Sunday pondwith four fine trout, weighing respectively, 

 2£, B^-, 3| and 4i pounds. This little pond is iu full view of 

 our camp aud embraces about fifty or sixty acres. It has 

 neither inlet nor outlet, but is fed by springs and is kept 

 well stocked by our landlord for the exclusive use of his 

 patrons. 



There are five or six ponds within a short distance, well 

 stocked with trout, and up the river four miles is the large 

 and beautiful sheet of water called Parmachenee Lake, to 

 which the readers of the Foeest and Stkbam need no intro- 

 duction. Deer can be seen nearly every day at sunset on the 

 edge of the pond opposite our camp, and in June two moose 

 came regularly down to the water to drink, but as the sea- 

 son advanced, fearing the guns about the pond, they left for 

 some safer place in which to queuch their thirst. Last Tues- 

 day our guide, Flint and myself went to Upper Metallic 

 Lake flyfishing and on returning saw before us a large moose 

 in the water. As I did not wish to try him with my fly-rod 

 we had the pleasure of paddling up within about three rods 

 of him before he knew of our presence, but when he saw us 

 he gave one mighty leap and away he went into the forest. 



In this section, during the fall months one can have all the 

 sport he desires in the way of hunting or fishing. If it were 

 in the season for still hunting I could give your readers some 

 of my experience in that line, but as it is out of season I will 

 forbear. However, I can assure them if they will come to 

 Flint tamp they can have all the sport they wish for. 



For the benefit of those, if any there be, who may wish to 

 come to thiB place, I will give full directions for getting here 

 from Boston. Start from the Boston and Lowell depot with 



