HER FIRST M()()S/<. 



25 



bed was about fourteen feet wide, run- 

 ning the full length of the cabin; the 

 mattress consisted of the fragrant bal- 

 sam boughs, and good, warm blankets 

 for covering. 



Supper over, we lingered around the 

 camp fire, which kept us warm even 

 though the nights were cold, now and 

 then counting the stars in the dark 

 heavens as they peeped through the 

 tall trees and listening to the ceaseless 

 running brook below. A brief hour 

 of this interesting life and we retired, 

 climbed to the loft, in one corner, 

 loosened a few buttons and belts, and 

 soon were in dreamland. 



The reflected light and sparks from 

 the camp fire outside had a weird ef- 

 fect and sound within. Squirrels ca- 

 pered over and around the cabin roof 

 and added to the wonderland. Next 

 morning we were awakened before 

 sunrise by our guide chopping wood. 

 Our breakfast consisted of one part- 

 ridge (that Jack shot back of the 

 cabin), lazy bread and coffee. Break- 

 fast over and horses saddled, we were 

 well on our way to Home camps. 



When the sun came streaming 

 through the branches of the trees it 

 was a beautiful sight, and made us feel 

 that life was worth living. The air 

 was filled with frost and chill, and the 

 little mountain streams crossing the 

 trail now and then were covered with 

 a thin sheet of ice. To keep warm and 

 comfortable we at once decided to 

 walk., our horses following. Now, get- 

 ting into the remote part of the 

 North Woods and remembering that 

 feather and fur sleep in the middle of 

 the clay, we felt sure of seeing two or 

 three stately bucks feeding along the 

 trail somewhere. The hunting of big 

 game either from a canoe or upon the 

 forest trail is one of the rarest experi- 

 ences in one's lifetime. We trudged 

 along for a few miles, slipping and 

 stumbling over the rough path, and had 

 almost given up hope of seeing or hear- 

 ing any game before we reached camp. 

 Suddenly, off in the distance, we heard 

 a dry twig crack ; we had been hoping 



for such a sound a long time. Nol fol 

 getting what our friends had told us of 

 the mysterious sensation "bu< I. Ee 



ver"- when one is likely to do an 

 thing, tremble with weakness, shool in 

 the air, shoot through the bottom of the 

 boat, and arms gel like lead, stiff and 

 can't move. While it seemed ages 1o us. 

 yet it may not have been more than 

 five minutes before the buck was in 

 full view only a few rods away ; he 

 looked straight ahead and seemed to 

 be trying to detect us ; no grander 

 sight to behold. Jack and I had agreed 

 the discoverer of any game should have 

 first shot, so this first treat fell to him. 

 To break the stillness one of the horses 

 sneezed and frightened the buck. He 

 gave one leap and again stood for a 

 moment. Jack got one fleeting bead 

 on him and he fell. We followed him 

 up and found him to be a good size. 

 After securing our quarry we pushed 

 on to the Home Camps, which were 

 reached- by noon. We found ourselves 

 singing : 



" Into the Heart of the Woods we go — 

 Away from the cares that weigh us so ! 

 A smell of the pine, a song of the reel, 

 A breath of the campfire soon to feel, 

 Adieu to a world of work and woe — 

 Into the Heart of the Woods we go !" 



The four different-sized camps were 

 very comfortable, the largest accom- 

 modating about thirty sports, the next 

 was used for the kitchen and dining- 

 room, the two smaller ones were kept 

 for private parties, one of which we 

 occupied. 



This camp was surrounded by tall, 

 majestic forest trees. Facing an im- 

 mense lake, backgrounded by moun- 

 tain ranges, the scenery is beyond 

 word-painting. All that afternoon we 

 remained in camp, making it as habi- 

 table as possible for our stay. Dozens 

 of enthusiastic men and some few 

 women traverse these remote parts. 

 Women have begun to accept with the 

 utmost delight and good nature the 

 conditions of rough camp life, which 

 men thought they could not stand or 

 were not good enough for them. All 

 around this country is the primitive 



