A MORNING WITH THE VARMINTS. 



3 l 



A MORNING WITH THE VARMINTS. 



Utilles Baird. 



During the latter part of October, 1894, our 

 party camped on one of the many beautiful 

 spots to be found on the Canadian waters. 



Soon after leaving camp, in the morning, the 

 hounds gave notice of having started a deer, but 

 seemed to be heading in the wrong direction for 

 us. Presently, all was quiet. Then, the crack 

 of a rifle near by, indicated that some still hunter 

 had found game. A few minutes later another 

 shot was heard, then a shout that might wake 

 the dead. 



On investigation it was found that the cause 

 of the racket was the killing of a fine large black 

 bear. The first shot had broken his spine, and 

 the second finished the work. 



Congratulations were scarcely over when, 

 marching along the ridge, the doctor came carry- 

 ing a large gray wolf. This was the result of 

 the first shot. The bullet had passed through 

 the animal's head. Congratulations were again 

 in order, and then the music of the hounds sent 

 every man to his stand. Presently, a fine large 

 buck came bounding along. Bang ! bang ! 

 bang ! went the rifles ; but the deer moved en. 

 There w ere unmistakable evidences that he had 

 been wounded, but he took to the water and was 

 found a day or two later, dead. The head and 

 hide were saved, but the meat was spoiled. 



We returned to camp in a happy frame of 

 mind, and enjoyed our dinner as none but hungry 

 hunters can enjoy a meal. 



Our amateur photographer took some views of 

 the game when the wolf was hurried off to get 

 into the hands of the taxidermist as quickly as 

 possible. 



The bear was dressed, the oil tried out and 

 put in suitable packages for the individual mem- 

 bers to take home. We had several bottles of 

 syrup with us, and by some chance one of the 

 bottles of oil was put in the box with these. 

 One member of the party bethought himself to 

 have a glass of lemonade before retiring. The 

 supposed syrup was freely poured in with the 

 other ingredients, all thoroughly shaken and 

 held up to the admiring gaze of his comrades. 

 The process of drinking was checked, at the half- 

 way station, by the discovery of an unusual 

 smoothness in the liquid. Then the sense of 

 taste asserted itself, and the reveler began to 

 eject the obnoxious mixture, meanwhile using 

 some strong language about the man who v. 

 put up such a job on an orphan. 



Having the instructions in view which were 

 given us on our way up, to keep the left hai 

 shore on going down, a party in one canoe, being 

 in the lead some miles, got along swimmingl) ; 

 but seeing a sail off to the right conclude 

 boat had come from the port they wished to make. 

 Not being quite certain just where they were, 

 they concluded to overhaul the strange craft 

 and get more certain directions. 



The stranger pointed to a large black snag 



