Oct, 38, 1886.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



as mucli satisfaction at the success of the cliase as we did. 

 This doe was a large one in prime coiidition. When we 

 met around the dining table tliat day, many a tale of ex- 

 citing chase and still-himt passed round the board. 



Some days after. Ben P. came out to take charge of 

 some cattle raugiug on the slopes of the moimtain above. 

 Ben is an ardent sportsman. A chase he must have, as he 

 had but a day or two to spend. I arranged one that even- 

 ing. I knew of a crossing place on a divide of the nioim- 

 tain streams making into the Glady Fork of Cheat River, 

 that had frequentlv'proved a siu-e thing with deer di-iven 

 from above on the back prong of Glady. Ben was 

 placed on this stand in the low gap of the divide. In case 

 of a miss or failure there, Will F. was posted at the forks 

 of the main stream, a great runway for all deer from that 

 section. 



I took my dog and made the start for the boys, going 

 np the back prong of Glady about a mile and up a tribu- 

 tary run cast^vardly about half a mile, into a succession of 

 short foothills that pointed out into the streams. Some of 

 these were covered with a dense growth of rhododendrons 

 and heavy timber. On some of them the timber had 

 been killed by what is known as a fire-break, with an 

 undergrowth of briers and brush. Here deer sign was 

 plenty. I loosed my dog on one of the freshest trails; he 

 left nie instantly and was soon out of sight, nor did I 

 hear anything of him during the chase. 1 was to push 

 up tlie momitain slopes to a low bench between two runs 

 in order to command that point. I had scarcely readied 

 the spot when I heard the report of a rille tlnice in 

 succession; but the sound appeared to come from aquartci' 

 conti'ary to wliere I had ^losted the watchers. 



Fi-om' where I stood there was a winding ridge that 

 made out to the low gap whei"e 1 had stationed Ben. Fol- 

 lowing this, I hastened around to the gap and there struck 

 a plain trail of deer, dog and huntsman; considerable fi-esh 

 blood appeared in the trail where I struck it. I called for 

 Ben, but got no reply; and, as the trail led in a contrary 

 direction to mine, 1 concluded to push on to the Forks, 

 where Will was posted. Arriving in sight of the meadows 

 I saw Will and Ben entering the upper end of the clear- 

 ing, Will with a deer on his baclv. 



My dog had started a deer immediately on leaving me, 

 and within a few minutes had pushed it through the low 

 gap where Ben was posted. He opened up on it witli his 

 Winchester, missing the two first shots, the tlaird shot 

 takmg off the left hindleg close to the ham. It was a 

 very fine forked-horn buck. B.Xckwoodr. 



R ANDOLPH Couirry, W. Va. 



A CRUISE ON THE KISSIMMEE. 



WE Avere returning from a short himt outside the 

 corporation hmits of Kissimmee, Fla.. and now but 

 a few minutes before had stopped for a .rest in the shade 

 of a cluster of black-jack. Frank said, "^SA^iat's the use 

 of doing aU this tramping around here when there is no 

 game worth shooting?"' "What do you call good game?" 

 asked Ben. "Deer, or game in whieii there is some sport 

 in getting something to give credit to one's skill as a 

 hunter, but here yon can go all day and imless on horse- 

 back, which is about as bad, for a fellow uot used to find- 

 ing these plagued lioles suddenly gets his horse in one, and 

 then good-by for a deer that day : he is lucky if he gets up 

 without assistance oi' finds his horse has not broken Ms 

 leg, whicli was my exjjerience in Imnting deer on horse- 

 back.'' "■Boys," said I, ''Frank is about right, and since 

 we lost our dog there is not mucli use in staying here, I 

 propose a course down the Eassimmee River.'" •'I"m witli 

 you," exclaimed Ben, "and I am sm-e Dick wiU go, he 

 likes fishing; and Cap Cruise told us only a few days ago 

 that fishing was capital along the rivers. " ''Yes,'" 

 answered Dick, speaking for the first time. ■'! will go. 

 The only tlung that bothers me is the boat. I do not 

 remember any that would fill om- requhements, as we 

 would expect to sleep on board, besides having an oil stove 

 to cook by m case of ram preventing a camp on shore."" 

 "Dick is about right. We will be so hard to suit that we 

 had better bunch otu' heads and see if we can't draft one."" 

 "Are your drafting tools in yom- tnmk, Ben," asked 

 Frank,' "that you talk of di'awing a model?"' "No," 

 replied Ben, "but we wDl buy a- two-foot rule and a lead 

 pencil, and if the carpenter can't work from om* design, 

 we will make a box float down the river, and if it wiD 

 not sail back, the walking is pretty good." "I move,"' 

 said Ben, suiting the action to his words, "that Ave make 

 a motion to go to our hotel, I've not eaten anything 

 for the past six hours and am as hungry as a bear." The 

 motion was carrie<i without a dissenting voice. 



Two hours later found us drafting the design of om- 

 new boat. We had decided to have it built, dimensions 

 as follows: 26ft. keel, 8ft. beam, 2ft. 4in. high, decked 

 fore and aft, with an awnmg to shed rain and give shade; 

 for sail a lateen. In a little over three weeks we were 

 ready to start. We took several weeks' provisions oh 

 board, for we were told if we did not take a, pilot it woidd 

 require but a few days to go, but when we wanted to 

 come back we would be ready to sweai' that the river and 

 canal had been filled up, that our compass would not 

 work true, and a hundred and one other difficulties that 

 we did not know anything about. Wliere ignorance is 

 bliss 'tis folly to be"^wise, and we left aU the volunteer 

 pilots behind.' Wliat difi'erence was it to us if we did not 

 get back inside of eight weeks instead of fom'. 



We stowed the pro\^sions under the hatchway, and 

 raised sail one pleasant afternoon. Lake TohopekaUga, 

 upon whose placid waters we were passing, is a pretty 

 sheet of water, the name of Indian origin signifying 

 "sleeping tiger:"' and well it merits the name, for some- 

 times a squall will sAveep down with a suddenness that 

 Avill sm'prise even an old sailor accustomed to these Flor- 

 ida lakes. Like most of the lakes in the State, it is Avell 

 supplied A\-ith islands, the largest of Avliich is Paradise 

 Island, Avell named until one lands. What with the 

 snakes, bugs and other insects we fomid there we Avere 

 only too glad to get back to our floatmg home, Avhich we 

 had christened— don't laugh— The Alhgator. A stiff 

 breeze AA^as blowing, and asAA^e careened to its force. South- 

 port, a small settlement at the head of the canal, was rap- 

 idly approached and the canal entered , Two little boys 

 stood on the pier, each liaAang a string of fish almost as 

 long as himself, suggestive of the sport in store for us. 

 The canal is 40ft. wide at the entrance, but Avidens as 

 we proceeded to 80ft. Even that AAndtlx aa-c found was 

 narrow, as we ran into the bank several times, until 

 luckily the wind changed from our bow to a gentle quar- 

 md aft, and then everything was lovely. As we 



passed several rivulets iiowing into the canal we could 

 see the bass and fish of Uke character catching the min- 

 nows. We took several fine bass and several fish whose 

 names I have forgotten. Lake Cypress was in one of its 

 amiable moods Avhen Ave passed through it, and did not 

 show to us the savage character that Ave had been told it 

 had. The dredge was at work in the canal between 

 Cyijress and HatcJiencha lakes when we reached it, but 

 they kindly assisted us past. It Avas an interesting sight 

 to see the manner in -which the mud and debris Avas lifted 

 out from below the floating monster with its u'on muscles 

 Avhicli seemed to snort Avith pleasru-e as the work pro- 

 gressed. The men lived on board and only saAV those who, 

 Uke ourselves, go htmting and a feAv others coming from 

 cm-iosity to see the magnitude of the Avork undertaken 

 by the drauiage company. The scenery along the canals 

 consists of a wide leA^el marsh, covered Avith tall reeds 

 and saAv grass and sometimes Avild cotton is seen. Occa- 

 sionally a group of palms or oaks break the monotony of 

 the view, wliile a mile or two distant are forests of oak 

 and cvpress, and back of them are seen the darker pines. 

 We had a field glass and it showed, to all appeararice, a 

 good counti-y tor game, but as we were not amjjhibious, 

 Ave could not cross the intervening marsh. The view 

 along the river is of greater variety; in many places tall 

 AAnllows shut out aU xiew; that, together with its wind- 

 ing back and forth (for crooked does not express the many 

 intricate turns and angles that it raalics), gi\-es all the 

 variety that one could ask. Tall cranes, bitterns, herons, 

 curlew and other bhds rose long before \\ e got Avithin 

 shooting distance of them, although we sent Viome a few 

 plumes as mementoes of the trip. We were obHged to do 

 considerable poling on the river to keep in the stream 

 while making tlie bends. But it Avas getting late, and 

 although we could see Lakr Kissimmee from the mast- 

 head, tlie river Avas so crooked and had so many false 

 channels that we tied up to the bank, AA-hichat this place 

 is high and dry. Frank and Ben stepped ashore, Avhile 

 Dick and I pre]iare<l the supper. 



A fcAv minutes passed Avhen the report of their guns 

 told us there was game to be found. We waited impa- 

 tiently, and a t length they retiu-ned bringing a fine turkey 

 witli them. While eating supper Frank remarked that it 

 was strange we had not been able to shoot a 'gator yet, 

 much less get a shot at one. "Guess they haA-e cut their 

 wisdom teeth." said Dick. "Wait until Ave have supplied 

 the hmer man and put awa.y the silverware, then Ave'll 

 shine them,'' said Ben. "HoaV is that done?"' said Dick. 

 "Why, take a light and hold it above you, when their 

 eyes will shine like coals of fire, giAon^ a. fine opportunity 

 to hit them in a tender spot: and. Ijesides, being able to 

 get A^ery close to them by .gomg vei-y quietly."' He Avent 

 out on deck and came back immediately in great excite- 

 ment, reporting that a big 'gator lay close beside the boat. 

 He picked np his gun, we gi-abbed ours, and going on 

 deck siu-e enough saw the creature less than a hrmdred 

 feet aAvay, in quiet repose, yet evidently watching us. 

 Only a portion of his back and head was exposed. It Avas 

 a fine eA^ening. and a few Ught clouds Avere crossing the 

 sky, Avhicli otherAvise Avas clear. A few whispered words 

 and Frank leveled his .44 repeating- rifle, Avhile we stood 

 in readiness in the event of his shot not proving sufficient. 

 The sharp crack of his gun produced but a sHght move- 

 ment. The next moment a storm of buckshot and bullets 

 tiu-ned the water into foam. Not until we had emptied 

 nearly a dozen charges did we discover that, in the star- 

 Ught, Ave had mistaken a floating log for an alhgator. 

 We looked at each other, Avent mto the tent and decided 

 it was time to go to bed. 



The next morning we continued our coiu-se doAAni the 

 river, soon entering Kissimmee Lake, a pretty sheet of 

 water, Avith the usual quota of islands of Avhich Brema, 

 the largest, is noted for the number of rabbits to be found 

 there; this is not the Avhite or gray hare foimd in the 

 North, but a plump red fellow, and as he goes through 

 the thy broAvn grass and weeds he is hardly noticed until 

 beyond reach in the brush and stubble that everywhere 

 abounds. Ducks Ave found in great abundance, big black 

 felloAvs, that, Avhen fired at, and but while flying, afford 

 gi-eat sport, unless one be struck by tlie falling game, as 

 Dick Avas with one bu'd shot by Ben, and as he recovered 

 huuself, asked if a comet had hit him. Occasionally a 

 fine canvasback Avas put on the fire to cook. 



We had anchored by one of the islands, but as deer was 

 the game Ave Avere in search of, Ave again raised sail for 

 the other shore, Avhere we could see the pme woods in the 

 distance. A head AA'ind was blowing and darkness set in 

 before we reached shore, so when the water became 

 shallow Ave dropped anchor. Supper disposed of, Ben 

 di'CAv a violin from his tiamk in the hatchwa.A', and forth- 

 AAdth the strauis of -'DoAvn on the SuAvanee River," and 

 others, floated SAveetly out on the gentle evening breeze, 

 and it is hardly necessary to add that all joined in the 

 chorus. But th-ed nature soon asserted herself, and draAv- 

 ing the tent spread our blankets and Avere soon in the 

 land of dreams. We Avere up bright and early. There 

 stood the pines, but they A\'ere a mile aAvay, while between 

 us and the wished for shore AA-as a long strip of miserable 

 marsh, vrith 2in. Avater and mud of unknoAvn depth. In 

 disgust we again hoisted sail and set off to the opposite 

 side for a better landing. While crossing a squall came 

 up, and the lake became quite rough, the Avaves running 

 6 and 8ft. liigh. Before Ave could enter a cove Ben and 

 Frank retired on the sick list. In the afternoon we found 

 a good landing, and then the prospects of a hunt aroused 

 the flagging energies of oiu- sick comrades. They did 

 not Avant to be left behind, so we all went ashore.' The 

 hunt resulted in a brace of ducks, a coon and a fcAv 

 quail. AVe saAv some deer signs but not a single deer. 

 After eating a hearty supper, Frank and Ben. who use 

 the weed, produced theh- pipes and dreAv long whiffs in 

 great satisfaction. With stories and the viohn the even- 

 ing Avas passed. 



The next morning Ave met an old cracker who told us 

 that if vA'^e AA^anted deer Ave would find them in the sand 

 hiUs, and he gave us dkections how to get there. As 

 Walk-in-the- Water Lake was in the vicinity, he told us 

 that we could sail there via Tiger and Rosa'he lakes and 

 creeks. Had we foUowed his directions thoroughly it 

 would have saved us much trouble. We went into the 

 cove he described, but as we did not see any creek we 

 concluded we were not in the right place; and to make a 

 long story short, we sailed and explored those shores for 

 fifty hours, then taking our map and compass determined 

 where the creek must be and then pidled the boat through 

 the bonnets (not the kind the ladies wear), gi-ass and tus- 

 socks, Avhen upon turning a clump of willows, the creek 



suddenly opened into sight with the noble width of 40ft. 

 and 8ft. depth. The wind at that moment flUing the sail 

 we gave three hearty cheers, to the edifieation of the aUi- 

 gators and snakes that immediately left om- neighborhood, 

 and were off at last. Tiger Creek was a copy of the Kis- 

 simmee River. We did not stop in Tiger Lake, but profit- 

 ing by our former lesson we had no difficulty in finding 

 Rosalie Creek, up whose current we were obliged to pull 

 the greater part of the way, the fish leaping out of the 

 water ahead as Avell as behind us; in fact, we had our 

 choice of fish. With the glass we saw the Indian c^mp on 

 Lake Rosalie, but not imderstanding the Seminole lan- 

 guage we did not stop. We spent the night at the entrance 

 to Walk-in-the-Water Creek, a Avide stream with gums, 

 oaks, magnolias and sycamores, standing like tall senti- 

 nels keeping Avatch over thejplacid stream, whose gentle 

 cm-rent flows smoothly by their feet, the delicate air plants 

 just coming into bud, while here and there a cluster of 

 flowers, the green foliage of the trees, and over all in 

 graceful festoons that softly SAvay to the gentle breeze, is 

 the lovely Spanish moss. It needs no other knowledge to 

 tell us that Ave have readied another land, another clime; 

 and our distant Northern home seems fm-ther off than 

 ever. There is scarce an evidence to the Northern eye 

 that the chilling breath of -winter has .swept over those 

 scenes of tropic splendor; but we are told of flowers now 

 dormant, that but for the frost would bloom in rank luxu- 

 riance. But I am wandering, and the voice of Frank re- 

 calls me to the stern realities. Our further progress is 

 baiTcd by a fallen tree 18in. in diameter; there is nothing- 

 else but it must be cut. The ax and sa av (put on board for 

 .stich need) are soon out, and active muscles are plying 

 them, and in short order the severed logs sink beneath the 

 SLU'face, Several more are treated in the same way and 

 we emerge in a cove on the lake. We had seen and killed 

 several 'gators, but the sight that greeted us as Ave entered 

 that cove surprised us all, every log, stump and root had 

 its 'gator or snake. We gave them a genuine Yankee 

 salute; and strange to say after that they Avere very cau- 

 tious how they appeared in om* presence. A strong gale 

 Avas bloAving out on the lake, so we anchored in the cove 

 for the night. 



The next day Ave crossed the lake, dropped anchor, and 

 at last Avere in the deer country. Frank could hardly 

 wait until Ben got his gun, and then they were off. Dick 

 and I followed in about haK an hour. The deer signs 

 were plenty (some of them very old, however), and after 

 Avalking for a couple of horu's we decided to return. 

 Taking a different route, Ave passed through a large sec- 

 tion covered Avith clusters of saw palmetto, when sud- 

 denly, almost at our feet, a half-gTovm fawn sprang up 

 from beneath the shelter of a palmetto. In otu- excite- 

 ment Ave fired too high, and the next moment it was out 

 of sight. Although two charges of buckshot tore the 

 scrub at the spot Avhere it disappeared, Ave could not start 

 it up; in fact, we did not see any signs of it again. We 

 rettu-ned to the boat m disgust, Avhere Ave fotmd the others 

 had an-ived before us and AA-ere having a jubilee over the 

 saddle of a fine buck that Frank had shot AAdtli his rifle, 

 the ball passing through the heart: it fell without a strug- 

 gle, leaving nothing exciting to tell of its capttu-e. We 

 gaA^e our experience, Avhen Ben gravely remarked, "You 

 were so close, boys, that those fom- charges of buckshot 

 have not left anything to find." We spent seA eral days 

 enjoying the htmting and fishing and sectu-ed several 

 ttu'keys. Deer we found difficult to approach Avithin 

 shooting distance, and accordingly aa-c counted but three 

 skins on deck when Ave retm-ned. But our time was up 

 and Ave must turn our faces homeAvard. Profiting by otu- 

 fij'st experience, Ave relied on otu chart and compass, and 

 in consequence met no delay; and soon our boat lay at 

 anchor at Kissimmee City. Fi-ank and Dick returned to 

 their Northern home, leaving Ben and I to fight the red 

 bug. sandfly and the gigantic "skeeter." 



A Wanderer. 



The Hudson's Bay Region.— OttaAva, Oct. 20. — Prof. 

 LoAA% of the Geological Survey, returned to-day from an 

 exploratory trip to Hudson's Bay. He left Ottawa on 

 May 10, and started on his jotu-ney overland from Winni- 

 peg. A great portion of the distance was accomplished 

 in birch canoes paddled by Indian guides. Prof. Low 

 says: "The country is the roughest and Avildest I ever 

 saAA'. In fact, it is one immense tract of rocks upon which 

 Httle or no vegetation appears. AiTiving at the source of 

 Berens River, we struck the source of the Severn River, 

 Avhich rtms east and empties into Hudson's Bay, and pro- 

 ceeded doAvn it until Ave arrived at Fort Severn, on Hud- 

 son's Bay. The country, after we passed the height of 

 land, became more fertile, and the scenery along the 

 Severn Avas extremely beautiful. About 100 miles down 

 this river from its source we came into four or five large 

 lakes about 60 miles in width. The land within a radius 

 of 80 or 100 miles of these lakes is fine farming land, and 

 Ave found that the frost would not at all interfere with 

 the groAAi;h of crops. The country, from the mouth of 

 the Severn to the Berens RiA-er to Fort Trout, on the 

 SAA-an River, has never been explored, and we fotmd that 

 the present maps of that cotmtry are astray, and they 

 Avere only dvaT%-n by descriptions given by Indians. Why, 

 there is a tract of country about 830 miles across from 

 Lake Winnipeg to Hudson's Bay which no white man 

 ever ti-aversed. In this district there is any quantity of 

 deer and caribou, but small game is very scarce. We 

 staid at Fort Severn for a short time, then started along 

 the coast of Hudson's Bay to York River, about 200 miles 

 south. Wilde at Fort York the Hudson's Bay Company 

 steamers ai-rived with a report that two American Avhal- 

 ers had been found in the ice off Marble Island. They 

 Avere lost during last Avinter, and nothing has cA^er been 

 heard of the crcAvs. At Norway House, at tlie head of 

 Lake Winnipeg, we met Col. Gilder and 3Ir. Griffith, tli(> 

 American explorers. They Avere recruiting men for their 

 expedition Avhen we saw them. They expect to get as 

 far as Fort Churchill this Avinter by boat. From that place 

 they Avill go north in dog sleighs', attended by a band of 

 Esquimaux. " " 



South Beravick, Me., Oct. 17. — haA^e just returned 

 from Well's Beach, four of us havmg been there for a 

 week's shootmg in the marshes. The bmls did not fly 

 Avell at any time while AA^e Avere there, still we did fairly 

 Avell and rettu-ned home more than satisfied Avith our 

 week's outing. One of onr party oavus a shootmg box on 

 the beach, and Ave go there for otu- outing- every year. 

 We are so busy that we cannot make very extended trips, 

 so Ave go our humble way and for the rest study the aro-- 

 matic pages of Forest and Stream.— Scatter Gun, 



