102 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Aug. 89 1889. 



" Yes, but I w as very sick and weak at the time; and 

 U was years and years ago. )Vhen I was a boy I did not 

 joy in the possession of a cnr, the Fisherman to the con- 

 trary notwithstanding; but I owned a red Irish setter, 

 pedigree unknown, named Trim. In the next yard to us 

 was a tree of early red apples. We children could not 

 get over there for them, for the old woman who lived 

 there could see us; but one summer, by throwing two or 

 three apples over there and sending Trim through a hole 

 in the fence to retrieve them, we taught him the trick, 

 and he brought us every apple that dropped from that 

 tree. He must have carted over bushels to us, first and 

 last, and the old woman was never the wiser." 



"The clear-souled, ingenuous, unsophisticated country 

 boy," remarked the Fisherman to himself under bis 

 breath. 



'•Well, the next summer when red apple time came, it 

 happened that I was not sending dogs to steal fruit. A 

 dive in a swimming hole, where I had miscalculated 

 and bumped the bottom, had given me brain fever, And 

 Trim was not playing thief for anybody else. He just 

 kept himself in my room, staying mostly under the bed, 

 and for the two or three days before the crisis in my 

 illness refusing to eat anything. They tried to get him 

 out, but he was not to be fooled with, and kept his post, 

 especially as it was a sort of comfort to me to have him 

 there. At last one evening the doctor said that that night 

 would decide it. Of course, every one was full of anxiety 

 and nervous suspense, and, to judge from appearances, 

 no one was more concerned than the dog, who was 

 holding the fort under the bed. It was a long, long night, 

 but when the doctor came early the next morning he 

 found me alive, and in a cheery tone he said to my 

 mother and sister, 'The boy is all right now; he will get 

 well!' The words were no sooner out of his mouth than 

 Trim, gaunt and dishevelled, his eyes sunken and hair 

 standing seven ways for Sunday, came out from under 

 the bed, with his ears pricked up, tail wagging and body 

 squirming, and darted through the half-open door and 

 scrambled down stairs and outdoors. In less than a min- 

 ute he came rushing back again, and running up to my 

 bed leaped up on to it and dropped into my hand an old 

 shrivelled up red apple. I don't know anything about the 

 others, but in my part of the house there was not a dry 

 eye that time. 'Let him cry,' said the doctor, 'it will 

 do the boy good.' And it did, for it did not take me long 

 after that to pick up and get out again. If there had 

 been any way of keeping that apple you bet I'd have it 

 now." 



Buffalo Jones, of Kansas, has sold a portion of his buff- 

 alo herd, and announces that a syndicate has been formed 

 in Ogden, Utah, to establish a "zoological farm," with 

 these buffalo as a basis. 



he ^partsnfun ^attrist 



OUTDOORS. 



ri^HE golden haze of a calm October day was in the air 

 JL and lay on lake and forest, mellowing the sombre 

 hues of the hemlock trees, and shading upward in a mel- 

 low glow along the great maple wood that clothed in 

 softened splendor the. slopes and summits of the rounded 

 hills. 



. The wagon drove away and left us— the Kelpie and me — 

 on the margin of a small woodland stream which issues 

 from the bear-haunted fastnesses of the great Intermedi- 

 ate swamps. 



There was just water enough to float us and our be- 

 longings, though the brook was scarcely wide enough to 

 enable me to turn the boat at need. 



The belongings aforesaid seemed somewhat numerous 

 and bulky for an old campaigner to take along on a 

 week's cruise, but it was all right nevertheless. I was 

 not in the best of health, having suffered from too close 

 attention to business and from the effects of the recur- 

 rence of an old strain. I had not, up to that time, found 

 it convenient to take during the season an extended out- 

 ing, and decided that while I was about it I might as well 

 make myself as comfortable as possible. 



As I was saying, the wagon drove away and left me 

 sitting on a log by the side of a brook, serenely surveying 

 the scattered camping tools with a delicious sense of 

 freedom from cares, past, present and future; listening 

 to the sharp rat-tat of a red-headed woodpecker on a 

 bough overhead, the cheery ehir-r-r of a red squirrel 

 across the stream, the call of a loon upon the distant 

 lake; and smoking the while the pipe of peace and good 

 will to all mankind. 



"A gentleman," says D'Orsay, "may sometimes be in 

 haste, never in a hurry." I was in neither haste nor 

 hurry, for was I not at home as oft before? In that for- 

 est are no signs to stare the traveler in the face while 

 warning him "Beware." Wherever I chose I might 

 pitch my tent, and though morasses compassed me about 

 I yet could trust myself to find, a "dry chance" for a 

 camp ground before night. 



The forest was damp from recent rains, but the inside 

 of an old stump furnished material for the foundation 

 of a fire, which shortly blazed against its root, and a 

 small tin teakettle, dinted and blackened through long 

 service, soon simmered above the blaze, suspended from 

 the free end of a long stick. 



Things began to look cheerful and homelike, to me at 

 least, however they might have appeared to a man who 

 cared naught for camping for its own sake, but sought 

 to learn the art because he heard somebody say that he 

 had read somewhere that "camping out is getting to be 

 quite the fashion." 



The fire was builded mainly as a matter of form, since 



I had not as yet "come to my appetite;" so, for the sake 

 of appearance and to pass away the time, I roasted in the 

 ashes a la Gellatley a couple of eggs, made tea, set the 

 table and dined. 



Some of you young fellows may think it odd that a 

 single camper with a one-man boat should speak of set- 

 ting the table, but it isn't — not a bit. I can camp, when 

 necessary, with no outfit save a tin cup and a rifle; but 

 seldom do so from choice. I have seen people who, pos- 

 sibly because they wished to load themselves light, but 

 more probably for other and less plausible reasons, did 

 not when going into woods, burden themselves even with 

 the commoner accessories of civilization, such as towels, 

 soap, combs and toothbrushes. I do not remember that, 

 when in camp, I have ever failed in the performance of 

 my regular ablutions, or in making myself as decent as 

 possible, excepting when in a waterless region or where 

 the springs were frozen. 



It is my habit on an excursion of this kind to take with 

 me two pails with covers. On this occasion these were 

 the common wooden buckets used in packing candy, 

 which, having served their commercial uses, may be pur- 

 chased cheaply from any confectioner. The pails, like 

 the boat, were painted a dull September green, and were 

 attached by a 4-inch strap hinge to the covers, which 

 beiDg provided with a common hinged hasp with staple, 

 could at need be secured by a stick or padlock. 



One of these pails contained ammunition, fishing 

 tackle and sundries; this being placed at the root of a 

 friendly tree, and covered with a small pillow (a capital 

 thing in camp), served me as a seat, while the lid of the 

 other, turned back and supported by a stick set upright 

 in the ground, made a small but convenient table. 



The top of the pail was occupied by a tin pan, provided 

 with wire handles for convenience in lifting it out, and 

 containing a knife, fork and spoon, besides various small 

 cans with butter, sugar, pepper, salt, etc. Beneath this 

 was a similar pan; below this the cellarage. The reader 

 may in imagination stow this with any edibles he most 

 may fancy. The other pail was similarly arranged, 

 though with due reference to the difference in its con- 

 tents and to convenience in corning at the various arti- 

 cles of a sportsman's outfit without causing confusion 

 among them. 



These pails are easily handled, carried or stowed in a 

 boat or camp. I fitted them up to suit myself, and they 

 serve well their purposes. Their cost, complete, was 

 somewhat less than one dollar. 



Dinner over, I began to realize that while there was no 

 haste, the afternoon was yet wearing away, and that I 

 had not as yet determined where I should put up for the 

 night. I therefore leisurely placed my possibles in the 

 boat, extinguished my fire, laid the old 10-bore on the top 

 of the blankets, seated myself in the stern, took up the 

 single-bladed maple paddle, of many years' good service, 

 pushed off from the landing, and floated down stream 

 through the silent forest. 



The alder bushes which bordered the stream sometimes 

 bent low toward the surface, and it was while stooping 

 to clear an obstruction of this sort that the first duck 

 started just ahead of the boat, so that I failed to tender 

 him the compliments of the season. With an exclama- 

 tion of surprise at my negligence, he put on steam and 

 soon disappered from view. Aha, my friend, well 

 pleased am I to see you yet once more, and I trust that 

 you but herald the coming of your relati ves in force. It 

 minds me well of other days, and makes me young 

 again, to hear the sudden splash, and the whistling rush, 

 as the swift pinions cleave the calm, still air. 



We paddle onward, soon to reach a little woodland 

 lake. The water deepens, wider grows the stream. As 

 we round a bend, in the dense cedar swamp, the Avaters 

 flash to the rising of a second duck, that darts away 

 through the dense tangle of evergreen branches; but at 

 the first beat of wing the paddle drops from my hand; as it 

 strikes the waters the gun is leveled. This time " Aunt 

 Hannah" takes part in the conversation, and leaves and 

 twigs, shattered by the heavy charge, float downward 

 through the air. Then comes another and a heavier 

 plash, and the gray bird once more floats upon the stream. 

 Recovering the paddle by means of a line which attached 

 it to the boat. I retrieved the game in passing, and now 

 saw in advance the broadening shimmer of rippling 

 waves, and soon had reached the lake. Coasting leisurely 

 along, I prospected for a camping ground, but none 

 offering sufficient inducements presenting itself in 

 this neighborhood, I paddled on, and soon entered an- 

 other stream, whose presiding genius appeared to be a 

 large owl, which gazed fixedly upon me from the boughs 

 of a, hemlock, as "with noiseless paddle and motionless 

 head I silently glided past. 



Perhaps it felt that there was sympathy and peace be- 

 tween us, as did the muskrat which crossed the watery 

 trail, for instead of suddenly disappearing beneath the 

 wave, after the manner of his kind, he held his course 

 until he reached tiie open portal of his habitation in the 

 southern bank. Amid the gloom of the towering hem- 

 locks in advance, another lake gleams forth, and shortly 

 we are floating on its waves. 



It was about five o'clock when the Kelpie poked her 

 nose into the rushes which fringed the margin of a small 

 secluded cove, and stepping ashore, I surveyed the sur- 

 roundings and pronounced them good. A suitable site 

 for the tent, such as would shed the water in case of rain, 

 was selected a few rods from the shore, and soon the 

 boat was made fast and her lading transferred to the spot 

 which for the next four days and nights was to be my 

 home. 



The first thing in order was to start a fire, and this ac- 

 complished, I unrolled my tent, and met with a disap- 

 pointment. Instead of the tight and serviceable canvas 

 roof which has well protected me in many storms, I had 

 by mistake brought another, which through long years of 

 faithful service has for some time past been invalided, 

 and done duty mainly as protection against frost for 

 grapes or tender vegetables. 



Of short duration, however, was my chagrin. Though 

 the rents of this ancient pavilion yawn like the crack of 

 doom, shall they be suffered to daunt the soul of an old- 

 timer who erst for months did face the moon with never 

 the semblance of roof between him and the sky? Perish 

 the thought! I grasped my axe, and in twenty minutes 

 had the thing arranged as best I might. Despite the 

 rents, it did shed rain that very night, for rain .there was, 

 as I expected. When I am on a campaign, it commonly 

 does rain before I get home again. 

 In this connection I may remark that I have always 



Used preferably the A tent, and that, generally speaking, 

 a rope serves well the purpose of a ridge-pole. In the 

 woods it may be fastened between two trees, while in 

 the open you can pass it over two upright poles (I have 

 for this use sometimes employed my oars), and make 

 fast to a stake, thus dispensing with the necessity of pro- 

 curing a long pole, which cannot always be found. This 

 method is, however, open to objection where violent 

 winds prevail. 



If it is desired that the fire shall warm and brighten 

 the interior of the tent, the flaps, or if properly con- 

 structed the whole front, may be turned back; or if pre- 

 ferred, it is easy to convert this shelter into a one-sided 

 camp. I can say but little of the shanty tents, never 

 having used one. They are doubtless good, but from 

 what I have heard and read, I question whether I should 

 be willing to go to the trouble of putting one up, unless 

 for a long stay. I am content to spend whatever time is 

 requisite in making things shipshape and comfortable, 

 but no more; and when I make camp, I choose to be 

 bothered with as few details as possible. The cost of a 

 common A tent made from drilling, heavy sheeting, or 

 canvas even, is but small, and with a little ingenuity any- 

 body can get one up at short notice. 



Perhaps it may be thought by experts, if such should 

 chance to read this paper, that I am unnecessarily diffuse 

 in speaking of my camping conclusions, but certain let- 

 ters and inquiries which have reached me from time to 

 time lead me to think there is a large and increasing 

 body of young persons who, having a touch of the Rob- 

 inson Crusoe fever, would like to try camping out, if 

 only they knew how to do it without going beyond their 

 means. Having at hand no mentor, and believing that 

 in order to enjoy camp life it is necessary first to pro* 

 cure a complete and expensive outfit, they are deterred 

 from trying the experiment. For these, if for any class 

 in particular, I have penned these notes. As I wrote not 

 long ago in answer to a young correspondent, "With the 

 exception, perhaps, of firearms and fishing tackle, my 

 camping outfits have ordinarily been of the simplest and 

 most inexpensive description, and I suppose that I have 

 had as much enjoyment of them as most campers, what- 

 ever the amount of their investment." 



Neither is it necessary to buy the highest priced reels, 

 rods or guns to get good service and value for your 

 money; yet nevertheless it may he said that the better 

 the gun and the finer the tackle the greater will be the 

 satisfaction of their owner, when once he has learned to 

 distinguish between the methods of the lone sportsman 

 and those of the pot -hunting clown. 



I filled the teakettle, set it above the fire and made my 

 simple preparations for supper — very simple they were, 

 for as yet the long sought appetite had not come. 



First, I whittled me a fork and toasted bread. I often 

 do this when in camp, and prefer for that purpose a tri- 

 dent having its tines divergent like the legs of a camera. 

 This dodge commonly saves the toast from falling into 

 the fire. A beech twig makes on occasion a very fair 

 dining fork, but is less serviceable as a toaster. It is 

 usually too flat. 



Supper over, I washed the tea things, secured in a dry 

 place a good supply of kindlings against the morning's 

 need, and as it was yet too early to turn in I decided to 

 devote a portion of the evening to the contemplation of 

 my surroundings. I had brought with me a piece of 

 canvas, about 4x6^ft., with a broad hem at each border. 

 Cutting two stout poles of suitable length 1 pushed them 

 through these hems, and a stretcher being placed between 

 the ends of the poles, which were supported by small 

 logs (the largest at the head), a mattress was completed, 

 which, though not as good as a properly constructed 

 "bough berth" of hemlock or fir tips, made yet a very 

 comfortable ouch. The timber was for the most part 

 hard wood whei'e I had camped, and to collect and prop- 

 erly arrange a bed of boughs would have taken more 

 time and energy than 1 had at command. 



Well, I up-ended the poles of my mattress against a, 

 large tree, placed at its foot a bucket duly cushioned, and 

 leaning the while luxuriously back against the canvas 

 couch , lighted my pipe and looked out upon the water of 

 the little lake. 



The camp-fire, freshly fed with logs and topped with 

 crackling cedar boughs, silvered the mossy bolls of 1 he 

 beechen trees, and cast strange shadows on the drifting 

 mists which floated oyer the paths of light that streamed 

 along the wave. Dreamily I listened to the voices of the 

 night — the cry of fox or coon, the laugh of the loon on 

 the distant lake, the call of the owl to his lonely mate, 

 and, faint and far, her welcome in response. Hoo-hoo-o-o. 

 Plump! What's that? Wafted shoreward, there floats 

 upon the evening breeze a fragrance jiot of frankincense 

 or myrrh, but hke unto that which since her occu- 

 pancy no one has as yet been able to eliminate from the 

 apartments of the Empress Josephine at Malniaison. 

 Nothing but a muskrat, but I believe I was asleep. 



How did I occupy myself during the four days passed 

 in that camp? Twere long to tell; yet I did as near noth- 

 ing as a live ma n well may do. I was in no condition for 

 hard service, and I read, strolled, sketched, paddled or 

 dreamed, as best suited existent conditions. 



It occurred to me one afternoon that I would like a 

 grouse, and, taking up my gun, I set forth to procure the 

 game. There were many of these birds in the woods, but 

 the leaves as yet were pretty thick, and I had no dog. 

 I bent my steps accordingly to the log cabin of one John 

 Smith , of whom you have read in the history of Virginia. 

 He had a dog and a pig pen; and was, as I approached, 

 engaged in roofing the latter. The pup sat near, and 

 greeted me after the manner of the common "yaller dog" 

 of America. 



In answer to my inquiries, John stated that he had no 

 gun: "but," said he, regretfully, " 'f Ihed,l'd ahedmore 

 pat'ges 'n I'd a-knowed what ter dew with. The'slots on 

 W jes' t'other side o' thet corn patch — thet is, the' was, 

 but ther bovs lies ben a-shewtin' on 'em these here las' 

 rainy days, 'n' I don't s'pose the's so many "s the' was. 

 But we'll go see." 



I intimated that one bird would serve my turn; and, 

 laying down his hammer, John called the dog, and we 

 soon had crossed the corn patch, passing on the way a 

 grove of maple sprouts, from which came the whirr of a 

 startled grouse as the dog dashed into the covert. 



"Thar's one, anyway, but ther bresh 's so thick 't yer 

 carn'fc see 'em. Yeou gwup the hill, 'n I'll cross over t' 

 ther swamp, apast thet slashin'." 



Up the "hill I climbed accordingly, but soon was recalled 

 by the voices of the dog and his owner. "Here's one." 



