464 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



I July 10, 1884. 



take. It's the business of those navy men to fight; my busi- 

 ness is to keep books for Hiram Hogg & Company, and I'm 

 going to stick to it. Here's your rammer." 



Our charge was a brilliant success up to a certain point, 

 and that was the edge of a wide and deep ditch, which, sur- 

 rounding the forte, stopped us when within fifty yards evi- 

 dently. However good sailora, we were poor engineers. As 

 we stood puzzling, there was a sudden discharge of six or 

 eight guns right in front, and although the greater portion 

 of the missiles went whistling over our heads, yet enough 

 dropped to kill three men and seriously wound several others. 

 No attempt was made to reload the guns, for the fate of 

 three men in succession, who, while vainly endeavoring to 

 fire a large gun, were picked off with rifles through the em- 

 brasure, deterred them. When we afterward drew the 

 charge from this gun we found over a peck of gingal balls 

 of iron, an inch in diameter, in a canvas bag, in addition to 

 a round shot. 



While thus detained the Englishmen had made a flank 

 movement, torn down a house, and with its timbers bridged 

 or platooned the ditch, and soon their vigorous hurrahs 

 mingled with the Chinese yells. The hitter soon ceased, 

 and ascending smoke and flames showed that the battle was 

 over, the forts ours, and fired. Not a living Chinaman re- 

 mained, and scattered throughout the inclosure were many 

 roasted to a crisp. That night we bivouacked near the field 

 and in the adjacent house of a missionary. 



At midnight I was roused up to take charge of a recon- 

 noitering party, and in so doing 1 got, I think, the worst 

 scare of my life. It was 'intensely dark, raining heavily and 

 cold. We were plodding along in perfect silence. The path 

 through the clay held was excessively slippery. My foot 

 came in contact with something, and I fell ; stretching out 

 my arms to save my face, one of my hands landed on some- 

 thing cold and clammy, and into a cavity of this something 

 two of my fingers entered, scraping on something as they 

 did so. 1 shall never forget the horrible sensation which 

 thrilled through me as it dawned upon me that my hand was 

 upon the face and my fingers in the mouth of a corpse. 

 Since then, when I have heard the expression "my blood 

 run cold," I have understood the meaning. 



The next day a permanent post was established on the 

 Tang kin-pang Creek, about midway between the contend- 

 ing parties, for the Imperialists accepted the situation and 

 began erecting new works on the location assigned. We 

 took possession of a very large temple or joss house, and 

 here in the midst of barbaric gorgeousness we remained 

 some months, administering occasional thrashings to both 

 parties as they deserved it, and establishing a code known 

 throughout China as "Shanghai neutrality — whip both 

 parties." 



About once a week, on a fair day, we would be enter- 

 tained with a grand battle, Not only ourselves, but the 

 Chinese would gather in tremendous crowds to see the 

 soldiers fight, never a man of them thinking himself called 

 on to lend a hand. From one side or the other woidd issue 

 first a tremendous din and clatter, gong beating, cracker and 

 gun firing, rockets and yells. This continued long enough 

 to put the enemy on guard. A body of men, perhaps" a 

 thousand, would follow, and first rushing, then walking 

 slower and slower, would halt at three or four gunshots dis- 

 tance and begin a series of ridiculous maneuvers undoubt- 

 edly intended as challenges. Then agile men, most gro- 

 tesquely attired, marked with heads of dragons, tigers or 

 devils, would rush almost into danger, shouting and prancing 

 like clowns. One chap, 1 remember, wore on each arm a 

 large circular shield, placing which close to his side, the 

 edges on the ground, he doubled up, and with one heel for a 

 motive power, resolved himself into an animated vehicle. 



The challenge was always accepted and, the opposing 

 force having reached the other side of the danger belt, the 

 firing became furious and dangerous, too, to those of us to 

 the right or left and within distance, and from our position 

 we could see the fall of many men on both sides. At once 

 a lot of others would pick up the corpse and quickly trans- 

 port it to the rear, drop it, and flee, the corpse at as lively a 

 gait as his bearers. It was against such flights that we had 

 to guard, for before our fight they were frequently into the 

 foreign settlement, where there was both shelter and booty. 



Being on rather good terms with the rebs, we would now 

 and then during these fights stroll over into their ranks — 

 quite as safe a place as one could find within hearing dis- 

 tance — and standing there one day I saw for the first time 

 the power of a Minie rifle. An Englishman named Rey- 

 nolds, commonly known as Pirate Reynolds, had espoused 

 for a consideration the rebel cause. He was out this day 

 and I was talking with him about his rifle, which he showed 

 to me and explained, finishing the exhibition with, "D'ye 

 see that chap with a red shirt, jumping?" he pointed as he 

 spoke. "Yes." "Well, watch him," and in an instant I 

 saw the Chinaman leap into the air higher than usual, fall 

 and lie quiet, and at the same moment heard Reynolds's gun. 

 It was a long shot but a good one, and settled the fight, and 

 almost every battle had been settled in the same way — the 

 Imperialists fled. It was the practice of Reynolds to let the 

 fight go on as long as he felt in the humor, then he would 

 stop it— thus he held the balance of power. 



A personal resource was the society and interchange of 

 visits with Aling, the rebel chief, who, since the little bat- 

 tery affair described, had become very friendly. One day, 

 entering the gate of the city, I was struck with the unusual 

 number of freshly-severed heads which ornamented the 

 spikes. Nearly every spike for a hundred yards in both 

 directions bore' its ghastly trophy, and they were not more 

 than a yard apart. Evidently there had been a row, and 1 

 hurried' to Aliug's quarters, formerly the palace of Toutai 

 (Chinese Governor). Several days had elapsed since my last 

 visit, and a strange guard at the inner doorway detained me 

 until Aling was communicated with, While thus waiting 

 my attention was drawn to a bamboo cage in the darker 

 part of the court, in which was a prisoner. I strolled toward 

 it, and .the crouching figure sprang into life — a woman who, 

 thrusting her arms through the interstices, grasped at my 

 legs and poured forth a torrent of tears and (evidently) pray- 

 ers. Aling, when I questioned him, gave me explanation both 

 as to the heads and the prisoner. There had been a local 

 insurrection and attempt by certain Toutai men (loyalists) 

 to recapture the city, and a sharp fight had ensued. 



"But, Aling," said I, "what fashion that piecy woman 

 down side?" 



"He belongy Toutai woman, he makee spy pidgin." 



"What thing you makee he; you makee killum?" 



"Killum he, 'no can; sposey he man, my makee killum; 

 sposey he woman, my puttee stone he neck; puttee down 

 side water; bymby he dlown." 



I resolved that if it were possible I would save that woman's 

 life, though not for any very romantic notions, for she was 



neither young nor pretty. Persuasions were, however, in 

 vain, although I did at one time get Aliug's acceptance of 

 an offer I made for her fife, he offering compromise on "my 

 punish he litty," but this from a Chinese point of view 

 might mean most terrible tortures, to which death were pre- 

 ferable. I had seen one poor devil punished, and I wanted 

 no more, of it. At last a happy thought struck me. Not 

 long after our battle with the forts, Aling, impressed with 

 the efficacy of shells, had begged me to teach him how to 

 make them ; this I had peremptorily refused to do, for as I 

 told him it would be very wrong in me to give such informa- 

 tion, and which (I did not mention) I really didn't know 

 myself; for thirty years ago midshipmen learned how to use 

 guns and shells before learning how they were made. Tak- 

 ing, howevei , the chances that I could learn from one of the 

 lieutenants, I reopened the negotiations with an offer to 

 teach him the secret; and the price was to be the woman. 

 Eventually he stipulated that I should also furnish a fuse 

 for a model, and permit him to retain the woman as a pris- 

 oner, to be comfortably lodged and fed, and I to have right 

 to visit her. She became mine, my property, subject to the 

 conditions, as much as my dog is now. With looted cham- 

 pagne, cheroots and pale ale the bargain was sealed, and 

 Aling said and I said "my can secure." 



I repaired onboard ship, called the guuner and another 

 midshipman (since become a lunatic) into my counsel, and 

 we devised a plan and made drawings of two hemispheres, 

 on the peripheries of which were to be cut, on one a male, 

 on the other a female screw, provided with which and a fuse. 

 I again visited Aling and my property. Both were delighted 

 to see me. 



Ten days after I called again. Aling sat, as usual, at his 

 table where writing materials had always given place to re- 

 freshments on my visits. This time there'was no move in 

 that direction and Aling's greeting did not seem as cordial 

 as usual. He left the conversation to me, answering in 

 monosyllables. There was a chilly, depressed air about him. 

 I endeavored to cheer him up and this conversation ensued: 



Self (cheerfully)— "You have makee that shell, Aling?" 



Aling (curtly)— "Hab makee." 



Self — "How many piecy hab makee?" 



All^g — "Plenty piecy."' 



Self — "You hab make fire them?" 



Aling — "Hab makee Aire one piecy." 



Self— "How you likee he?" 



Aling (excitedly) — "My hab make Aire one piecy; hab 

 killum lum (eleven) man." 



Self {reassuringly)— "That very good, Aling, one piecy 

 shell killum eleven men." 



Aling (bursting out) — "Hab killumlum man, he no belongy 

 Toutai man, hab killum my man," 



Whether the gun burst, or the shell prematurely exploded, 

 I never have found out. I called to see my protege, but she 



was gone, 



Piseco. 



ON THE GUAGUS. 



I HAD often heard glowing accounts of the trout fishing 

 to be had at "Guagus Cold Springs," on the head- 

 waters of Union River, three miles above Brandy Pond, Me 1 

 had visited the place often enough deer hunting in winter, 

 but had never seen it during the trouting season. So early 

 last September a jovial party, consisting of Josi, Jim, Walt, 

 Lou and the writer, well fortified with courage, hardtack 

 and pork, started for that locality, which is by no means 

 easy of access, except in winter. Josi and Jim, like myself, 

 were old hunters and fishermen; Walt and Lou were 

 brothers, sons of the aforesaid Jim. Walt was a good fisher- 

 man, but on this occasion his whole soul was wrapped up in 

 a brand new 10-gauge. 10-pound gun, with which he pre- 

 pared to slaughter partridges innumerable, and he even 

 darkly hinted of bears, which abound throughout that en- 

 tire region. Lou was not a fisherman, neither was he a 

 hunter; still he was considered the most indispensable man 

 in the party, simply because he would eat anything and 

 everything that could be caught or killed, and all that was 

 cooked that the rest of us could not dispose of; so that with 

 him in a party, culinary matters were brought down to the 

 simplest basis— merely to find something and cook it. At 

 this present wilting, he is about receiving his diploma at the 

 medical department of the Yermont University. 



An atrocious road, six miles in length, from Greenfield, 

 brought us to the "Extract," said Extract being a huge mill, 

 furnished with an engine and scores of cauldrons and vats, 

 where tens of thousands of cords of hemlock bark were 

 ground and steeped, the liquor poured into barrels, each 

 weighing when full 400 pounds, and representing one cord 

 of bark with only one-seventh of its weight, making a vast 

 saving in hauling and freight; it was then hauled by heavy 

 teams to the station, eighteen miles away, and sent to tan- 

 neries all over the country. Two miles of impassable road 

 brought us to the shore of Brandy Pond. A beautiful white 

 sand beach almost surrounds this lovely sheet of water, 

 which is almost perfectly Tound, with an island gem set in 

 its center. The lake is about two miles in diameter. It is 

 two miles from where the road strikes the pond to the inlet 

 on which are situated the Cold Springs. 



While tramping up the beach a shy and solitary lesser 

 yellowlegs— a rare bird in that vicinity — arose from some 

 rushes which grew around the mouth of a little brook, and 

 alighted out of sight around a point a short distance in ad- 

 vance. "Now, Walt, have your gun ready, and when you 

 round the point you will probably get a shot," said Josi, and 

 when Walt, obedient to this advice, walked cautiously around 

 the point, with his much-loved Parker all ready to lift to 

 his face, there stood the yellowlegs, stretched up and motion- 

 less, a very long shot off indeed. "Try your new gun," said 

 L Bang went the beauty, and the yellowlegs bounded two 

 feet into the air and came down on his back, stone dead. 

 Sixty-eight paces, with No. 8 shot; good for the gun. Lou 

 viewed the bird with delignt. "We will fry him for din- 

 ner," he said, as he quietly poked him into his coat pocket. 



On reaching the mouth of the inlet we succeeded in find- 

 ing a canoe, concealed in a swamp by a hunter, who had 

 kindly given us directions where to look for it; but as the 

 water was too low to float a canoe below the Palmer Dam, 

 which is nearly a mile above the lake, we were obliged to 

 carry it that distance, and then when we launched it on the 

 dead water above the dam we found that the fervent summer 

 sun had melted the pitch off its sides, so that when heavily 

 loaded the water poured in at such a rate that Josi and Lou 

 volunteered to walk. This was no light task, as the entire 

 distance to the Springs was a soft bog, covered with hard- 

 hack and labrador three feet high, making the walking hor- 

 rible. Half way to the Springs we met a young fellow, who 

 had been up the stream after cranberries, who informed us 

 that a crew of cranberry pickers half a dozen strong had 

 camped at the Springs for nearly a week, and had been gone 



only twenty-four hours. All our visions of silence, solitude 

 and trout vanished instanta; sadness was depicted on all our 

 faces, and even the dip of our paddles took on a subdued 

 and quiet tone. Arriving at the Springs, we found abundant 

 evidence of the truth of our informant's statement, There 

 was a solid beaten path the entire length of the reach of 

 water where the trout were wont to congregate. Tent poles 

 and half consumed sticks of firewood could be seen on the 

 knoll above, and to complete the desecration the ubiquitous, 

 the irrepressible, the soul-harrowing tin can leered malici- 

 ously at us from various little hollows, which ought to have 

 been sacred to mosses and ferns, This infernal adjunct of a 

 vicious and effeminate civilization has about the same effect 

 on me when seen in the wilderness that a red rag has on an 

 irritated bull. What lover of nature who, toiling with in- 

 finite labor to the top of some rocky chasm, has not been 

 filled with rage and disgust to see painted in enormous letters 

 on the opposite cliffs, "Children cry for Mrs. Soothlow's 

 swindling syrup?" Thus doth the tiu can affect me. 



The alder and choke cherry poles which lay on the bank 

 were proof that the finer arts of angling had not been brought 

 to bear on the pool, and we still hoped that some of the 

 more aristocratic beauties had scorned such rude wooing, 

 although there's no denying that an alder pole will some- 

 times do frightful execution in the hands of a rural expert. 

 On jointing up my rod 1 made the pleasing discovery that 

 in changing my clothes at Greenfield 1 had left my entire 

 outfit of flies and leaders in my inside vest pocket. This 

 was the last straw! In sheer des'peration I quitted the pool 

 altogether and wandered off up the stream, first strapping on 

 a box of worms, with which we were well provided. A 

 short quarter of a mile above the pool I found a rude bridge, 

 which had been thrown over the stream the preceding win- 

 ter by lumbermen; the two huge pines across which the 

 poles were laid had been swung partially around by the 

 spring freshet, and reached about half way across, with their 

 outer ends under water, their inner ends high and dry, and 

 part of the flooring still remaining. On the opposite shore 

 the bank was steep and shelved over, and altogether the 

 place looked inviting. Carefully baiting with a lively worm, 

 and creeping up behind the flooring, I made a cast just 

 above the end of the lower stringer. An instantaneous tug 

 followed the light plash of the hook. My reel gave out merry 

 music, and I barely succeeded in clearing the end of the 

 upper stringer as the line spun through the water; then a 

 few exciting moments of vigorous fighting and careful play- 

 ing, and I dropped the luscious beauty into my basket with 

 a sigh of content. Just as I made the cast I caught sight of 

 Walt strolling listlessly up the opposite bank, as if his cour- 

 age had all evaporated. All his languor disappeared when 

 he saw the bent rod, and before I made a second cast he had 

 spied the overhanging bank with the unerring eye of a true 

 fisherman, and for half an hour our reels alone broke the 

 stillness of the lovely September evening. Twenty trout 

 rewarded our joint efforts at that old bridge, for which I 

 shall always hold it in grateful remembrance. Then we 

 lightly retraced our steps to rejoin our comrades, who had 

 succeeded in coaxing half a dozen fine trout out of the pool. 



Preparations were at once made for supper. Our cooking 

 outfit was not extensive, consisting of a frying-pan and cot- 

 fee pot only, but great possibilities he dormant in these two 

 simple utensils, and we proposed to tax their capabilities to 

 the utmost. Soon there arose the fragrance of what Theo- 

 dore Winthrop called "the saline juice of tire-ripened pork." 

 The freshly caught trout, cleansed in the icy waters of the 

 Springs, were dropped into the hissing fat, the fragrant cof- 

 fee bubbled and sang, and as the soft September twilight 

 deepened into darkness, the plaintive notes of the whippoo- 

 wdl floated out clear and distinct on the evening air. What 

 language can describe the enjoyment of such a meal, and 

 amfd such surroundings? I pause as I write and try to im- 

 agine how many brother sportsmen, at home and abroad, as 

 they read this weak and inadequate description, will recall 

 just such scenes in their own experience, and till in all the 

 details from a loving memory; to all such, "Penobscot" ex- 

 tends his right hand of fellowship. 



While sitting around the camp-fire quietly enjoying our 

 evening smoke, a sibdant sound cut sharply through the 

 night air. "What's that!" said Walt, bounding to his feet 

 and feeling around for his gun. "That," said Josi, slowly 

 removing his brier-wood pipe from his mouth and speaking 

 with a deliberation strangely in contrast with Waifs excited 

 exclamation, "is an old buck which smells the smoke from 

 our fire." that's the first one I ever heard," Walt replied. 

 "It sounds something like a fox," for while they were speak 

 ing the buck was keeping up a perfect f usilade of snorts, 

 and he continued at intervals for a quarter of aD hour. We 

 had brought a camp spread with us, but not a tent, and a 

 heavy shower coming up just before midnight, threatened 

 to drench us; however, we protected our heads by turning 

 the canoe over us, and just as it began to run through the 

 spread in a way reverse of agreeable, it passed over and we 

 slept the sleep of the just. 



The next morning we were astir at dawn; the sky showed 

 every indication of rain, but we nevertheless decided to go 

 to ificketowas Lake, four miles distant, at the head of which 

 is Coomb's Brook, one of the best trout streams in the 

 county. A lumbering road, which we knew led to the 

 lake, passed within sight cf our camp grounds; but it was 

 a new one, and none of us had ever traveled it, or knew 

 where it struck the lake, and as the latter is nine miles long, 

 it will be seen that this was an important point. But being 

 determined to go, we just hoped that it came out at the 

 head and started off. The road lead away from the 

 on which we were encamped for nearly a mile, and then . 

 came in sight of it again for a short distance, but the water 

 was only a few inches in depth and their were no signs of 

 trout grounds. After the longest four miles I ever recollect 

 traveling over, we came to the lake, only to find that the 

 road came out at Norway Point, five miles below the head. 

 The traveling on the bank of this Like is as bad as anything • 

 can be, and as it began to rain, it was not to be thought of. 

 So we took our back tracks in very bad humor, and the 

 abuse which we heaped on those cranberry pickers relieved 

 our feelings, without injuring them. 



When we got back to where the road ueared the stream, I 

 proposed that part of us should follow the water down to the 

 old bridge, as there might be some trout holes which would 

 afford us a mess for dinner, but none of them believed there 

 were any trout in that shallow water, so I was obliged to go 

 alone. I wanted some fish— pork, hardtack and coffee having 

 lost their charms for me while in the army. A very short 

 distance down the stream brought me to an abrupt bend, a 

 bit of meadow ground, a tiny rivulet of spring water trick- 

 ling into the bend, and yes, actually deep water. With 

 active and eager fingers I jointed up my rod and attached my 

 reel. The rain which had fallen very lazily for two hours 



