Deojsmbbr 20, 1881.] 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



425 



l rauiping briskly along toward Mirror Lake. A thick mist 

 curtained the landscape, and we missed the wonderful sun- 

 rise that I had hoped for ; even the treetops were not visi- 

 ble. Arrived at the lake, Mowitch siartr d off to put out 

 the flogs, while I cut an armful of hemlock boughs for the 

 canoe, and before long, with the ProfesBor amidships, firmly 

 grasping his trusty rifle, and Mowitch and I wielding re- 

 spectively the Bteering and bow paddles, we passed out on to 

 the surface of the lake. The fog still hung low over the 

 water, and though the upper air was rosy, the rays of the sun 

 had not yet pierced through the white vapor which hid the 

 surrounding forest on all sides except that from which we 

 had just pushed off. From out of the still whiteness which 

 surrounded us came from time to time the bell-like voices of 

 the hounds. The tiumpet-like notes of Captain, the shriller 

 tones of Diaca, the short, sharp bay of Wallace and the ex- 

 cited ravings of Dolores, blended and softened by the dis- 

 tance, formed a quartet whose melody was most sweet. And 

 as 1 knelt in the bow of the canoe, and bent my ear to catch 

 their ''musical discord," it seemed to me that indeed — 

 " A err more tuneable 

 Was never lioUa'd to, nor cheered wlt-li horn." 



So for a while we waited, and as we sat there, the sky 

 grew brighter and gradually the mist disappeared, and the 

 dark green of the woods was once more seen. The clamor of 

 the hounds had died away, and now the voices of forest and 

 lake began to be heard. The shrill piping of a cross-bill 

 sounded from a tree-top and was replied to by the grating 

 notes of a rollicking company of atelier's jays that were 

 foraging among the branches of an enormous fir. Faintly 

 from the direction of Lake Burnaby was borne to ear the 

 mournful quavering cry of a loon, and a great whiteheaded 

 eagle, who from his perch on the summit of a blasted fir 

 overlooked the scene, threw back his head and laughed a 

 shrill answering ecream. and then unfolded his enormous 

 wings and floated out of sight. From the other hide of the 

 like came a series of mysterious sounds, a splashing in the 

 water and a breaking of small twigs, which made us suspect 

 that a boaver was hard at work behind a fringe of low wil- 

 lows. Further on in a little bay was a tiny grebe dallying 

 with his breakfast. He evidently believed that file was 

 made for enjoyment, and dawdled over his meal like a man 

 of unlimited leisure. When he had satisfied his appetite be 

 went through an elaborate series of evolutions connected 

 with his toilet, and then, deliberately clambering upon a bunch 

 of floating vegetation, turned his breast to the sun and in med- 

 itative mood closed his eyes. I was wondering whether he was 

 merely ruminating, and really thought best with his eyes shut, 

 or whether as a matter of fact he had gone to sleep, when I 

 felt the canne shake and, turning my head, saw Mowitch 

 dipping his paddle in the water, as he motioned toward the 

 bird that I had been watching. Without the slightest sound 

 the little vessel moved toward the grebe, but when we were 

 within twenty yards of him, I hear-i ouce more the faint cry 

 of the hounds and turned to listen for them, and when I again 

 looked for my feathered friend he had vanished. Silently, 

 and without making a ripple in the waler, he bad disappeared 

 beneath its surface. We moved slowly on, and reached the 

 end of the lake, and, just as wc were about to turn, a low 

 groan from the stern caused me to lookrouud, and there, two 

 hundred yards distant, was a deer swimming away from us, 

 parallel with the shore, and not twenty yards from it. Al- 

 though the chances of our getting a shot were inflnitesitnally 

 small, we turned the canoe and started in pursuit, but before 

 we had made half the distance, the animal turned in toward 

 the bank. Mowitch, for the sake of the hounds, most anxious 

 that the deer should not escape, called out "Try him, To." 

 The canoe was still darting along as I raised the heavy rifle, 

 and fired at the delicate head that was cleaving the lake's sur- 

 face, now within a few feet of the shore. As I lowered the 

 gun, I saw the water splash high from about the mark, the 

 deer reared nearly half its length out of the water and then 

 for a few seconds lay floundering on the surface. I could 

 scarcely believe that I had killed, but for a moment it 

 looked so. Then the animal recovered and crawled slowly 

 out of sight into the long grass. In a few seconds we were 

 at the spot, and as the canoe shot by a little passage 

 way that led through the meadow toward tho shore, both the 

 Professor and I saw the deer lying in the water. The channel 

 was but a foot or two wide, so that we had but a glimpse of 

 our game, but it was enough. I shouted exultantly to Mo- 

 witch, " There he lies dead." If I had omitted the last word of 

 this sentence I should have done better. Better still, however, 

 if I had quietly backed the canoe and fired another shot, for 



when Mowitch stepped ashore with drawn knife to cut the 

 animal's throat, it sprang up, almost under his hand, and 

 danced derisively through the high grass off into the forest. 

 I think we all felt a little foolish. I felt particularly so, but 

 the idea that a deer should quietly lie down less than ten 

 yards from the spot where it had been shot at, had never 

 crossed my mind. I was confident that it had been hard hit, 

 and proposed going to the lower end of the lake, where 

 Diaua was now to be seen, and getting her, to put her on the 

 trail again. But at this moment old Captain made his ap- 

 pearance on the shore and Btarted to swim out toward the 

 canoe. We paid no attention to him, however, so he went 

 hack, and started along the bank after us, and presently his 

 sonorous tones told us that he had crossed the trail, and was 

 off again after the deer. It was not long before I saw behind 

 a little point, a ripple that showed that the deer was again in 

 the water, but before we could get sight of it, it 

 had ones mora sought the shore, Dolores, however, 



now took the trail, and in a short time, we had a beautiful 

 view of the deer advancing over the meadow with long, grace- 

 ful leaps. Once more it plunged into the clear waters of the 

 lake, and now for the last time. It struck out boldly for the 

 opposite thore, but the light craft propelled by sinewy arms 

 gained rapidly upon it. As its feet touched the bottom we 

 were not a dozen yards away. When clear of the water a 

 shot was fired, but did not check its speed ; auother rep->rt 

 rang out on the still air, a small red dot appeared in the blue 

 coat behind the shoulder, and the animal, after half a dozen 

 bounds, fell dead on the meadow. We leaped sshore and 

 while two stepped up to the spot where it lay the third man 

 lifted the canoe well up on the bank and then joined his 

 comrades. We carefully looked over our quarry, but there 

 were only two holes iu the glossy skin, one where the ball 

 had entered and one at the point of exit. 



While gralloching the game the good dogs came up one by 

 one, and were gratified with a hearty meal of the warm 

 meat. Then with our deer we sped swiltly back to the land- 

 ing place. To pack the animal out to the road did not take 

 long, aud soon Mowitch and meat were put on the stage for 

 town, while the Professor and I started with the hounds to 

 do the four miles afoot. Yo. 



CRUISE OF "THE NIPPER"— HI. 



THE 80th of last July was a bright day along the Fulton 

 Chain, clear and cloudless. The shelter tent and 

 blanket were made into a snug roll, the canoe lay hidden from 

 the heat in the shade of a thicket, and everything was ready 

 for a trip over to Raquette Lake, when two sharp-stemmed 

 Long-lakers darted from the outlet into the placid Seventh, 

 andlrecoguized " Slim Jim" and Fred Rivett, with parties, 

 bound to the eastern side. Seeing me on the shore they 

 came to a bait, and Jim sang out, "Come on, Uncle Ness- 

 muk, go through with us to Raquette. " 



" You'll ou trow me. I'll get left." 



"No, we'll keep company ; come along," said Jim. 



"Can you wait five minutes," I asked. 



"Yes, fifteen of them," answered Fred. 



" These gentlemen would like to see your canoe work; 

 come oh," said Jim. 



It struck me tbat the guides had got the idea. They had 

 been at it all the season, and knew just where to strike the 

 landing that had eluded me tho evening before. So I 

 launched out and soon laid them alongside. The gentleman 

 who headed the party was much interested and pleased with 

 the canoe. He-asked many questions and was a little scep- 

 tical about her weight, and the three youngsters who com- 

 posed the balance of the party were enthusiastic. Their 

 questions "little meaning, little relevancy bore," but the 

 guides made some queries with meaning in them. For in- 

 stance, Fred asked, as he leisurely picked up his oars, "Did 

 the storm keep you awake last night?" And I, remembering 

 that my little hatchet had gone on to the Raquette, answered 

 stoutly, "Not a bit ; never slept better in my life." 



As the guides took up the easy, effective stroke that sends 

 the Long-lakers through the water so speedily, 1 crept under 

 Fred's counter, took the draw of his wake, and made the 

 inlet without parting company. Then I said, " Boys, your 

 boats can and ought to beat any paddle on open water, but 

 when you come to these crooked channels, outlets and inlets 

 in the form of the letter " S," where you have to look over 

 your shoulders right and left to see the course, and pull first 

 to starboard, then to port, why you see the paddle — the 

 double blade — has rather got the bulge on you." We had 

 stopped under a huge cedar for a modest nip, for which the 

 leader of that party has my thanks, and, as Jim and Fred 

 very quietly resumed their oars, a meaning glance passed 

 between them. They said nothing : but I thought it as well 

 to lay aside extia clothing, spit on my hands and settle down 

 to work. For the first half-mile the odds were rather in my 

 favor. The water was deep, channel crooked and the 

 chances for cutting off bends and "going as you look," 

 rather made an easy thing of it. Then the course grew 

 straighter and less distinct. The swift Long-lakers drew 

 rapidly away, and I saw them turn a bend forty rods ahead. 

 I tried to cut off the bend and ran on to a sunken log. 

 Backed off, took the channel and put on all the steam I had 

 at command, but in vain. I was left. I paddled up the 

 stream until I lost the blazed trees which mark the course, 

 stopped, listened a moment, and then used my spare wind 

 in a long, loud la-whoop. An answer came from the 

 swampy forest far to the left, where I found the party landed 

 up on a shaky sort of corduroy platform, which is the land- 

 ing now. They were waiting for me, they said. And Fred 

 remarked, "A double blade docs take tho skates on these 

 crooked channels. Notice how he cut the corners and went 

 the way he looked ?" Boys, I hope that wasn't 'sarkasm.' I 

 have faith to think ycu wouldn't make fun of grayhairs 1 



I like to see the guides organize for a " carry," and I 

 watched Jim and Fred as they prepared for the trip over to 

 Eighth Lake. First, the " party " was loaded up with fishing 

 rods, guns, pack-baskets, gum blaukets, and the usual imped- 

 imenta of tho average tourist, and started over the carry look- 

 ing like a crew of pack-peddlers. When they were out of 

 sight, Jim remarked cooly, "We can take it easy; they 

 ain't going to hurry." Then he and Fred tied in oars, seats, 

 etc., snugly and neatly, made the neck-yokes fast at the 

 balancing point, and then, inverting the lightest boat, Jim 

 held the stern high in the air while Fred crept under and 

 adjusted the neck-yoke nicely to his muscular shoulders, 

 saying, "All right; let go," which Jim did ; and the inevit- 

 able blue boat, with the pair of sturdy legs beneath, disap- 

 peared rapidly up the trail. Jim raised his own boat, and 

 said, "Think you can hold her up?" I thought I could, 

 and did ; though, balancing on a point at the stern, and 

 weighing over 901bs., she was a lift. And then Jim quietly 

 seized my blanket roll and hung it on his broad shoulders with- 

 out comment, before shouldering his boat. It was a kindly 

 thing to do, and like his generous nature ; but 1 was 

 ashamed, and raised a feeble remonstrance ; he went away 

 with a long, quick stride, paying no heed, and I thought of 

 honest old Jack Falstaff, that Prince of Deadbeats — "Hal, 

 an thou seest me down in the fight and bestride me, why so ; 

 'tiB an act of friendship." Was I a beat ? 



I organized my own canoe for the carry, and tried to over- 

 take the party, but the guides walk fast. I found them at 



the clean, sandy landing ; and u was a relief to see Hie fresh, 

 green shores, wholesome waters and healthy tries of Eighth 

 Lake, after an experience of Fifth, Sixth and (Seventh. At 

 the Eighth the leader of the party began to feel huri ted. He 

 wished to reach Bennett's Landing on Raquetio i:; time for 

 the little steamer to Blue Mouutain, and guides always fol- 

 low the wishes of employers so far as tuey can. I saw I 

 was likeiy to get left j but, meaning to keep up as far as 

 possible, I paddled out with the parly, and rathe 

 on the double blade. The guides went in for an ash breeze. 

 The distance is less than U miles, and: they led me to the 

 landing just about 100 rods. Yes ; the Lang-lakers are fast 

 — but crankv and uncomfortable to ride in. 



As you strike the lauding at the head of Eighth Lake, 

 there is a path, leading along the shore to the right, which 

 leads you to a cool spring. Here the guides, having seen the 

 party off, stopped a few minutes for a lunch. Let me com- 

 mend that spring, with its bright, cold water and resiful sur- 

 roundings, to any lone canoeist who may happen to strike 

 the lauding at the head of Eighth Lake, Again 1 

 canoe were shouldered. Jim, as before, tdUi fcBl 



roll. Again the guides boat me over the carry he 



stopped for a rest and I did not— and when 1 Braved at 

 Brown's Tract Inlet, guides and boats had disappeared. I 

 was in no hurry. The carries were all made, and six rind a- 

 half miles of paddling lay between me and Ed, Ben 

 The day was flue. The wind just brisk enough to be lively, 

 and I reached Bennett's about , three-quarters of an hour 

 behind the guides. 



Goiug down the inlet I was interested by the movements 

 of the fish that lay basking near the surface among the lily, 

 pods, and darted off with u plash and sn irl tu 

 neared them. A man with oars would hardly have seen this. 

 But, paddling silently down stream, looking the way 1 went, 

 I probably started nibre than a score of good-sized fish, with- 

 out being able to decide on the species. I inteude 

 and try them, both wi'h fly and bait, but faded to do so , 

 though I certainly shall, if I find myself fchete in the sum- 

 mer of '82. I thought they might be pickerel; but the 

 guides assured me there were no pickerel in Raquette Lake. 



I found Bennett's hotel crowded with tourists and spirts- 

 mcn. and was uuable to get a room, or even a bed. But the 

 bark-roofed guide camp, "For guides only," had a bright tiro 

 in front, with balsam browse for bedding, and wa9 preferable, 

 to a close room. I took up my quarters there while on tho 

 Raquette, and had no cause to regret it. As to the fare, 

 whoever has stayed with Ed. Bennett knows that his table 

 would rank as first-Glass any where. And lucre is no pleas- 

 anter lake than Raquette in tho North Woods. It is tho 

 largest ; the water is clear, and the shores, while being well- 

 wooded, are mainly rocky. Large as the lake is, I should 

 iddle to 



not know where to 

 nearest land. The numbe 

 islands, make it difficult I 

 best maps fail to give just 

 I do not know a better r. 

 lar bass question 

 mouth had 



nore than a miie from the 

 ys, capes, indentations and 

 d on paper ; and even the 

 ect idea of it. 



invest . popu- 



In "the summer of '80 the' small- 

 pretty strong fin-hold, and was 



evidently making his' way. A few were being taken 

 with spoon and bait. His increase for the next 

 twelve months was to me marvelous. Starting from 

 Bennett's landing with an hour's sun, and paddling to the 

 mouth of the Marion 1 could got nil the sport I wanted, and 

 more fish than I needed before dark, 1 used an Bob. rod and 



best. 



But a- 



is is 

 rare 



est, 

 rod 



ml 



the scarlet ibis fly, with silver body, as 



brown backle was also killing. And the gc 



about as good. The three, taken a3 a cast, and no t 



needed. Father Gavan, an intelligent young 



was an enthusiastic bass fisherman, .and used a powi 



with minnow or spoon. His favorite ground was tl 



Of South Inlet and adjacent shores. Hewus nearly always 



successful. I liked the mouth of the Marion and the rocky 



shores below, with the islands in front of the hotel. There 



was not much to choose. His fish averaged about, twice tho 



size of mine, and I could take about two to Ells one. On the 



whole, I should say the bait fisherman butt the best of it. The 



guide'scomplamt, tbaUhebass h u deBtroyedal] Ike lake trout, 



would have nioie point had there been any lake trout worth 



mention to destrov. 



I took a lively interest in ihe tourists, or boarders, who 

 had worked their way into the wilderness for health, and not 

 for sport. There were many of them on Hie waters of the 

 Raquette, and more on the Saranaes. News travels fast in 

 the woods. Every day that I was on these waters 1 saw 

 guides and tourists from almost every route you can mention. 

 I heard that more than a dozen consumptives hud already 

 died on the Satanac waters. Others were dying, and many 

 more had crept away, heatefi I . exhausted, to die at home 

 among friends and relatives. 



Paul Smith had «aid he would, by five huudred dollars, 

 rather th3 article entitled "Camp" Lou" had sever been 

 written. I saw for myself that, parties who badsuught the 

 Adirondacks for health, were sick, disgusted, and only anxi- 

 ous to get away anywhere that -dryness, wavinth, and test tvete 

 easily attainable. 1 was interviewed and questioned time and 

 again as to the healthfulnes3 of the mountainous region about 

 the headwaters of tbe Susquehanna, and truth compelled 

 me to say that all my obsei perience led to the 



conclusion that the high lands about the he&dffal 

 Delaware and BUS [n d more hope of healiog to 



Ihe sufferer from pulmonary disease than the damp, cold 

 high lands of the Northern Wilderufss. That BOtoe unex- 

 pected and surprising cures have happened in both regions is 

 certainly true. 



And it is equally true that the Northern Wildet 

 rivalled for boating and c 



be excelled for scenery. All this is re, audit is 



not to be wondered at that [lie average 

 a wild region, where, by making ;Bho Harries, lie can travel 

 hundreds of miles by water. 



But, as regards the single question of health, I can namo 

 half a dozen localities, easily reached in one day from New 

 York, where I would rather lake my chances as 

 tive patient, thSn iu the Adirondack Mgion, 



One spot in p and little known, 



within twenty-two wiles of when 

 often as the healthiest resort I know of iu i 

 for weak or diseased lungs, I -allud 

 between Little Pine and Bu Pine CSreckB. 

 section of country, dry, sterile, breezy, at 

 with living springs of the purest and ebldi 

 too, so far as hares, grouse and deer oar- .make it so. No 



boating; but Little Fine and Ottei Run a:- 



There is a modest village on tho hill, with post office, 

 and a neat little hotel, where permanent board mi 

 for four or five dollars per week, with plenty of freak eggB, 

 and best of butter and milk, But it is out of reach of mar. 



