12 



RECREA TIOJY. 



but it was no use. I felt as if I had slipped 

 up and shot a squaw in the back. When I 

 looked him in the face, as he lay there with 

 his big eyes staring at me, he seemed to say, 

 ' Old pard, I never thought you would take 

 a mean advantage of me, like that.' 



" And I tell you, now, I felt worse than 

 a horse thief. I would have given a whole 

 lot if I could have had that shot back. It 

 seemed as if I had killed an old partner of 

 mine, for his money. I have killed lots of 



buck Indians, and never cared about them, 

 but am superstitious, and should be afraid 

 •to use the money this head would bring, 

 after all; so I shall not sell it unless I get 

 broke and need money, bad." 



Four years later this man was killed in a 

 snow slide, and Sheard bought the head 

 from his partner. The horns measure 18^2 

 inches in circumference, and 52^2 inches in 

 length, around the outside of the curve. 



MY TWENTY-TWO POINT BUCK. 



F. D. HULBURT, M.D. 



My youth was spent where game was 

 plenty; so at an early age, a fondness for 

 hunting was acquired. Many happy days 

 were passed in rambling through ravines 

 and over hills. Even now I recall the feel- 

 ing of pride with which I would return 

 home with my quarry, the result of a long 

 and toilsome tramp through the woods 

 with the old muzzle-loading gun. The time 

 finally came, however, when I must leave 

 the farm, with its pleasures, to pursue my 

 studies in a distant city. The old gun and 

 its accoutrements fell into other hands and 

 I have never seen them since. Although 

 actively engaged since I left the old home 

 and farm, I have never quite succeeded in 

 ridding, myself of an occasional desire for 

 an outing in the woods — a longing for the 

 favorite pastime of my boyhood days. 



In response to this feeling, in October, 

 1896, I arranged for a few days' absence in 

 the Northern pine-lands, for a deer hunt. 

 The men with whom I had intended to go, 

 went at a time when I could not leave, and 

 were in a place not easily accessible without 

 the loss of valuable time. The open season 

 for deer would soon expire, so I decided to 

 strike out alone for a hunting-ground that 

 could be reached in the shortest time. 



I arrived at Solon springs, October 28, 

 and at once made inquiries for a guide. 

 I found none, however, for they were all 

 out hunting. I was a stranger there, but 

 the station agent finally came to my rescue. 

 Sixteen miles from town, he told me, a 

 half-breed lived in a good game country. 

 I might secure accommodations there. 



Acting on this hint, and being willing to 

 undergo almost any hardship for a few 

 days' good hunting, I began at once tp look 

 for a man to take me out. After some de- 

 lay, one was found. We arrived at the half- 

 breed's about 4 p.m. The house, made of 

 poles covered with bark, was in a wild for- 

 est region, near the bank of a stream. 



As we approached the dwelling, women 

 and children appeared at the door, with 

 evident surprise. The mistress told me her 

 husband was not at home and would not 



return until night. She was reluctant about 

 taking me as a boarder, offering no en- 

 couragement to my entreaties. I was con- 

 fident, however, that as soon as the man 

 should return, it would be all right. 



Not wishing to waste any time in getting 



"A FAWN HAD BEEN CAPTURED BY ONE 

 OF THE GIRLS, AND WAS THE PET OF 

 THE WHOLE FAMILY.' 



located, I told the teamster to unload my 

 baggage, and return to town. After getting 

 permission to take my trunk into the house, 

 I unpacked it. The woman and daughters 

 crowded about to see what it contained. 

 Besides my rifle and hunting outfit, I had 

 brought along a liberal supply of tea, coffee, 

 sugar, dried fruit and canned goods. As 

 these were taken out, it soon became evi- 

 dent I was winning the good graces of my 

 new acquaintances. They tasted the tea 

 and sugar, sampled the prunes, and with 

 evident delight carefully examined each 

 package. 



At dusk the half-breed returned. For a 



