286 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



(JN'ov. ij, 1886. 



TO LAKE MEGANTIC. 



I LEFT Boston on the eveniug of Nov. 13 by the Montreal 

 & Boston Air Line, taking a repeating rifle, sLotgun, 

 amateur photograph outfit, tent, blankets, etc. After e)ght 

 hours of sleep, at Newport, Vt., a change was made to the 

 Passumpsi.o Railway for Sherbrooke, Quebec, which was 

 reached after a run of an hour and a half. Here I was 

 oblio-ed to wait seven hours to connectwith the International 

 Railway for Lake Megantic At Sherbrooke I met with an 

 old friend from Megantic whom I prevailed upon to accom- 

 pany me in my perea-rioations. We took the train at 8 P. M. 

 and after a five fiours' ride landed at the lake. 



In Sherbrooke occasional patches of snow coTild be seen, 

 but as we advanced eastward the snow was in greater abun- 

 dance, and at the lake the ground was covered two or three 

 inches deep. Reaching the village of Agnes on the Chaudiere 

 River which empties the lake, we spent the night there. 



Like Megantic is beautifully situated in the center of a 

 mountainous district, the Mesrantic Mountains looming up 

 upon its eastern shore, the Little Megantic a short distance 

 from its northern boundary, while the Boundary Mountams 

 encircle in the distance its southern and western shores. 

 The lake is twelve miles in length, crescent-shaped and runs 

 due north and south. It lies on the western slope of the 

 watershed between Canada and the United States, about 

 eight miles from the boundary. Its altitude is over 2,000 

 feet above the level of the sea, its exact height being 1,200 

 feet above the city of Montreal. The water in the lake is 

 well stocked with lake trout, or lunge, as they are called 

 there, speckltd trout, bass, heiiing or bellfish. and whitefish. 

 Dan Ball, the celebrated Spider Lake guide and trapper, 

 caught a lake trout near the head of the lake last spring 

 weighing 21 pounds. In 1882 my wife caught with a fly at 

 Lake Megantic a speckled trout weighing 3 pounds 13 ounces 

 This was just at the outlet, and upon another occasion she 

 caught, off Rocky Point, with an artificial minnow (derby 

 trout killer) in two hours, thirteen lake trout, aggregating 34 

 pounds, the largest one weighing 6i pounds. Fine sport 

 can be had at the outlet (Chaudiere River) during the month 

 of June fly-fishing, where an occasional land-looked salmon 

 can be hooked. 



The steamer Lena (Capt. Jones) was ready to start at 

 3 P. M., and the captain, wishing to spend the following 

 day with his family at Sandy Bay, placed me at the wheel 

 in command, a circumstance I think he afterward regi-etted, 

 as I succeeded in running the steamer aground just before 

 reaching the head of the lake, and breaking off one of the 

 blades of the propeller. This accident delayed us some time, 

 so that it was quite late when we landed at Flint's Mills, 

 and made our way to the Tlu-ee Lakes House, kept by Mr. 

 Wm. Latty. Rush Lake, a very frequent resort for deer 

 during the wai'm September evenings, is only a mile distant 

 by way of the Lower Spider River. We remained here over 

 night, but before retiring crossed over to Spider Lake (a 

 short carry of half a mile) to the house of our old friend and 

 guide Dan Ball, who, we learned, was out trapping some- 

 where in the vicinity of the Upper Spider River, but he had 

 left word for our guidance. The next morning we placed 

 our dufile on our hand sled, and havmg secured the services 

 of a French Canadian we crossed over to Spider Lake, the 

 Geneva of Canada. The lake is about forty feet higher than 

 Lake Megantic, into which it empties af\er passing through 

 Rush Lake. It is nearly four miles long, its breadth vary- 

 ing from half a mile in some places to three miles. It is in 

 shape like a spider with outspred legs, each leg being repre- 

 sented hy a bay. On account of its many bays it is said to 

 have more miles of shore than its neighbor, Lake Megantic, 

 which has fully thirty miles. The proper name of the lake, 

 and as such it is marked on many maps, is Macauamac, an 

 Indian name signifying father, or head of waters, it being 

 the first body of water in this chain on the Canadian 

 boundary. The lake and river is only four miles distant 

 from the head waters (across the boundary) of the Dead 

 River region, which is now becoming a great resort for 

 .sportsmen. 



We found tlie lake icebound, the ice having taken a week 

 previous, and it was now, we ascertained, about two inches 

 thick in close proximity to the shore. It was a beautiful 

 cold, clear morning, the ice as smooth as a mirror, and the 

 tramp across it to my summer house, about three miles dis- 

 tant, was a most enjoyable one. We remained in our com- 

 fortable quarters till morning, and at half-past seven we 

 selected from oin- bagg-.ge only what we could not get along 

 without, and shouldering our packs started for the upper 

 Spider River, which empties into the lake half a mile further 

 up. We ha<l expected to meet our guide at Young's Camp, 

 an old lumber shanty two miles up the river, but we were 

 disappointed upon reaching it. as the camp had a deserted 

 appearance. Ball's next camp was seven or eight miles 

 further on, m the direction of Moose River, but being in the 

 best of spirits we shouldered our packs, and with a light 

 step struck out for the tramp, having previously stuck a 

 note up on the camp door staling the direction we had taken 

 m case we missed our way. Neither my friend or I had been 

 m that locality before. There was about two inches of snow 

 on the ground, so we could track our guide tolerably well 

 besides tlae trail was blazed through part of the way" As 

 long as the tracks were visible we had no fear; but as we 

 advanced the snow disappeared, and to add to our troubles 

 tlie trail began to divide. At each division we barked a tree 

 and wrote the direction upon it we had taken, keeping 

 always to the right. In this manner we kept on, shootino- 

 an occasional partridge, and now and then coming on to a 

 fresh deer or ruoose track. At noon we made a short halt, 

 built a fire, boiled some tea and fried a couple of partridges 

 then proceeded on our way. We kept on follbwinii the 

 spots on the trees till we thought we must have walked 

 fit teen miles, and still no sign of oui- guide or his camp We 

 hred-on occasional shot in the hope of hearing an answer 

 but in this we were disappointed. ' 

 _ The shades of evening began lo gather, and we were still 

 m bhasf ull ignorance of our whereabouts. Finally at quarter 

 to five, to cap the climax, raiu began to fall and the trail 

 came an abrupt end. We had no other alternative but to 

 camp for the night. Fortunately we had taken an axe with 

 us, but as we had expected to reach Ball's Camp, had left 

 the tent behind us. While Jack was lookina- up a suitable 

 s])ot for a camp I ran up a neighboring hill and climbed a 

 tree to see if I could ascertain where we were. Although 

 nearly dark I could di.^cern about a mile distant a ti-ack of 

 burnt land familiar tome. I knew then we could not be 

 over .six miles from Young's Camp, which forcibly reminded 

 me how long the miles are when you are traveling in the 

 woods with a pack. I descended and returned to Jack who 

 had in the meantime cut some poles for a "lean-to"' We 

 tied a rubber blanket to them for a roof, laid some 'balsam 



boughs against the side to break the rain, and having built a 

 fire in front proceeded to cook our supper. After supper 

 we cut more boughs and made a comfortable bed and pre- 

 pared to turn in. In the meantime the weather had turned 

 colder, the rain changed to sleet and finally snow. This was 

 what we had been ardently wishing for, as it would enable 

 us to stalk the deer noiselessly and track them. After re- 

 plenishing the fire with hard wood we wrapped ourselves in 

 our blankets and were soon asleep. 



We awoke at daybreak to find the ground covered with 

 two inches of snow. We decided after breakfast if we 

 could pick up the trail again to push on and find Ball. We 

 discovered that our trail had ended in a concession line 

 running between two townships, and after following it up a 

 few rods we found a fresh blaze branching off. We got 

 our packs on and followed it up. We had gone about a 

 mile when we were surprised to meet a man, who turned 

 out to be a companion of our guide. From him we learned 

 we were a mile distant from Ball's camp, and that our guide 

 had started for Young's camp early that morning by another 

 route for the purpose of meeting me, and his confrere was 

 destined for the same place. We had no other alternative 

 but to right about face and accompany him, and we quietly 

 retraced our steps all the day long, diversifying the tramp by 

 shooting some of the grouse^ which were very plentiful. We 

 reached Young's camp, from which we had started the day 

 before, at four o'clock, our guide having arrived an hour 

 before us. We were all thoroughly tired, and after discus- 

 sing the probabilities of a snowfall to facilitate still -hunting, 

 and laying our plans for the morrow, we turned in. What 

 was our delight next morning to find four inches of snow on 

 the ground and snow still falling. Eager for the sport, we 

 took a hasty breakfast; and, rifles in hand, started out in 

 quest of deer tracks. As deer were so plentiful I knew we 

 would not have lo go far, and before a quarter of a mile was 

 covered we came upon a fresh track. Jack decided to follow 

 it up and the guide and I went along further. In less than 

 half an hour we came upon a track that approached the 

 trail and doubled back. It was a large track, and in the 

 hopes that it might be a buck I started after it. 

 The direction led me directly eastward up a steep 

 mountain toward the boundary line. I followed along 

 cautiously, but from the uniform steps and great distance 

 apart of the tracks I soon determined that it was a "travel- 

 ing buck," and I knew I could walk along at my leisure 

 until the tracks would run into those of more deer. I trav- 

 eled on rather briskly for about two hours, and as I was con- 

 tinually going up hill, concluded I had gone about as many 

 miles, "when I saw the track was intersected by that of two 

 more deer, which I took to be a doe and fawn. I now 

 thought it time to commence stalking, and proceeded very 

 cautiously, peeping in all directions. The tracks ran toward 

 every point of the compass after intersecting, which served 

 to give me a lead occasionally. In this manner I crept along 

 till I reached the summit of the mountain and the interna- 

 tional boundary. As the snow was still falling I could no- 

 tice the tracks growing fresher and fresher, and occasionally 

 would come upon a spot where the buck had stopped and 

 pawed the ground and browsed by the way. I had hardly 

 begun the descent of the mountain when I came to the top 

 of a steep incline, and from my position could see quite a 

 distance around me. There was an open hard-wood glade 

 at the bottom of the slope, and standing there, not eighty 

 yards from me, was the deer, a fine buck, with a fawn and 

 doe close by its side. The buck was looking up at me when 

 I sighted him, and for a moment I stood spellbound, admir 

 ing the pretty group. It never entered my mind to fire until 

 I was awakened from ray reverie by the buck giving an im- 

 patient stamp with one of his forward feet. I immediately 

 raised my rifle and fired, aiming down upon the back of 

 the buck, between the fore shoulders. The smoke hardly 

 cleared away in time to let me see that buck disappear 

 upon the bound. Laying the blame upon the rifle (as is 

 always the case when game is missed) I began lo descend 

 carefully to get a shot at the doe which had quietly stepped 

 one side behind a treetop and I knew would not 'move far 

 away from the buck; the fawn had disappeared. I had not 

 descended half way clown before I found that I had wounded 

 the buck and turned my attention in his direction, very 

 foolislily letting the doe escape, for had I let the buck alone 

 there I could have shot both. I came to the spot where the 

 buck stood when I fired and saw the snow stained crimson. 

 I followed the red stains over 200 yards and came upon the 

 buck lying down. He raised his head at my approach, and 

 fearing that he might jump up and run again 1 gave him 

 another shot in the neck. This settled him. The report had also 

 started the doe, which bounded out of sight before I could 

 get a shot at her. I found that the ball had struck him just 

 back of the left shoulder blade on top, had gone through the 

 lungs, pierced the diaphragm and traversed clear through the 

 liver and paunch, making its exit low down in the flank. 

 Notwithstanding this dreadful wound from .45-70-350 car- 

 tridge, the deer had bounded out of sight as if unharmed 

 and ran nearly 300 yards. I removed the sling from my 

 rifle and fastening it around the base of his antlers started to 

 tow him around the mountain side down to the trail. I was 

 so elated at my success that I felt as though I could have 

 towed a moose, but my ardor cooled before I reached the 

 trail. As I found I was three miles from camp and it was 

 3 P. M. I decided to leave the deer till morning for the guide; 

 and cutting oflt one of the forefeet as a trophy, I started for 

 the camp, which I reached just at dark. 



Next morning Jack and the guide started oat again, but I 

 was satisfied with deer stalking, so took a frying-pan, piece 

 of bread, lump of butter, some tea, salt and pepper, and 

 started to make my breakfast off the deer. I took my shot- 

 gun along with me for partridge, which I had passed by the 

 dozen the day before, while following the deer. Arriving 

 at the spot I had left him the night before I dragged him 

 under the shelter of a friendly hemlock, built a fire, boiled 

 some tea, and skinning down a fore shoulder cut out some 

 steaks and fried them in butter. I drew the deer up to the 

 fire for a seat; and sitting on three-quarters of a deer ftethe 

 fourth. Cutting off as much as I could carry I weuded my 

 way campward, shooting partridges on the way, which was 

 good sport, as I could find them easily by their tracks on 

 the snow. The rest of the party came in about 4 o'clock, 

 with no deer but a goodly lot of partridges. The snow 

 having frozen and not being deep enough to muffle the foot- 

 steps, It was impossible to get near the deer on account of 

 the noise made in traveling. The next day we spent shoot- 

 ing grouse, with splendid luck; and the next morning started 

 down the river with our plunder for my summer house. I 

 found here an old cast away trunk into which I packed the 

 saddle and hindquarter of the deer, the antlers, and forty 

 partridges to take home with me, and after spending another 

 day m taking some winter scenes of surrounding places, I 



started for Boston, which I reached on the morning of Nov. 

 27, well pleased with my trip, feeling like a new man and 

 having a splendid apppelite (besides some nice accompani- 

 ments) for Thanksgiving dinner. H. B. 



Boston, Mass. 



PANTHERS AND DEER. 



Ediior Farest and Stream: 



I notice in last week's issue that you have taken up the 

 right trail — at least to suit my views; and 1 would not be 

 found alone in this respect i'f the veteran hunters and trap- 

 pers could be induced to tell their views. It has been a mys- 

 tery to us why you have not struck the trail of the panther 

 and of the wolf as well in your efforts to protect deer in the 

 Adirondacks. Perhaps you thought them so few that they 

 were not worth the powder; but in sections where there is 

 very little noise there are plenty of these cowards left to 

 destroy the deer, which also seek the most secluded sections 

 of the wilderness and there meet their fate by their natural 

 enemies, the panther and wolf. Here is an instance, for 

 illustration : We were in a new hunting shanty built two 

 weeks previously in a section of country well stocked with 

 deer at the time, not far from Plumadore Pond, in Franklin 

 county, N. Y., about six miles north of the old Hatch place 

 and "about eight miles as the bee flies from the old Danforth 

 place in Duane. We arrived two hours before dark, and 

 one of us must prepare wood and get things fixed for night. 

 There was about two inches of fresh snow that had fallen 

 that day, and we were anxious to get meat and to satisfy 

 ourselves as to future prospects. I cut wood and fixed up 

 for the night, while John Danforth, my companion, was away 

 at once. On his return after dark I asked him whether he had 

 had any shots. Wiping off the snow and removing the 

 cartridge from his rifle and laying it on wedges driven in the 

 shanty logs and brushing the snow and water from his 

 clothes in utter silence and commenced to warm^'and dry his 

 hands by the camp-fire burning briskly, he broke out: "As 

 far as I went the show is mighty poor for deer. Didn't see 

 a track of a single deer. But I heard ravens and went to 

 where they were at work and found one, or what was left— 

 the head and neck, and the bones; that's all. Killed by a 

 cat. Been killed four or five days. Guess they have killed 

 and driven the deer jdl out of these parts. Maybe we can 

 get a snap at some of 'em. Wish we had brought over the 

 pup. He is the boy to make 'em climb. They have spoiled 

 our trip this time. If we only had the pup we could get 

 even with them, for their scalps bring |35- State $20, 

 county $10, and town $5; and we are pretty sure to hit a 

 trail of the sneaking cowards on this snow to-morrow. They 

 will hunt to-night, as they lay still in a stormy time you 

 know. They are at it by this time. 1 would like to get a 

 snap at another one up on the Pimele. You rememl3er that 

 scrape? Of course you do; and if we find a trail bound that 

 way, unless he skulks into the broken down ledge, we'll find 

 him on the hogsback up top, maybe, lying for a deer in the 

 same old place. I'd give my rifle, almost, for another 

 chance like that. How are the partridge.?; done yet?" 



The partridges had been killed clean," by shooting off their 

 heads; skinned, split open on the breast and the breast bone 

 taken out, and stretched out before the wood fire, each on 

 a crotch (with the butt end stuck in the ground), peppered, 

 salted and basted with pork gravy, and by this time were 

 done brown. This is the sweetest *and quickest way to cook 

 them. 



After the meal Bill filled his old brier pipe, threw himself 

 back on the new bed of hemlock boughs and exclaimed : 

 "This is comfort. No chores to do, and everything serene. 

 Good tracking snow; but where is the game to be found? 

 I believe the cats have finished the deer; but there may be a 

 few left down Beaver Meadow Brook. The panthers kill a 

 deer every time they get hungry, and often when they are 

 not hungry, just for the devilment of it. They cut into the 

 belly and haul out the vitals and heart, sometimes only eat- 

 ing the heart, and then cover the carcass all up with any- 

 thing they can get, as leaves, moss and sticks. Now what 

 do they do that for? They never come back to cat anything 

 after it gets cold, but keep sneaking about for more. Did 

 you ever see where the panthers have ever made more than 

 four jumps where they have caught deer?" "No, I never 

 did." "What do you think they cover them up for?" "I 

 don't know, Bill. I know they prefer warm meat. I have 

 tried to trap them often at a deer of their killing, but I never 

 caught one at it but once. That was when the trap was set 

 for a fisher, on an old root, twelve feet away from the car- 

 cass, and he simply walked up the old moss-covered log to 

 look things over, I suppose, and tried to steal the No. 6 New- 

 house spiked trap with one of his fore paws, and it proved 

 smartest in the end. He might not have been the one that 

 killed the deer; so it is very safe to say they never go back 

 to feed on a cold carcass." "No," was the reply, "and I 

 think the full-grown ones average nearly a deer a day the 

 whole year round." 



That night Bill went to sleep muttering away to Jack, his 

 dog. He used to talk to this dog when alone as though it 

 were a person, and when jeered about it he would reply, 

 "Jack understands every word I say jus' as well as you do;" 

 and so I have thought sometimes. A dog's days end "some 

 time. Bill visited this same section one year later with the 

 pup, and .stopped at Bason Spring on the" Plumadore trail to 

 get a drink; some villain had left a dose of stiychnioe there. 

 Jack picked it up and died in Bill's arms before he reached 

 assistance. Last week's issue of your paper notified me of 

 Danforth's own death by the same old method that has sent 

 many others to untimely graves— carrying the hammers o£ 

 guns on the caps. At least nine-tenths of the tatal accidents 

 by shooting are traced to this cause. All who use guns with 

 hammers should see that they cannot be pushed off at half 

 cock, and should be sure to carry them there; then, if acci- 

 dentally the hammers are raised, they will catch .somewhere 

 and wiU not fall on the cap unless the trigger is pressed back, 

 I knew Wm. Danforth from boyhood. He became a keen 

 hunter and trapper, and a splendid off-hand rifle shot before 

 the war, in which he served and was wounded. None 

 understood better the tricks and ways of the panther, wolf, 

 bear and deer. He was a man of few words, except in 

 camp or when talking about war or about sporting matters. 



He met his death by the same means as Avery, of Canton, 

 and young Bigford, of Thomasville, and several others in 

 this vicinity. J. 



GiiENS FAiis, N. Y. 



Editor Foreit and Stream: 



1 see by various papers that "the woods are full of 

 panthe-rs." I spent two weeks at the head of Cranberry 

 Lake in August, where I saw various parties from other 

 sections of the northwest part of the woods, but heard no 



