286 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



1.€gt. 29, 1891. 



A NIGHT OF PERIL. 



A EEMINISCENOE OF THE NEPIGOf . 



"There is a day of sunny rest 

 For e%'ery dark and troubled n'ght; 



And grief mar liide an evening guest, 

 But. joy shall come with early light.'" 



ON my second trip to the Nepigon, the finest trouting 

 waters in the world, an eventful incident occurred 

 which came near sending me to the portals of an un- 

 known world. It happened while I was in camp at the 

 lower end of Pine Portage, and has so impressed itself 

 upon the tablets of my memory that the mere mention 

 of that famous stream reproduces it again in all its start- 

 ling reality. Hoping it may prove of some interest to the 

 gentle angler, if not to the general reader, I will outline it 

 as briefly as possible. 



It was late in the afternoon of a most charming day, 

 when the azure sky was resplendent in fleeces of gold 

 and crimson, the atmosphere deliciously balmy and all 

 nature rejoicing, that with a light and happy heart I 

 started with rod and net in hand to seek some unex- 

 plored waters in the rapids below Robinson's Pool, 

 Leisurely I threaded my way along the old worn trail, 

 through tangled forests of sombrous pine and hemlock, 

 tamarack and balsam, with sylvan notes of birds in 

 aureate hues and rosy tints greeting me from bush and 

 brake. Ever and anon a butterfly in gossamer wings of 

 violet velvet and spotted silver, a creature to brush the 

 dreaming eyes of a poet, fluttered in the dancing sun- 

 beams; flowers rich and rare, like treasures of silver and 

 gold, nodded in the waving grasses; mosses and ferns so 

 daintily delicate and multiform came into pleasing re- 

 view at infrequent intervals, while as if to excite idle 

 curiosity, a tiny field mouse, startled by noisy foot-fall, 

 peeped with wide and wondrous eyes from beneath some 

 friendly leaf. So fascinated was I with all these delights 

 of forest and pathway that for the present the capture of 

 radiant trout, wil h the rhythm of revolving reel, was in 

 abeyance. Sson the sounds of roaring rapids dashing its 

 way through huge masses of broken rocks and massive 

 boulders fell upon the ear in tones of moaning thunder, 

 while the white waters that leaped in one unbroken sheet 

 o'er the ragged falls roared and raved like the terrible 

 winds of a western cyclone. 



If the walk through the whispering forests with their 

 waving tops in golden glow, the impish play of dancing 

 shadows, the entrancing melody of beautiful birds and 

 the grand music of torrent stream was rapturously im- 

 pressive, far more attractive were the magnificent pools, 

 Hamilton's and Bobinson's, as I admiringly viewed them 

 from the eminence above, being pictures in dazzling set- 

 tings of gliuimering gold and leafy green, of such rare 

 and bold poetic beauty that nature only could present. 



Ddwu in the deep, translucent waters, as I carefully 

 picked my way along the ruaged embankments, I could 

 here and" there see poised by rocky crevice or granite 

 boulder the qmw^xinf^ fontinalis in hi>! shapely outlines, too 

 beautiful indeed to fall a victim to the lure of artificially 

 wrought fur and feather. I cared not then to coax this 

 lovely idol of the icy waters to the feast deceitful, so 

 strolled along in the laughing sunshine and grateful shade, 

 under the pure blue sky, drinking in new life and strength 

 with every step, as I intently looked for the unexplored 

 pool, the IJtopi m dream of the gentle angler who seeks 

 the hercnit trout in his spangled robes of vermilion dye. 

 In such delightful exploring your years are forgotten, 

 often your maladies, and evea your white hairs are no 

 longer in remembrance. It is a happy jaunt, and thrice 

 blessed he who loves the angle, for it brings him in deep 

 communion with the charms and loveliness of nature. 

 •'Ah! no copyist of the old masters can render his original 

 upon the canvas as faithfully in every Line and hue, or 

 with expression so perfect and speaking, as it pleases God 

 here to translate his own works in the engravmgs of this 

 marvellous page!" 



"Nature pBints not 

 In o'ls, but frescoes the great dome of heaven 

 With sunsets, and the lovely forms of clouds 

 Aud flying vapors." 



My ramble soon brought me to R obinson's Falls, a beauti- 

 ful sheet of water that tumbles and rages into seething 

 foam, and then my perspiring walk along the tumultuous 

 rapids commenced. It was over immense piles of shattered 

 and terraced rocks, that glittered in the sunlight like 

 blocks of silver ; by rude unfashioned tracts along hilly 

 sides; through dense forest? of cedar, balsam and spruce 

 that defiantly crowded to the very edge of the roaring 

 waters; all uniting in investing the landscape's continual 

 pageantry with a nameless charm that made me forget 

 my weariness and sporting desire, and 



"A wild dedication of yourselves 

 To unpathed waters, undream'd shores." 



At last, after much exertion, I came to a pool hemmed 

 in by immense blocks of stone, so lonely and lovely in 

 fleck of pearl and sapphire as the slanting sunbeams fell 

 athwart it, that you'd declare it the isolated retreat of 

 some naiad queen. Against its walls of adamant the 

 rushing waters, which sparkled like a girdle of jewels, 

 were caumed into masses of foam that beat and beat in 

 vain, for this ideal pool firmly retained its rimpled beauty 

 unmolested, despite the fierce assaults of the tireless and 

 violent current. I was more than charmed with this deep 

 and secluded basin, and as access to its shimmering waters 

 was comparatively easy, at once clambered down to the 

 edge of the roaring river, in which I found an immense 

 rock, as if placed there by Titanic hands, and which ap- 

 peared to command the complete limits of this picturesque 

 pool. It was 3 or 3ft. from the shore, and 6 or 7ft., I 

 thought, from top of the bank, and as it seemed to me an 

 easy jump, undaunted made the leap, alighting upon my 

 feet with a terrible jar that shook my entire system. The 

 distance was much greater than I had carelessly calculated, 

 but as I was unharmed it mattered not. What a lovely 

 little sheet of protected water it now appeared, and so 

 artfully concealed by crescent shore and iron-faced cliff 

 that no angler could wish a more inviting isolation. You 



ould gaze and gaze again into the limpid waters, as if 

 expecting some fair nymph with seraphic eyes and 

 golden locks to arise to the crystaline surface and greet 

 you with an entrancing song of the murmuring surges 

 and the ever tiassing foam. 



My admiration of this hidden retreat in the golden glow 

 of a declining sun was ariested by the enthusiasm of the 

 angler reasserting itself, and then I soon had my fly danc- 

 ing on its rippling surface, where it met with such an 

 instantaneous and savage response as to almost throw me 

 ofl: my balance. Fortunately I hung the spotted redcoat, 

 and at once ascertained that I had a foeman worthy of 

 my steel. His strength, activity and strategy gave me a 

 world of pleasure, and after a gallant battle of about five 

 minutes I had his spangled sides pressing the narrow 

 meshes of the net. He seemed to be all of five pounds, 

 and was as magnificent a specimen of the Salvelinus fon- 

 tinalis as ever beautified a dimpling pool. It is needless 

 to detail the enjoyable trouting I had here, as that is not 

 my purpose in this letter, but will simply state that for 

 about an hour I caught trout with my little Chubb 

 rod as fast as I could hang and kill them, for at nearly 

 every cast I had a royal rise, and frequently two would 

 break at the same time for the tempting fly. It was a 

 regular preserve, and I am confident I could have taken 

 fifty that evening if time and inclination had permitted. 



After securing eight of the iridescent beauties, I dis- 

 continued the sport and prepared to thread my way over 

 the tortuous route to camp. Turning and facing the 

 shore rock from which I had jumped, I was greatly 

 astonished at its height, yet still thought I could reach its 

 top without much trouble. Throwing my trout and land- 

 ing net to the bank, and inclining my pole, which I had 

 not taken apart, against its surface, so I could easily pro- 

 cure it when on shore, I leaned against the precipitous 

 rock, which gave me an angular position, and then reach- 

 ing up for the top was amazed, after most strenuous 

 efforts, to find that I could not grasp it by a foot or more. 

 No wonder my jump to the invitmg rock had so jarred 

 me, for the distance was fully eighteen inches more than 

 I had reckoned. Here was a situation not at all pleasing, 

 for I was satisfied if I escaped from my unfortunate posi- 

 tion, it would be by some means other than climbing the 

 flinty surface of the cliff, as that was just then impossi- 

 ble. I might leap for the edge and manage to reach it 

 with outstretched hands, and probably pull myself np; 

 but if I failed, down into the rapid oirrent I would 

 assuredly go. between the shore line and the huge rock 

 upon which I was standing, there being in the intervening 

 space fully three feet of water, as I have before stated, 

 and deep enough to drown. I keenly knew the danger, 

 and concluded I %vould not just then attempt it, and only 

 when necessary as a last resort. I looked along the pre- 

 cipitous shore to see if there were any chance near, where 

 a sudden plunge in the icy waters would carry me to 

 some low or shelving rocks that I could scale in safety. 

 The roaring rapids, as they take their sinuous way with 

 a swiftness over and against the sharp-edged blocks of 

 gray granite, gave me no encouragement, as it would be 

 fatal ever to be engulfed in its seething foam. From 

 this dread element I tvuned painfully away. All this 

 time I was consoled by one thought, that of my comrades 

 in camp, who would surely search for me on my non- 

 appearance. 



I finally sat down upon the weather-stained rock, with 

 my legs dangling over its inner s'de, and while looking 

 at the smooth surface which confronted me, endeavored 

 to evolve some method of escape. Nothing, however, 

 offered. Had there been a crevice in the rock I could 

 have utilized my fishing rod for a peg or two, but sad to 

 relate, it was unfortunately smooth as ice. Even had 

 the rock upon which I stood disclosed a seam on its inner 

 surface that I could also have used to advantage, but it 

 was not only unwrinkled, but as flinty as the Egyptian 

 Sphinx. Turn to which way I would, escape whs shut 

 off at every point in view. I was completely trapped, 

 and that only by a few inches of intermediate space. It 

 was not only provoking, but apparently hopeless, 1 was 

 now iuWj satisfied that unless my comrades rescued me I 

 was a prisoner for the night. Bemg in an untrodden and 

 almost inaccessible part of the rapids, a night search, it 

 struck me, would evidently prove futile. The pangs of 

 hunger and the chilly night air I could endure, but they 

 would assuredly rob me of much vitality and probably 

 unfit me for any desperate undertaking with a view to 

 my escape the next day. Nothing, however, was to be 

 gained by despondency, so arising from my position, 

 I turned and faced the raging waters and then watched 

 the shadows as they lengthened on the purple hills, the 

 clouds as they glowed with the sunset red, the gray twi- 

 light as it deepened into night. Suon the moon, a pale curl, 

 was observable in the west, while the jeweled sky dis- 

 played its twinkling lights, a cool breeze sprang up that 

 swayed the luxuriant forest to a moan. It was night, 

 and the nocturnal ramblers were now abroad. The flight 

 of a nighthawk, the sweep of a whippoorwill and the 

 quivering wings of a bat gave some animation to the 

 wild scene, while the far-away hoot of an owl fell in dis- 

 mal notes upon the ear. Turning to the shore, I noticed 

 shrub and bush alive with ephemerss, while many insects 

 of grotesque shape, as unlike the creatures of sun as 

 though from the Stygian world, were darting about 

 as of in pleasure or rapine bent. Then came resonant 

 sounds from 



"More hideous foes than fancy can devise: 

 With helmet beads and dragon scales adorned." 



Under other circumstances I could have enjoyed this 

 living night world that alone belonged to the moon, to 

 the deer, to the darkness, and reveled in the spangled 

 heavens, or the foaming rapids of the wild and pictur- 

 esque river, but as a prisoner on that fated rock I was in 

 no mood for the poetry either of the skies or of the earth. 

 During all this time I climg to one hope — my compan- 

 ions, everyone of whom I knew would leave no stone 

 unturned to solve the mystery of my absence. 



The air gradually grew colder and the wind increased 

 as the night wore along and soon the heavens took on a 

 haze, and the gray spots on the fleecy clouds began to 

 deepen. The twinkling stars, the companions of my 

 vigfls, were gradually being blotted out, until finally the 

 Pleiads were alone left, and soon they also, seemingly 

 weary of their loneliness, disappeared from the fiirma- 

 ment. A storm was evidently "brewing, as "a looming 

 bastion fringed with fire" in the dreary wpst revealed, 

 and, as if my position were not already sufficiently un- 

 comfortable, was also to make me feel its cruel wrath. 

 Back and forth upon the circumscribed space of that iron 

 rock I stamped and beat my body with 'active hands to 

 keep myself from the chilly influence of the terrible 

 night a'ir. Oh! how slowly the weary hours dragged 

 ' and with what a solenin refrain this nisMng 



waters beat as they plunged against the solid blocks of 

 ragged granite in the bed of the roaring river. 



The moon had vanished behind the dark mountains, 

 withdrawing her littte delicately-curled golden horn as 

 if to blow a trumpet warning of the future. A glance 

 at my watch, by the flash of a match, told the midnight 

 hour. Thankful was I, indeed, that the gray of dawn 

 would soon greet me from the eastern hills. "Would 

 the storm which was fast gathering break ere then and 

 chill me to the marrow, and would my companions find 

 me in this wild spot?" were questions of vital interest just 

 then to rae. "Ah! what's tbat, a shoui? Thank God," I 

 cried, "I am saved!" Already they are scouring the 

 woods and stream and will assuredly rescue me from my 

 unfortunate position. I yelled aloud in response, but, 

 much to my surprise, it remained unanswered, Now I 

 could see the flash of their torches gleaming through the 

 dark forest as they carefully wandered along in their 

 eager search. Anon another shout reached me, to which 

 I again replied with stentorian lungs. Still no welcome 

 answer came. How eagerly I watched the bright light 

 of a blazing torch, and with what mathematical accuracy 

 I measured its distance, as it moved. Fortunately it 

 came toward me and again I shout with a frenzy born 

 alone of despair, and still no response. Ever watchful 

 of the moving light along the bald and jagged summits 

 that hemmed me in, I soon discovered that it was now 

 departing from me. Again and again I gave a frenzied 

 shout, but alas! The torch light was fast fading in the 

 distance and my companions, whose hearts I knew were 

 true as steel, were deploying in fruitless fields. 



It now dawned upon me that their halloo was from the 

 windward, and therefore easily heard, while mine, on the 

 contrary, could not prevail agaiubt the strong brepze 

 which was gradually increasing, and also the terrible 

 roar of the rapid-". I must confess I grew Fomewhat 

 despondent, yet still was cheered by the thought that the 

 e»riy morning would find them again actively on the 

 search. 



Everything was now wrapped in deep gloom, with the 

 chaos of commingled phantoms of things of the night. 

 The heavens were like a funeral pall, the forests groaning 

 a dirge-like lament with a long drawn piercing moan, as 

 the winds swfpt fiercely through them, while the water 

 with its weird roar dashed itself to threads and flukes of 

 foam as it svirled along its sinuous and rocky bed. My 

 brain was keenly alive to every change in the elements, 

 while my feet and arms were beating in union with the 

 stormy cadences of the wild, plunging rapids. A thousand 

 fantasies assailed me in that dismal darkness, with the 

 terrific beat and bend and twist of crashing trees: even 

 dread d^^spair laid his cold hands upon me, and led me to 

 think of the world beyond. Would my attocopt at escape 

 by the surging rapids, among those sharp protruding 

 rocks, result in my entering the Halls of Valhal'a or was 

 I to find enforced passage with Charon, tbe grim ferry- 

 man of the Styx. "The flat of death is inexorable. There 

 is no appeal for relief from the great law which dooms us 

 to du^it. We flourish and fade as the leaves of the forest ; 

 and flowers that bloom, wither and fade in a day, have 

 no frailer hold upon life than the mightiest monarch that 

 ever shook the earth with his footstep-i. Greneraiions of 

 men will appear and disappear, as the grass, and the 

 multitude that throng the world to-day will disappear aa 

 footsteps on the shore. Men seldom think of the great 

 event of death until the shadow falls across their pathway, 

 hiding from their eyes the faces of those whose loving 

 smile was the sunlight of their existence. Death is the 

 antagonist of life, and the thought of the tomb is the 

 skeleton of all feasts. We do not want to go through the 

 dark valley, although its dark passage may lead to para- 

 disc; we do not want to go down into damp graves, even 

 with princes for bed fellows." After all, why shrink 

 from life immortal, 



"Since every man who lives is brvrn to die, 

 And none can boast sincere felicity. 

 With equal mind what happens let us bear. 

 Nor j^y nor grieve for things beyond our care, 

 Like pilgrims to tbe appointed place we Ipnd; 

 The world's an inn. and death the'J lurney'a end." 



My moralizing on the Stygian ferry was suddenly rele- 

 gated to oblivion by a piiiiul bowl, as if from a wolf, that 

 fell acutely upon my attentive ear. Soon I heard the 

 stealthy footfall of the prowling beast at the edge of the 

 oUff, and then I saw the fierca gleam of his flashing eye 

 and the ugly glitter of his sharp teeth. 



Ah! he is feasting on my beautiful trout, the odor from 

 which doubtless attracted him to the spot. I preferred 

 that he should dine upon them rather than upon my 

 anatomy, though I was positive I could master him if he 

 dared attack me upon my rocky pedestal. Little did I 

 think the lovely princelings of the pool were to assuage 

 the hunger of a savage wolf. It aroused my animosity to 

 ascertain that these highly-prized darlings with the doited 

 jackets were fast disappearing in the rapacious maw of 

 this accursed animal, and I therefore dearly longed to be 

 where I could give him a fierce battle for the spangled 

 spoils. 



My rod, which I had unjoin ted and put in its sack ere 

 nightfall came upon me, 1 untied, and taking out the first 

 joint and butt, put them together, and then placing 

 thereon my Frankfort reel, had a slung shot heavy enough 

 to brain any animal of ordinary size. Being thus armed, I 

 stood on the inside edge of "the rock and waited and 

 watched with faithful patience in hopes of getting in a 

 fatal blow upon the purloining wolf— for such I took it to 

 be — should he come near the edge. At last I was re- 

 warded, for the crafty animal in bis gluttony had nosed 

 one of the trout near the brink of the chff , and just as his 

 gleaming teeth were about to close upon the radiant fish 

 I gave him such a swinging blow with the reel that he 

 staggered and fell with a howl of pain, his head and fore- 

 legs hanging over the raeged edge of the rock. Quick as 

 a "flash, I fortunately grabbed one of his legs in that Cim- 

 merian gloom, and giving it a sudden and energetic 

 yank, the apparently senseless animal involuntarily 

 slipped from the cliff, striking the water with a splash 

 and a yelp, and was soon dashing down the torrent never 

 again, I hope, to feast upon a fonfinalis. Although my 

 hands were crimsoned with gore, and my situation a 

 desperate one, I smiled to think that the little Chubb rod 

 was doing double duty, taking trout at one end, slaying 

 wolf at the other, both sustaining and defending life. 

 Trifling as the sanguinary incident was, it revived my 

 drooping spirits, giving me an assurance that I might 

 possibly succeed in fighting tbe bat^e for my release. 



