120 



RECREATION. 



short distance and found an old lean-to, 

 made of cedar shakes, that had been used 

 by lumbermen in getting out timber. This 

 was an ideal spot to camp on, so we soon 

 had the grub box and blankets under the 

 roof, the tent spread over one side and the 

 sail over the other, leaving the front open 

 for a fire place. 



Grouse were plentiful in the brush, be- 

 hind, and the duck shooting, on the marsh, 

 was all that could be asked. Plenty of trout 

 were everywhere in the creek. 



The first night's slumber, on our bed of 

 boughs, was disturbed by a pair of mink 



"PLENTY OF TROUT WERE EVERYWHERE 

 IN THE CREEK." 



that came in and got mixed up in an empty 

 paper bag. One would hardly imagine a 

 bit of loose paper could produce such a 

 racket; but a big rubber boot, that dropped 

 into their midst, drove them off and all was 

 quiet again, save for the dismal hoot of a 

 great horned owl that took up his stand 

 just behind our camp. With almost clock 

 like regularity, snap! snao! would go his 

 bill, followed by deep " hoo — hoo's " and, 

 although it bothered us some at first we 

 soon got used to it. 



Daylight was sure to find us up — gener- 

 ally on the marsh for the morning flight. 



We were always rewarded by a string of 

 birds and an astonishing appetite for break- 

 fast. 



The tide rose and fell 6 feet or more, in 

 the creek, and mornings, when the banks 

 were full, large numbers of seal would 

 go drifting up stream, to come back a 

 few hours later, in bunches of a dozen 

 or more, barking, diving, and splashing 

 about, having a high old time of it. But let 

 a man appear on the bank and all this hilar- 

 ity suddenly ceased. Then, sinking down to 

 their eyes, they would glide swiftly along, 

 ready to dive at the least suspicion of 

 danger. They would then reappear half a 

 mile below. 



One of the brilliant things I did was to 

 row into the middle of the marsh at day- 

 light, one morning, and allow the tide to 

 run out and leave the boat in the mud — this, 

 too, on an empty stomach. Both boats were 

 soon full of water, and a cold wind coming 

 in from the bay, but the only thing to do 

 was to make tracks for camp. I went to the 

 head of the creek, to a bridge, where I got 

 a drink of fresh water and a few green ap- 

 ples to eat; then down the other side, com- 

 ing into camp, about 4 in the afternoon, 

 completely done up. 



Rather than take the long tedious walk 

 around again, for the boat, I had concluded 

 to swim the creek and bring the boat back, 

 now that the tide had set in; but Potter, 

 by a lucky chance, found a piece of a raft, 

 paddled across and was soon back with 

 the boat. 



The relief at the thought of not being 

 obliged to swim the ice cold creek, that 

 afternoon, was a balm that soon put me 

 to sleep. It needed only a good smell of 

 the salt sea air, next morning, to put me 

 on my feet again. 



We passed the best part of a week here; 

 shooting ducks and grouse and catching 

 elegant strings of trout. These took the 

 bait of salmon eggs with an eagerness that 

 was fatal to them. They traveled in little 

 schools, with the tide, and when we found 

 them it was no trouble to fill a basket. 



During the last few days we laid in a 

 supply of fish and fowl for the folks in 

 town, and then set sail on the homeward 

 tack. A few hours later we were again 

 sleeping on feather beds. 



Now doth the little busy bee 

 Add much unto the woes 



Of Johnny, footbare on the lea, 

 By getting 'twixt his toes. 



— Indianapolis News. 



