i66 



RECREA TIOiV. 



To get to the place we went up stream 

 to a bridge, over which we crossed and 

 came down on the other side. 



I could not get a pole long enough to 

 reach the root SO I cut one about 8 feet long 

 leaving several branches sticking out about 

 a foot, and tying a fishing line, which I al- 

 ways had in my pocket, to the top of the 

 pole I had a fair grappling hook. This I 

 pitched into the water, let it float against 

 the root and then pulled it to me. 



After a few trials I succeeded in dislodg- 

 ing the varmint. Pres had been watching 

 the proceedings and seemed to think his 



different success and at noon laid to eat our 

 lunch. 



After eating we spread ourselves in the 

 shade and enjoyed a smoke. As usual on 

 such occasions, both of us went to sleep. I 

 dreamed I was out on the prairie sneaking 

 up a rail fence to get a shot at some chick- 

 ens that were feeding and that I heard a 

 whizzing kind of sound which any one who 

 has ever once heard will always afterward 

 remember as the warning given by a rattler 

 as he coils ready to strike. I jumped and 

 awakened to find that ominous rattle a fact, 

 but that instead of being caused by a rattler 



"I WAS ON MY FEET IN AN INSTANT AND 

 HAD THE ROD IX MY HAND." 



chance had now come for he made a jump 

 and landed in the water near his quarry. 



He seized it and gave it a shake as if it 

 were a rat; but as the body was 5 times as 

 big as he was. it was the dog that shook. 

 He towed the beast ashore, landing some 

 5') yards down stream where the bank was 

 low and I could help him out. 



On returning to town I found our prize 

 was an otter. His weight was 30 pounds 

 and his skin made me a cap and a pair of 

 gloves, which I wore many winters. 



But about that Royal Coachman: 



It was later in the same season that Luke 

 Thompson and I were up on the South 

 Fork, fly casting for bass. 



We had been casting all morning with in- 



it was the singing of my reel. I saw that 

 my rod which I had laid over a bush, with 

 the flies dangling so they would dry, was 

 about to be carried away. I was on my feet 

 in an instant and had the rod in my hand 

 when, to my astonishment I saw a big wild 

 turkey gobbler making off with my fly. 

 He had about 30 yards of line already out 

 and more going. 



It instantly occurred to me that the 

 turkey, not seeing us as we lay asleep, had 

 found my fly and counting it a good thing 

 had taken it in. This fact will be appre- 

 ciated by any one who has seen a tame 

 turkey chasing grasshoppers. 



In less time than it takes to tell it, I had 

 turned the rod to a right angle, and given 



