THE WOOD BUTCHERS. 



in that vicinity. After getting safely over, 

 thanks to Louis, who is an excellent 

 driver, we lighted our lanterns and con- 

 tinued our plod to camp, at which we ar- 

 rived at 8 p. m., tired and hungry. The 

 old hunter with whom we had left our 

 camp had cleaned it, and the stoves were 

 all ready for a fire. In less than an hour 

 after our arrival we all enjoyed our first 

 meal in camp. After supper we sought 

 our comfortable bunks, well filled with 

 clean straw and fragrant hemlock boughs, 

 to dream of 3 long weeks of pleasure and 

 sport before us. 



Each man had his duty to perform in 

 camp, and all did it well. Our first day in 

 camp was spent by our wood butchers, 

 Eagle Eye and Tenderfoot, in getting 2 

 supply of good wood, as our chef, Buck- 

 skin, is particular about the quality of 

 the fuel. The chef, assisted by Baldy and 

 Buckshot, soon put the shack in good run- 

 ning order, while Trailmaker, the water 

 boy, fixed his landing at the lake and pre- 

 pared. his benches for the reception of his 

 water pails. As dusk stole over the land- 

 scape, gradually obliterating the pleasant 

 view from our windows, we lighted our 

 lamps, and sitting around the warm fire 

 in the cosy quarters of our cabin, we dis- 

 cussed the morrow. We found it hard to 

 realize that we had been absent from the 

 old shack 11 months. Although 20 miles 

 from the nearest human habitation, we 

 were surrounded with all the comforts of 

 home, free from all trouble and care, only 



on pleasure bent. Is it strange we were 

 happy ? 



It is a rule of our camp that the first deer 

 killed shall be used for camp purposes, 

 so after a good breakfast the morning of 

 the 8th, the opening of the season, we 

 all started out, determined to bring in 

 venison for the next meal. Each had 

 a favorite spot to visit, and we approached 

 it with much trepidation, expecting every 



THE WATER POY, 



343 



