Atot/st 4,1881.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



it (is of the head waters of the St. John there boihg ninny 

 tributaries to that river. A wcllileliiied road crosses to Mud 

 PoSdj bul the soil is light and springy, with a frequent ad 

 mixture of solid mud, sy that you often sink from two to 

 three feet into the mire. Having made tlie carry before, 

 however, we were provided with long-legged rubber boots 

 ami were able to get over it Wi-hout great discomfort, Our 

 birches and oilier mggage were transported with little dim 

 culiy or delay. A matter oi two or three hours suffices to 

 make it with light luggage and canoes, but taking across a 

 bateau weighing from GOO 10 800 pounds is quite another 

 matter: it Was accoinplifihfld, however, in about, sir hours. 

 Our guides now numbered eight men and, by means of yokes 

 roughly improvised for the occasion, they raised the bateau 

 to their shoulders, carrying it from tentdflfti en rodsatapull. 

 Although it was not yet June the black flies swarmed about 

 us in great numbers and annoyed us exceedingly. 



At tour o'clock, however, we were safely across, our throe 

 extra men were dismissed, and we resumed onr journey. 



wri) POND 

 is a small sheet of water, very shallow, hut deep in mud, 

 nearly round, with a circumference of about two and a half 

 or three miles. Fifteen minutes took us across to the outlet ; 

 this the guides ran, while we walked to the foot of shoal 

 water, a distance of about eighty rods, where the outlet is 

 sufficiently deep to admit of safe ^passage. Three-quarters 

 of a mile further took us to 



• OUAMliKKl.AlN DAKB, 



into which the outlet empties. As is usually the case, the 

 mouth of the outlet was choked up for a distance of some 

 forty rods with "dry kie," a mass of broken trees, old 

 stumps and branches, and all sorts of drift wood closely 

 interwoven and packed together. By the aid of setting poles 

 we worked our way through it in twenty minutes, and were 

 upon the broad bosom of Chamberlain, a charming stretch 

 of water, some twenty miles long by two to three wide. 

 Nearly opposite on the east shore is 



OUAMBKHLAIN FARM, 



where sportsmen always find a hearty welcome, a good bed, 

 and a satisfying board. Quite a gale of wind was blowiug 

 to the west as we entered upon Uic lake, and our little birches 

 bobbed merrily up and down upon the heaving billows, but, 

 they rode the white caps beautifully, and at about six o'clock 

 we made a safe landing at the farm. 



June the 1st was a most delightful morning, the air was 

 fresh and bracing, with a stiff breeze from the north. About 

 8:30 we got under way, our larder restocked, aud everything 

 provided for a three or four days' sojourn in the wilderness. 

 Our course lay northerly alongthe east shore. A stiff bead 

 wind rendered our progress slow, and it took us a matter of 

 an hour and a half to reach 



THE LOOKS, 



three miles distant The looks were built several years ago, 

 at a eon.-ideiJi.ble expense, to form a cominunicition of Eagle 

 with Chamberlain Lake, and thus take the logs from the 

 surrounding territory into Chamberlain, thence into East 

 Branch, and finally into Maine, instead oi' in the other direc- 

 tion down the St. John. To carrv out this project three 

 dams were built, two at Chamberlain aud one at the foot of 

 Churchill, just at the head of Chase's Carry. Parties inter- 

 ested in sending them down the St. John, however, would 

 not tolerate this new thoroughfare, and shortly after a fire 

 mysteriously destroyed every dam 



The dams at the locks are about eighty rods apait. The 

 first is at the beginning of ihe outlet, and the second ju-t 

 below on the same outlet. The remains of the dams are 

 sufficient to bur the progress of passing through in boats, so 

 we had to carry by the first into the water below, and also do 

 the same at the second dam. Our bateau was the only thing 

 that promised trouble, hut by means of the ''painter" we 

 dragged it upon the top of the first dam and let it down be- 

 low. At the second dam we cleared a passage to the sluice- 

 way through a mass of "dry kie," and our guides ran it 

 through empty, jumping the apron into the water below. 

 Au hour's delay did the business, and we found ourselves 

 floating calmly upon the bosom of 



EAGLE LAKE. 



At the upper end of Eagle Lake, on the west shore, we 

 visited a beaver house, which we found to h'tve been recently 

 built, and noted fresh tracks of beaver thereon. A "beaver 

 house" is built, of earth in the form of a mound, resembling 

 a small cock of ha3 r . Over the top and about the sides are 

 placed small round sticks or poles from three to six feet, in 

 length. Communication with it is made by means of a nar- 

 row passage or channel from the bed of the river, and as you 

 gaze down you will distinctly note the pathway. They feed 

 principally upon the bark of trees, such as birch and poplar, 

 and in the fall they lay in a stock of wood cut up in short 

 sections for food. All around in the forest adjoining they 

 had left truces of their handiwork in the shape of "beaver 

 cuttings," i. c, stumps of trees from two to ten inches i'i 

 diameter, standing out from the ground as (hough shorn of 

 their trunks by an axe. These trees they cut down with 

 their teeth, and so intelligent are they that they know in- 

 stinctively which way a tree will fall, and never cut one 

 unless it will fall where tl icy wish it. They cut entirely 

 arouud the tree, and when it fails the top of the stump breaks 

 off in the centre and leaves a cone-shaped point, while the 

 work, to the uninitiated, has the appearance of having been 

 done with an axe. 



They also build extensive dams reaching entirely across a 

 river, and thus dam the current at pleasure. Eor this pur- 

 pose they also fell trees, fill in the interstices with small 

 stones, which they carry by forming a loop of their broad, 

 flat tails, taking the end in their mouths, and in this way 

 drag the stones where they want them, then a masonry of 

 mud completes the dam. 



Near the beaver house we saw (racks of moose and cari- 

 bou. We were now in a wild and seldom visited region, 

 where moose, caribou, deer and beaver abound in groat nuni- 

 beis, and where, if the Teader will spend a week with a good 

 guide, he will find game to his bean's content. Last winter 

 Capt. Cole trapped eighty-four beaver in this region. 



Leaving (he beaver house, we found our way to 

 iullsrury's island. 

 three miles from the head of the lake, where we pitched our 

 tent on the old camping ground of Capt. Cole. It is located 

 on the east side of the Island, near the north end. Nearly 

 opposite, and on the eastthore ot the lake, 



smith's kmootc 

 comes in. This is a favorite Haunt of moose, caribou, etc. 

 As our trip was uot plauued for hunting, we were not fully 

 provided with shooting amis, having only one rifle, a repeater 

 and a shot guti for small game. 



Toward night F took a birch, with Sam for a guide, 



armed with my Winchester, aud paddled up Smith Brook 

 or game. As the law was on, I will tell no tales out of 



school. Let it suffice the reader's curiosity, however, that 

 he saw both a moose and caribou within shooting distance, 

 anil, if called into court to testify, I shall truthfully depose 

 that I distinctly heard the crack of said rifle four times dur- 

 ing his absence. The next morning he tried his luck again, 

 but saw only a black bear. He had patiently waited for half 

 an hour for "game aud saw nothing; then it occurred to both 

 him and his guide, Ned, that a smoke would not come 

 amiss, so, laying down his ride, first removing the cartridge, 

 he commenced filling his pipe ; ere it was half filled, how- 

 ever, a black bear got up within two rods of him (probably 

 had been taking a nap), and before he could get his rifle in 



readiness said bear took the alarm and galloped off. F 



sent three or four bullets after him, but Bruin did not tarry, 

 and that was the last seen of him. This was all the hunting 

 for large game done on our trip. Further up the river is a 

 beaver dam, where the fishing is usually excellent, We, 

 however, caught only a few there. 



June the 3d we" resumed our journey. About three 

 miles from Pillsbury Island the voyageur comes to Peel's 

 Island, neither of which arc named upon any map I have 

 seen, although both are located properly in Eagle Lake. 



It was near this latter island that " Dirty Donald," the 

 hermit, resided tor several years, and finally starved to death 

 a few > ears ago in mid-winter. Having go' ten out of pro- 

 visions, a companion (who had lately joined him) went away 

 after some, but was gone several days, and upon his return 

 found him dead. His hut was located on the west side of 

 Eagle Lake, upon a point of land that makes out into the 

 lake about two miles north from Peet's Island. This point 

 in the lake is known as 



rni; narrows, 

 and is scarcely half a mile wide. 



Before entering lhe Narrows the lake makes off westerly 

 into a deep hay, at the ext reme point of which is 



RUBRELL UROOK, 



which we did not visit, hut which affords good fishing in the 

 summer and fall, especially at the mouth. 

 At the lower end of the Narrows 



SOl'KR BROOK 



empties in from the east, and affords fine fishing later in the 

 season. 



After leaving the Narrows the lake widens up to about two 

 miles, when a fall of about two miles takes you to the head 

 of 



" THOROUGHFARE," 



a narrow neck of water which unites Eagle with Churchill 

 Lake. A mile and a half to the westward is the foot of 

 Eaale Lake, into the extreme poim of which empties 



8NAUE BROOK. 



which is classed with the other streams for good fishing. 

 Pursuing our journey we passed through the" Thorough- 

 faro," a distance of five miles, at the fo it of which empties in 



TUOROCGBFAJiE BROOK, 



from the west, which not only affords the best of fishing, 

 but is to be classed with Smith's Brook for large game. As 

 time was an important consideration wilhjsome members of 

 our party, we did not tarry at any of the places above-men- 

 ti >ned after leaving Pillsbury's Island LeaviDg Thorough- 

 fare Brook you immediately enter 



ouiiBonn.L lake, 

 through which we passed, covering a distance of about six 

 mileB, without delay. This brings us to 



OHASK'S DAM, 



heretofore spoken of as having been burned, and forming one 

 of the most interesting features of the trip. The dam, al- 

 though so far destroyed as to be rendered useless as a dam, 

 still maintains the appearance of one. The timbers mostly 

 remain, although partly burned and weakened. It is situated 

 at the head of a long, sharp pitch of water, which increases 

 in velocity and terror for a mile and a half. For the first 

 half-mile it is rapids, running like a mill-race down a sharp 

 declivity, broken here aud there by sharp rocks and bould- 

 ers. Now it changes its course westerly and tumbles fear- 

 fully for the next half mile down a steeper grade, and among 

 sharper and more frequent rocks aud ledges, exalting itself 

 into milky foam and dashing spray, its it frets and plunges 

 along its rocky course. Now again its bed regains more 

 Dearly its level, and sharp rocks disappear, but it has an- 

 swered to the cue, and it still tumbles with decreasing 

 velocity for the next half mile, when, like a spent projectile, 

 it settles quietly agaiu into its bed 



Around this rush of waters there was formerly a well-de- 

 fined road, known as 



ou ash's CARRY, 

 which was cut out years ago by loggers, but after they had 

 finished decimating the forest, and'retired their shadows after 

 thein, the road was suflered to grow up again, and we were 

 only able to find sections open to convenient passage. Sam 

 and Johu had determined to "run" the rapids with the 

 bateau, and Ned and Alf the birches, while Joe was detailed 

 to guide us over the carry. I shall not detail the trials of six 

 men, who tore their way through a tangled mass of hushes 

 and grapevines, headed by Joe, who told Sam he knew the 

 road perfectly. If he did, and we went by the " road," God 

 pity that poor sportsman who has no guide aud has to go 

 across lots. The distance by road is supposed to be about 

 half a mile, and we were about three quarters of an hour 



making it. W and M did most of the expletives 



for the party, while Newt, laughed ; S. compromised be- 

 tween the two ; and I — well, I had a rifle on my arm, a 

 heavy rod case on my shoulder, and — and big words in my 

 mouth. However, when we reached the foot of the carry it 

 was not many minutes ere we saw a birch rounding the bend 

 of the river above us, some sixty rods away, but, such was 

 the velocity of its coming, that scarcely did it appear in 

 sight ere it was abreast of us, and in a few moments its con- 

 sort came to harbor alongside in safety, although the pres- 

 ence of water in their bottoms told of rough seas they had 

 encountered. The grand spectacle of our whole voy- 

 age was now to be witnessed, ana one that will ever 

 linger in our memories so long as woods and waters pre- 

 serve their cha r ms. Our bateau has now rounded the bend 

 and is bearing down upon us with the velocity of an eagle 

 darting for its prey. Capt. dole stands firmly'in the stern, 

 occasionally shifting his puddle from side to side and boxing 

 the element that would trifle with the course of the bateau, 

 while Johu, bare-headed, his h r iir flowing in the wind, stands 

 firmly like a statue in (he bow, his paddle poised in mid-air 

 and his setting-pole at hand, watching with an eagle's eye 

 every motion of the current, piercing sharply and quickly 

 here aud there for treacherous rocks, lest in a twinkling (he 

 gliding craft become a mass of broken fragments; but he is 

 master of the situation, a hero in our owu cherished micro- 

 cosm, as he battles the waters, and with a dexterous sweep of 

 his paddle wards off an approaching danger. Round about 

 dashes the spray as the white water gracefully curves and 



divides beneath her how. Now riding gallantly upon a hear- 

 ing and throbbing swell, now falling coyly off into the trough 

 of' the current, she attains a point opposite us, when, with a 

 few well-timed strokes from both paddles, she obeys their 

 dictate like a thing of life, and gracefully comes to rest upon 

 the bank at our feet. 



Running Chase Rapids is no boy's play, and none but the 



081; experienced guides thoroughly familar with the quick 

 water ever attempt it, and never, so far as I can learn, with 

 a passenger. Many limes, said our guides, while making the 

 transit with the bateau, they could not see each other through 

 the mist and spray which enveloped them, and frequently 

 they could not see the course before them and could only 

 judge of the safety of the passage from their general knowl- 

 edge of the set of the water. Of course the run is more or 

 less dangerous to he made at different seasons of the year, 

 dependent upon the quantity of water, which increases or 

 diminishes its velocity. In very low water it is more safely 

 made, though less easily perhaps, as part of the bed is nearly 

 dry, and one can pick his way along with a setting pole. 



In water like the present, a canoe can run it with less dan- 

 ger than a bateau, as it can keep more out of the swiftest 

 current, being smaller, lighter and having less draft. 



At the foot of the carry we all resumed our places, and 

 made rapid progress down the quickened current. 



About half a" mile below, the river suddenly narrows up 

 and turns to the west again for a short distance, and we have 

 another short pitch called 



"the DEVIL'S ELBOW" 



which parties usually carry around as being somewhat 

 hazardous to run, but as there was plenty of water between 

 the rocks we ran it. 



It is a nasty spot, however, and must be run with great 

 care, although safe enough in good water to an experienced 

 guide. It is choked with sharp rocks and massive boulders, 

 aud the water rushes like a mile-race through its narrow 

 channels. We passed through it without adventure — 

 "luting." 



Although you are in the same stretch of water from the 

 time you leave Chamberlain Lake, yet different sections lake 

 different names. The bulges are dignified as "lakes" and 

 the smaller sections as a river. From Chase's Carry to 

 Umsaskis Lake, this water is called 



ALT/BGABII BIVEK 



and is nine miles in extent. There is nothing worthy of 

 note, along the river, which is only some forty rods in width, 

 varying of course in places, save that there is much quick 

 water and the running of it is exciting and exhilarating. 

 Perhaps I ought to arid, however, that fishing in it is good at 

 times, and game is abundant along its shores. Ducks were 

 quite plenty when we ran it, although we seldom got near 

 enough to "get a good shot. We, however, had one good 

 sqnare meal off white winged teal. The species of ducks we 

 saw were mostly black, wood, teal and old squaw. About 

 5 p.m., wo entered the waters of 



UMSASKIS LAKE 



a small lake some four miles long by two wide which 

 forms the head of 



LONG LAKE 



which, including Umsaskis, is about nine miles long, by some 

 it is all called Long Lake. We were advised by Sam there 

 was a good log camp on the east shore of Umsaskis near its 

 head, and we searched it out. It is about one and a half 

 miles down at the foot of or rather midway in a long curve 

 or bend just east of a round point of land which one will 

 readily perceive. Here we tied up for the night, highly 

 pleased with our day's adventure, in which we had accom- 

 plished about thirty miles. Should any reader have occasion 

 to camp here, he will find an excellent spring of water about 

 forty rods north of the camp or northwest near the old log- 

 ging road. GrBOBGE A. Fat. 



Intuml giptarg. 



[Prom Appleton's Journal.] 

 WHY DOES THE CRAB GO SIDEWAYS ? 



BT ROBEET B. ROOSEVELT. 



THE language of the heading to this article seems trivial 

 and beneath the digDity and importance of the ques- 

 tion, and the learning which will be displayed in answering 

 it. The word "go" sounds particularly weak and feeble, 

 but it is used in the broadest and fullest amplitude of sig- 

 nificance, and covers the ground of " walk, run, swim, 

 crawl, creep, climb, advance, retreat, progress, travel, 

 propel, skedaddle, vamose" and every other method of 

 motion, implied, intimated, or suggested by that small but 

 really strong and expressive word. It is, therefore, no 

 trifling inquiry. Crabs are curious cieatmes; their ways 

 arc not like the ways of other living things, whether of the 

 earth, air, fire or water, and their whole characters possess 

 a side-long quality, like their mode of progression. Most 

 animals move directly forward ; others, like the lobster, 

 " advance backward ;" a few, like the scallop, are irregular 

 and flighty, unable to control their direction ; some fly, some 

 run, some crawl, some hop, some bound, but to the crab and 

 the chess-bishop alone is it permitted to advance or retire at 

 an angle to themselves, as if a cross-eyed man were to at- 

 tempt to follow his eyes. Pursue a crab with a view to 

 dinner ; thrust the net in front of him, and how like a flash 

 of Lightning he will dart away to oue side or the other, as he 

 thinks escape the easier : place it before his line of flight, 

 anil with what incredible speed will he withdraw in the 

 contrary direction, his rear claw "lagging," hy no means 

 "superfluous," but with steel-like pincers ready to receive 

 the foe ! Endeavor to intercept his retreat, and instantly he 

 changes his course to the opposite one, aud again leaves the 

 net far behind. Now, the problem which we propose to 

 solve is why he thus indirectly slides off "on his ear," as it 

 were, and why he does not move as other animals, why, in 

 other words, he is to be an exception to all animated nature. 

 To obtain a satisfactory answer we must investigate both 

 the moral and physical conformation of our subject, The 

 moral nature can be understood with but casual study, and 

 may be summed up in the two words " utter perverseness," 

 or, as the jocose writers puts it, " pure cussedness." There 

 is so much positive, active and aggressive ill-temper in a crab 

 that there docs not seem to he room fur much else, even of 

 negative traits. He lias more cruelty aud wickedness to the 

 square inch than a Comanche brave with his war-paint On. 

 He is a crustaceous concentration of rage, and would quarrel 

 with himself should the world fail to "furnish him sufficient 

 other objects for a perpetual row. ne surpasses in appetite 

 for fights the Arkansas "roarer" of ancient celebrity, who 



