24 



RECREATION 



At the "Flats" we bad to wait a 

 couple of hours for our horses, and 

 while so doing Jack and I strolled 

 quietly into the woods while our guide 

 was making ready for our continued 

 journey. We walked quite a distance 

 over deer runways, which resemble 

 paths trodden by cattle, in hope of see- 

 ing' some game. In this we were not 

 disappointed, for in the thicket close 

 at hand three small deer caught our 

 scent, gave a snort, and leaped over 

 obstructions and on to their freedom 

 with the irresistible joy of life, giving 

 us only a glimpse of their "white flag ' 

 as the fleeting animals grew indistinct. 

 We retraced our steps to the "Flats" 

 well pleased, for it convinced us that 

 we were in the land of the hunted. 



Our saddle horses were now ready, 

 one for each of us, and one for a pack 

 horse, which carried our outfit, consist- 

 ing of blankets, food, ammunition and 

 clothing. 



It was nearly noon when we lett the 

 "Flats" for a ride of some thirty miles 

 on horseback up a steep elevation to the 

 Home camps. Even those accustomed 

 to horseback might call the trip a 

 tiresome one. The trail was rough, it 

 led over big boulders, across the 

 Aroostock River, small streams, and up 

 and down steep and slippery hills. 

 When we grew chilly riding we got off 

 the horses and walked until we became 

 again comfortable. Changing in this 

 way kept us from getting stiff at the 

 end of our journey. 



While it was all uphill work, yet 

 the road was dry and well shaded 

 with the beautiful forest trees of 

 hardwood, their autumn foliage fall- 

 ing, turning the green into gold 

 and letting the sun peep through. We 

 rested now and then, stopped at the 

 side of a mountain stream, where the 

 guide unpacked a lunch of venison sand- 

 wiches, raw onions, cheese and apples,, 

 which was fixed up for us before leav- 

 ing The Inn. The invigorating air, 

 laden with the healthful odor of bal- 

 sam, gave us a feeling of new life and 

 hope. 



After lunching we moved rapidly on, 

 for it was still many miles to camp and 

 night was fast setting in. Going 

 through the dense forest we soon found 

 ourselves in darkness, and could feel 

 the severe cold, which we had not no- 

 ticed while the sun was bright. Mc- 

 Ginty led the way, I next on my horse, 

 "Nip," closely following was Jack on 

 his horse, "Tuck," and bringing up the 

 rear was the old faithful pack horse. It 

 was a noticeable fact that the horses 

 were familiar with the road, especially 

 the one ridden by myself. It being so 

 dark we could not see our horse's head. 

 Now and again some hanging branches 

 cr heavy tree had fallen low enough 

 down to brush us in the face, 

 or nearly rub us off of our saddles, 

 even if I was securely astride my 

 horse. It seemed strange to us at first 

 that we encountered so many of these 

 obstacles, but the fact was the horses 

 walked purposely under these fallen 

 branches in order to unseat us and 

 thus lighten their burden. The old say- 

 ing, "Give a horse the bridle or reins 

 in the dark, make no attempt to guide 

 him, and he will carry you safely to 

 your journey's end," may be true some- 

 times, but this case would have proved 

 an amusing exception. After hours- 

 of this constant travel, during which 

 we had climbed high above the 

 starting point, we reached Midway 

 Camp, where we expected to spend the 

 night. The Home Camps were still 

 nine miles away, but as we had trav- 

 eled many miles that day we were glad 

 enough to' rest. 



The guide soon had a fire built be- 

 tween three rocks, outside of the cabin, 

 while the odor of coffee and fried ba- 

 con was not an unpleasant one. The 

 picturesque log cabin, mounted on a 

 knoll surrounded by tall, majestic for- 

 est trees, by the side of a running 

 brook, was the most primitive place 

 Tack and I ever slept in. It consisted of 

 one room and a loft. This room served 

 as kitchen, dining-room, bedroom and 

 living room. The loft held the one bed 

 occupied by both men and women. The 



