MY WIFE'S MOOSE. 



\V. I".. BEMIS. 



We had fished for bass and hunted for 

 partridges a number of seasons; my wife 

 had learned to handle her rod and shotgun 

 with skill, but we longed to try our hands 

 on big game. Thus it happened, that the 

 last week in September, 2 innocents were 

 fairly started for Will Atkins' camps, on the 

 headwaters of the Aroostook river, in 



with clothing and actual necessities. These 

 rubber bags are almost indispensable, tak- 

 ing, as they do, everything from a camera 

 to toilet articles. What is more important, 

 they keep them dry, too. 



A 3-mile drive brought us to the river, 

 where we found 2 canoes, very cranky af- 

 fairs, of cedar, canvas covered, with small 



OX THE AROOSTOOK RIVER. 



Northern Maine. The camps are 50 miles 

 from Masardis, the nearest railroad point. 

 One rainy afternoon we left the caboose of 

 a way-freight, at this station, where we 

 were met by our guide. 



A drive of 12 miles, through a drenching 

 rain, brought us to a place called Oxbow, 

 the end of civilization, where an oldfash- 

 ioned farm house had been turned into a 

 postoffice and hotel. Here an excellent 

 supper and the cheerful glow of a log fire, 

 revived our dampened spirits. I learned 

 during the evening, we were to be " poled " 

 up the Aroostook river about 40 miles. It 

 was necessary to have 2 canoes and a sec- 

 ond guide. 



The next morning, having dressed for 

 the woods, we packed 2 rubber navy bags 



seats in the bows. With Spinney to guide 

 my wife, and Fred, long pole in hand, stand- 

 ing erect in the stern of my canoe, we were 

 off with a shove that sent us out into the 

 current. 



I vowed I would learn the trick of pol- 

 ing; but after several disastrous attempts, 

 was forced to admit as a poler I am not a 

 success. It is wonderful how far an ex- 

 perienced boatman can send his canoe with 

 one shove; and how, poling from one side 

 only, he pushes around rocks and through 

 eddies. At 2 o'clock we arrived at Salmon 

 pool camp, where we remained for the 

 night. 



We made an early start, the next morn- 

 ing, and after covering 14 miles, arrived at 

 the lean-to. Here we had our first meal 



T09 



