HOW I SAVED A MAX'S LIFE. 



(. \Y. HIXMAX. 



Living in a section of country where big 

 game once abounded, which is now all gone 

 and where nothing is left but gray rabbits 

 and democrats, I am not in it with your 

 numerous correspondents more fortunately 

 situated, and must necessarily bring up re- 

 membrances of early days or keep still. 



When a boy of 16 I clerked for a hotel 

 keeper who has since become a preacher 

 and whose hotel was near an 80 acre lake. 

 Pickerel were more sought after than other 

 fish. Up to this time I had never rowed a 

 boat. One day a sportsman came and. for 

 want of a better oarsman I was sent to row 

 him about the lake, using one oar and pike- 

 pole. One push from shore brought us to 

 where he, while standing up in the boat and 

 skimming the surface with his bait, got a 

 strike. I leaned over to watch the fun. He 

 lost the pickerel but saved himself from fall- 

 ing out. 



Then he directed me to row near the op- 

 posite shore where the water was deep. I 

 used the oar and we were soon spinning 



round in a circle, to excuse which, I said I 

 was looking for the pickerel he had lost. 



We got several strikes after this, but there 

 could be no catch on account of the way I 

 mismanaged the boat. With a look of anger 

 and disappointment the man said. 



" Bub, if you don't get me ashore pretty 

 quick I shall drown you." I undertook to 

 row him in. When near the shore and while 

 I was using the pike-pole the boat struck a 

 stump and my passenger struck the bank. 

 Getting on his feet and turning to me he 

 said: 



" Young man, I have just one thing to 

 say to you and that is this: Contrary to my 

 expectations I am not drowned but acci- 

 dentally on dry land. I am going to the 

 hotel, where I shall pay my bill, and report 

 you drowned. If you come on ashore and 

 prove me a liar I shall shoot you." 



I staid away until the mad fisherman got 

 out of town. Then I ventured home, but be- 

 fore I took any more strangers out fishing 

 I learned to pull on 2 oars at once. 



ALBINO HAWK. 

 Supposed to be Cooper's red-tailed hawk. 



CHUCKOR PARTRIDGE, CACCABIS CHUKOR. 

 ELACK-XECKED HARE, LEPUS XIGRICOLLIS. 



31 



