DflOHMBBK 1, 1881.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



345 



the lamp, while the Captain produced from the hatchway a 

 large, covered tin box, which, on being opened, disclosed 

 several compartments, each wifth its own cover of tin, and 

 containing eggs (picked in salt), sugar, tea, etc. As soon as 

 the coffee was boiled the tin plate with the bail was "putover," 

 a piece of butter dropped in (from a water-tight earthen 

 jar, which can bo lowered into cool water when in camp), 

 and two eggs, one for tho Captain and one for the crew, were 

 broken on the plate and soon fried, A loaf of bread, in a tin 

 box of its own, was brought out, and while the Captain ate 

 Ms supper ihe lin pail of water.was heating, with which the 

 dishes were to be washed after the repast. Meanwhile 

 Judy, who had been waiting patiently without, was fed with 

 bread and egg cut up together, and served on the clean gravel 

 by the boat's side.* Although the Captain evinced a certain 

 Ignorance of the customs of the oiiisine in smoking his brier- 

 toot while washing the dishes, that ceremony was neverthe- 

 less well done, and each piece of tinware was put away aB 

 gaining aud bright as a new silver dollar. 



It was now fairly dark, and a slow rain commenced failing; 

 bo the two voyagers, after a race to the end of the point aud 

 back, crawled under the shelter of the little tent. Judy was 

 soon asleep in her accustomed place, and the Captain, after 

 lighting a candle and writing up the log for the day, unrolled 

 the woolen blanket, straightened out the carriage robe for a 

 mattress, and at seven o'clock at night, with the cork seat for 

 a pillow, and nothing over the bottom planks of the boat but 

 tho thin lap robe, enjoyed as luxurious a bed as any darling 

 of fortune on a couch of eider-down. The rain drops fell 

 in a "patter-patter" on the tent over head, the wind made 

 the branches of the trees creak and groan, and as the monot- 

 onous "chug-chug" of the paddles of the tow-boat became 

 fainter and fainter as she receded down the lake, the Cap! aln 

 of the Gypsy sank into a sweet slumber, not to awaken until 



CARE VERSUS COOT. 



CLOSE and continued application to regular routine of busi- 

 ness, reinforced by unusual cares, having succeeded in 

 establishing their ' ' first parallel" against our citadel of 

 good digestion and sound sleep, we determined that "dis- 

 cretion was the better part of valor," aud ran away. It is 

 the story of this flight which is offered to other weary 

 workers, that they, too, may appreciate the fact in its best 

 senses, that 



Having decided upon our "skedaddle," it did not take 

 long to determine upon the plan in general, and route in 

 particular. Something out of office, into open air, away 

 from care, to the full enjoyment of an absorbing pleasure ! 

 As we gave free rein to fancy and inclination, old scenes 

 come rushing hu.o view, the pulse quickened as wo lived 

 again in pleasant recollection the experience of days thus 

 called to mind. 



After due preparation — getting together the whole outfit and 

 paraphernalia, which is more precious than so much gold or 

 silver — the trusty elevcnvpound ten-pores, clean and true 

 and close as their outside lines of " hammerless •" betoken, 

 due ammunition, the snipe guns, rubber cloth boots and 

 browsers, sou'westers, Cape Ann oilers, and the whole busi- 

 ness of flannels, heavy coats, cleaning rods, oils, etc., etc., 

 wo found ourselves toward noon on the 25th of October leav- 

 ing the cars at Good Ground aud looking around for "Sy- 

 reno " and his "U. 8. Mail" to lako our traps to Pond- 

 quogue, while we stretched our legs by walking the two 

 mileB of sandy road which intervened. 



Of this mail wagon and its genial driver let us say naught 

 but the soberest truth. Of modest look, appearing to have 

 approached the " early caudle light " of its usefulness, sug- 

 gesting just a little skakiuess, you are surprised to know 

 that "thirteen men, all heavier than I be — aud I weigh two 

 hundred and thirty— has been carried in this 'ere waggin to- 

 oncet." 



Any lurking doubt as to the strict accuracy of thiB state- 

 ment is at once banished when the eye, leaving the vehicle 

 In wonder, travels rapidly over "the team " and harnesses. 



A hundred minor and indescribable somethings at once 

 convince you that "Syreno" only told the truth." Tho dis- 

 couraged aud resigned flop of the ears, the subdued switch 

 of the tails, the sleepy drag of the eyelids, the pokey gait, 

 tho protesting harnesses, with their bent buckles and substi- 

 tutes and honorable scars — in fine, the speaking tout ensemble 

 — all proclaim the fact. 



. Curbing our desire to ride in even such a distinguished 

 official van, we walked for the exorcise. If you do as we 

 did, however, you lose an enviable chat with an enviable and 

 solid old friend, Syreno Wells, stage driver and TJ. 8. mail 

 carrier. 



"May he die fat I" 



A swinging gait and heavy roads brought pedestrian and 

 coach to our old friend Foster's together. And for comfort- 

 able house, pleasant rooms and good kitchen, and, best of 

 all, for hearty, hospitable. welcome to old friends, commend 

 us to his good wife. While Currituck demands him at stated 

 seasons, she maintains the good standard of th i ngs at home 

 with graceful ease of true hostess. 



As we stretched ourselves before the roaring wood fire in 

 the evening, having unpacked guns, and donned the flannels 

 and garb of the hour, we chatted with her of all changes 

 since last wo talked, of the chances of birds, of the weather, 

 Wo were surrouuded with an atmosphere of comfort and 

 rest and pleasure, which promised sound sleep, good diges- 

 tion and full health without measure. May her life be long, 

 and her avoirdupois never less! 



Would that our pen could picture to each eye the group 

 of old friends who dropped in later. Uncle Ed, George, Joe, 

 and the philosopher, Oil). 



Uncle Ed, the hero of many a season's gunning, and to- 

 day as active and keen in his enjoyment of sport as he ever 

 was, and always full of hopeful prognostications or consol- 

 ing uncertainties. 



George, his little boy. Nothing Cassius-like here— no 

 "lean and hungry look" about him. Fat as ho is Jolly, and 

 true to friend as- needle to the pole. 



Joe, whom everybody knows and everybody wants, whom 

 the "children civ 'or." 



And Gill, the, philosopher and orator, and whose tongue 

 "lubricates by Its unctuosity rather than irritates by its 

 asperity," who cau talk more to the square inch than— well. 

 pen fails— words are inadequate. 



There we sat, and as the Are burned, sending its white 

 wreaths of smoke into the keen frosty night air outside, we 

 in the warm glow within talked of seasons gone by and re- 

 hearsed the story of successful bags or more frequent disap- 

 pointment, and laid our plans for the days to come, 



The cooler weather, though unseasonably warm, and the 

 hoped for sou 1 west wind, promised fair sport, if only the 

 birds were in the bay. Many had been seen, and they 

 were surely somewhere. Uncle Ed talked vaguely of "a 

 big bunch o' broad-bills up in the No'th-east," but they had 

 been shy in coming to stool and bags yet had been small. 



Putting all arrangements into the hands of George and his 

 father, than whom no better fowlers are to be found along 

 Long Island waters, we promised to be aboard by five o'clock 

 next morning, said "good-night" all round, and, after one 

 more observation of wind and weather, went up to bed, if 

 not to immediate sleep. 



Crawling in betweeu the sheets, fancy found eyes which 

 penetrated the darkness with which night had veiled the 

 familiar scenes outside. We could see the lofty beacon of 

 Shinnecock Light flashing its guiding rays far across the bar 

 to trusting ships outside. We could see the Life-Saving 

 Stations, away to the east and west, with their sleepless 

 patrol pacing the sandy bench. We could see "The Island" 

 within the bay, as well as "Hole in the Wall," "Goose 

 Point," "Bunker Bar" and tho scenes of many an earlier 

 day's exploit, while we thought we saw broadbill, coot and 

 redhead in unconscious security taking counsel as to the 

 morning's flight. 



As our eyelids drooped we almost thought we could hear 

 the monotone of earnest preparation over at "Lane's" for 

 the morrow's start ; but a smile broke over our faces, for we 

 knew "oldYiah" must start early indeed to interfere with 

 our tried frieuds. And we slept. Slept, as not for a long, 

 long time at home. 



All too early came the rousing knock in the morning, but 

 tumbling out of bed into ready and fitting habiliments, hot 

 coffee, hot breakfast, aud Mrs. Foster'* beaming face started 

 the day successfully, with guns well oiled with"" dead-shot," 

 ammunition bags and cases filled, and all things needful for 

 a day's cainpaigD, we filed out into the dark, each follow- 

 ing his leader, before day gave any sign of breaking. The 

 hoped-for wind was treacherous ; only southerly, not sou'- 

 west ; only moderate and not fresh. But those comforting souls 

 at the front talked bravely of possible change for the better 

 during the day, and Uncle Ed " threw in his heft" like a hero. 

 What an anchor is Hope ! Although we were off early we 

 saw the dim outline of sails to the - westward, and we knew 

 that Lane's folks were also early starters. 



Shall we tell of all the secret counsel and communings, the 

 depth of profound skill and divination, the subtle knowledge 

 of birds and haunts, that a little later planted our double 

 battery in a certain place, and left us in our snug boxes sur- 

 rounded by the most seductive of stools ? Crumble this pen 

 first. 



Never were boxes tighter; never was a "rig" more 

 deftly and skillfully set; never were two minds so determined 

 on doing their whole duty; never were guns so carefully 

 loaded and handled, as when we settled down, while the 

 first bird— a glorious forerunner of coming scores— sped 

 swiftly down the bay against the rosy sky of an awakening 

 autumnal day. 



Tho glory of sunrise I The beauty of early morn ! With 

 the ripple of clear water in one's ear, making melody while 

 all nature is as a resplendent temple, what wonder the heart 

 acknowledges Supreme Goodness, and pays its willing tribute 

 of recognition and gratitude ! 



So us it grows lighter the birds begin to fly; singles, in 

 pairs, and fair bunches. We watch them on their swift 

 course, and enjoy all things together, discoursing of the 

 chances, and waiting for the sun to rise, for we are law- 

 abiding, and may not shoot until Old Sol's eye is fairly on 

 us, 



It is nearly sunrise, when we soo a bunch of six or seven 

 wheeling round to drop to stool. Discussing whether yet to 

 shoot it the chance offers, all doubt is dispelled by the double 

 " boom" of two guns from another battery away to the east, 

 and judging that the other fellows have caught sunrise in 

 saving time, we rise and bring three with our first barrel and 

 one with our second. A good opening for our first day's 

 ducking in '81 1 



The ball has opened, and all daylong the chances are taken 

 with varying success. A brotherly rivalry between these two 

 boxes lends additional zest to the sport, and individual scores 

 are closely kept, while shouts to the " tender," as she sails 

 by to secure the prizes drifting to the leeward, urge George 

 or Uncle Ed to an unfailing effort to secure the sum total. 



The speeding hours fly too quickly. No time can be lost, 

 so lunch is sent for and eaten in battery, while comparison of 

 shots and scores is made, and the Wonderful kills, which every 

 gunner knows are always made, are discussed with gusto. 



A bunch of geese, high up, sailed over, and the first brant of 

 the season were also noted during the "nooning." After 

 lunch history simply repeated herself, and when toward night 

 we called in the tender, took up rigs and sailed homeward with 

 a goodly pile of birds, we counted (we'll never tell exactly 

 how many) broadbills, redhead, coot, one venturesome 

 sprigtail ; and each hammerless was credited with the same 

 score of dead. 



But of all batteries in the bay for that day— it came out 

 later — we had the leading scores. In succeeding days the 

 writer's brother outshot him, and even brought to "bay a 

 solitary canvas-back. 



And so was spent an entire week. On gunning 'days, 

 always in battery, fair weather or foul, and one day proved a 

 pouring rain— all day long— " off-days," bagging snipe and 

 different bay birds, or taking long tramps back on to the hills 

 flushing an occasional bevy of quail. Then we wished for 

 "Ray" and "Pete," the faithful partners of our upland 

 sport. How we slept 1 How we eatl We had found a 

 panacea— better than bolus or draught, 



All things temporal have their end, however, and the unwel- 

 come hour came round to leave this haven of enjoyment and 

 active quiet, for further scenes of sport which claimed our 

 renewing acquaintance. 



We had ordered " Capt. Bill" to have the yacht waiting 

 at Sag Harbor, with full supplies for a week's cruise, and the 

 time had come to go down and board her. So we again shook 

 hands all round arid left Pondquogue for another year. 



Quiet, peaceful spot I May your eels never fail, may your 

 fowl always fly in due season and in good numbers, and "may 

 "George" and "Uncle Ed" secure' the lion's share till pot 

 and battery know them no more I 



Later, if this long story does not bring sleep to some 

 waiting watcher for Fokkbt asd Stream, we may spin a 

 yarn of our week's cruise through Gardner's Bay and around 

 Moutnuk, which may not fail in this, if it does not excite 

 appetite and good digestion. B. 



A RECORD OP HONOR 



BIT ASHE G. HALE. 



A k° TIIEr! Victim of Hydrophobia'" heads a paragraph in a 



* »- daily paper, detailing the sufferings oi a child recently 

 bitten by a rabid ,1, eg. And tili - is coupled with such calumnious 



tta tbatpne would supposi Us 

 carries dubo'icu iutentious packed away iu his uruoc,-;., 

 coveted noddle, needing only Jit opportunity for then- f uliUlmeut. 



The evil that rnoo no lives an or them 

 Ike good is oft Interred with their bones 



wrote Shakespeare. True as this savin;; is in regard to hmnau 

 kind, it loses noihmg it parodied i j 



The evil that dogs do doth ltve tor s ye — " 

 Thtfanoo apeoserj igracoi banes- 

 IB oft forgotten ereaoc a He 



u race. 



for guch ia tho usual apportiO 

 So frequent in the mention 

 80 exultant the tone in whicb 

 our public prints, that there is little space for noticinir 

 heed paid to the many acts of .verv that mo t {• 



career. His intelligence in grr._:_.i. , " , Ll ; 



has taken the trouble to note" hi nptbi nvfncod that ?m- n 



culpable deed blazoned abroad one hundred worthy of comma °? B 

 tion have passed without a word of praises-one "theft bun i °"~ 

 made to outweigh vcais of honest, unswerving devotfrm h\ 1 , (m 

 one ebullition of anger or one demoni ti fcheoJ i *»„, y— 



ture is allowed to cancel all obligation .'. „ . | ,"'' , ^ " a : 



intrepid bravery, the m-eco, , "-; i , , .,„ .: ., :1 tlj,J mo "<- 



It is refreshing to meet occasionally with" sonre' aelmr l i 

 meut of the valuable services rendered by these useful and Tnobfe 

 ih acknowledgments could be oftener made 

 1 his muoh- 

 elhing like justice be 

 appose 



id . 



creaturi 



public the ill name that weighs so hea ; 



accorded th :enert e ■•iimation. 



jments would b 



tenia! 



pnl 



lorrueommg if some Bya-, 



ibjeqt regularly before the 

 a Record of Honor in the 

 libertv to 1 ■ th ■ 2 anJ persou mKr llB "* 



Tlie information thus ob 

 interesting and valuable. 



As the editor approves this Suggestion, IwUi commence the 

 Record by mentioning one dog who will always hold a Kreen 

 place m ihc memory of the little circle who know hira best 



1. Jaek, who rendered several years of faithfn , ,'.„ „„ „ 

 watch dog in mj father's family. A combination of -the 'mastiS 

 aud tho spaniel, he was extromelv sagacious and decile Th ne-) 

 occasionally showing high temper, he was very atfeettonata 2na 

 gentle to all who treated him kindly. A oIi.m 

 the family made a change of homes" for Jack at 

 greatly to Ore regret of those wh 

 served so well. ~ 

 sense of duty ; 



- * "' \' 1J '' E -:- hpape ysl tal a child about two years old 

 SKS : u , L ', i \°^i. „„°7. Dm iu S 1- do = H -°- retriever and a terrier. 

 SwraWiie, head gamekeeper to 



any person may be at 

 ...... -M.-orthy deoda of any dog. 



ud disseminated would be both 



m 



well. Soon after this ihangehi aacrifl I life life tn fch 



Uity ; fortothob %£&£. 



hero ■ He. was m kt keeper oi I , KjfaM tfcw 



i .-ik, 



Mr. Bell, of the Thirsk estate." It was left i 

 sister. 



dog, who went to waul the pond, „, ber,, a!,- found nie' terrier hold- 

 ing the child above the water. 



3. An Irish setter. Jack by name, a noble animal, the property 

 of a Romish priest in Newburyport, Mass., early last mirine bv 

 the aaorihce of his own lito, was tho means of Barfing others His 

 master was absent from the city, and ,: _ i-vantii lmd 



the oaro of the parsonage. Late in the ry,, u , f ; a,, p,-!-.,,;' rl T 

 tired, leaving thodogm the dining rot . , .'. ' Toward 



! ' ■■■■ "'■' '• ™ -...■., ,. .,, who vvas dragging 



and pulling the bedclothes and barking m his shriUost tones. The 

 tm " , . .'..-' "i"'" - 



:'"''".. ''■' ;■'- - : ':'- " : ' : - " -i fre.m tho walls. 



Poor J aca went down stair? to his a. mil resting-place aud soon 

 ceased barking. When the fire was subdued his remains were 

 found uninj ored. He had probably suffocated almost immediatelv 

 after giving the alarm. J 



i A frolicsome St. Barnard, who bears the proud title, Dom 

 Pedro, was lor a long lime the pet of a friend and neighbor of 

 mine. He has iv,, s :ll bb a trampet, He, how- 



ever, is very discreet in the use of it; and, though sometimes, by 

 way of joke, sending Ub notes ringing; and echoing all around the 

 neighborhood, no one ever bad reason to complain of the quantity 

 or the quality of the music he ha* mm\c. !>,. 

 fectiouate, he was a great favorite with the children. But once 

 in fun, iu sheer make-believe, apparently, having returned their 

 love pats with a pretenaeoi biting, ,, U e timid psn-ntniadeeuch com- 

 plaint that he was banished from city life. And en Hem Pedro 

 tr-ok up his abode wi'.h a worthy muler, and i< an to develop a 

 fondness for bucolic pursuits, enjoying, to all "appearance the 

 company of his master's cows and oxen as much as he had that of 

 the city children, uot only preferring their society by day but 

 sharing their quarters through the night— asalf-conafitnted guard 

 audkseper. One night the miller was awakened from 

 ful slumbers by a great uproar hi the barn, tramping and bellow- 

 ing of tho cattle, but, high above nil, Horn's voice ,-s if in ex- 

 postulation and entreaty. He quickly dressed and hastened to 

 the scene of action. His valuable oxen had broken from their 

 stalls, and were gorging themselves at thenioal-ckest. Horn, as if 

 awaro of the danger, was using his utmost exertions of voice, 

 teeth and feet, to diSBUade the culprits from their suicidal feast. 

 Had heuotoruuaod their master, who. with no little trouble 

 stalled thorn as soon M poilble, there •would have been a fearful 

 sacrifice of tat cattle the next morning. 



5. On the 24th of last May a house and barn at Andover. Maea., 

 occupied by Be bed 8. Hayes, were burned. Probably the tire was 



cendiary About two o clock in tne morning the family were 

 awakened by the outories of the dog, to v>bo!ie sagacity and 

 bravery they undoubtedly owe then- lives, for everything in the 

 bouse, even all the clothing, wos burned, aud, with the barn, 

 nearly all the animals aud farming utensils v, ere lost. 



6. A friend of mine is the owner of nier, who I 

 must confess enjoys startling the pcsse-rs-by with a swim, 



of barks, ■ily friend baa been sadly tried by this trick of her pet. 



But he is so affectionate in his dispo-, 



bunch, of goodnature. ■.:■■_ te might easily 



specimen of 1- indicted my 



friend for keeping a trot bles . , . Bo bfs rollicking greetings 

 are heard no more. At certain portlol Mj« ij t1ie 



Prince must be gagged, and iti . how readily at his 



mietress' word tho nnoonoioug rugue takes the di-, i 

 crash towel Lightly rolled serves lor the gap. TUs bundle he 

 oarrieB between his white teeth, holding -i pafientb llU ordered to 

 lay it aaide, which at length he doe« in grateful suenoe, Though 

 to his mistress ha is so obadient in this matter, he pay« no heed 

 to such orders from any one eiue, and I am not sure but tho 

 churl « ho stigmatized him an a " troublesome dog" gets a good 

 ahare of growls and howl* whoa he leai 



With these brief notieos, the Record of Honor being now fairly 

 opened, let us have enrolled thereon the names and deeds of 

 hundreds of worthy dogs. Let them have their full meatrare of 

 merit, and that with promptuesa 



