838 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Dbo. 38, 1898. 



DANVIS FOLKS.-XVIIl. 



Treasure Seekers. 



Tele morning after the raising, Solon and Antoine ap- 

 peared almost at the same time near the site of the old 

 Peggs homestead where Uncle Lisha's father lived and died 

 and where he himself was born and passed his boyhood — a 

 place desolate with complete desertion, telling yet its 

 mutely pathetic story of the years when it was stirred 

 with busy life. 



It was told by the ruined chimney and broken heai"th- 

 stone, the crumbling wall of the cellar, now a shallow, 

 shapeless pit; the sprawling lilacs and blossoming fox 

 lilies, long since run wild away from the sunken doorstep; 

 told by the lea,ning crotched post that once upheld the 

 creaking sweep of the well, to which no path led now; by 

 the untrimmed, sprouty-rooted cherry trees, straggling 

 along the fallen wall that was matted by gall-bulbed 

 stalks of goldenrod lopped upon it by the winter snows, 

 and by the rank tansy bed, the dry, brown heads over- 

 shadowing the young leaves that furnished no more med- 

 icine for the sick or garniture for the dead. 



The treasure seekers turned their backs on the scene 

 without giving it a sentimental thought, and pressing 

 through the second growth that selvaged the forest began 

 to climb the lower slopes of the mountain. The moss- 

 patched and lichened-clad trunks of the ancient forest 

 now rose all about them, great maples, beeches and pop- 

 lars, with here and there a fir that had straggled down 

 from its brethren of the heights, and huge yellow birches 

 shagged with rustling manes from writhed roots to lofty 

 branches. 



"Whenever Solon drew near to one of these he held his 

 forked divining rod with the point upward, a prong in 

 either hand, with his palms turned inward, walking 

 slowly, while Antoiue carried the grosser tools, the spade 

 and bar. 



It was laborious traveling over the ankle-deep moss and 

 the loose rocks, and climbing the prostrate tiunks ia aU 

 stages of decay, and scaling ledges that barred their way. 



At length they reached a little plateau where flourished 

 a colony of yeUow birches about the hoary patriarch of 

 their tribe. 



Solon studied the place with increasing satisfaction. 

 "This looks as if it might be the very spot, an' I'm goin' 

 tu try it thorer. You've kep' the line, haint you, An- 

 toiue?" 



"Jes as straight as a bee was, Ah bet you head." 



Antoine sat down upon a log, dropped his tools beside 

 him and filled his pipe, while his companion, holding his 

 divining rod before him and curiously watched by the Can- 

 adian, marched with slow and stately steps around the 

 great birch. 



"I know it '11 work on silver," he said, "fer I hove a 

 quarter hit' the grass in the do'yard, an' when I come 

 over it, it most wrung the bark off." 



Perfect silence pervaded the forest about them, not 

 even the querulous cry of the ubiquitous jay or the jeer 

 of an impudent squirrel was heard in their neighborhood, 

 and afar off above them on the mountain, only the cease- 

 less surging moan of the wind-swept evergreens. It 

 seemed, indeed, as if the invisible spirits of the under 

 world might be guarding here the treasure so long since 

 committed to their care by the old Eanger. 



Solon had gone twice around the great tree, each time 

 widening the circle, when uttering a joyful exclamation, 

 he suddenly stood still and stared like one entranced on 

 the eai-th before him, to which the tip of his hazel twig 

 was pointing. 



"Come here, Antoine," he cried, "drive yer crowbar 

 right in there. My goodness me! I c'ld n't hoi' it! It jest 

 flopped ri' daown in spite on mel I dub'lieve we've faoun' 

 the identicle place!" 



Antoine drove his bar into the ground and left it stand- 

 ing by itself, while he stood back rubbing his hands and 

 cried out joyfully: 



"We 'Umos' gat it. Ah, Solem! Fus' Ah 'U goin' bought 

 it hoss ah' waggin an' free dog, an', watch, an' git cap- 

 lock on mah gaun an' bought it hoi' hwoman caleckko 

 red dress an' kish lip [kid slippers], Ah do' know 'f he be 

 yaller or red. An' pork t'ree time a day an' more onion 

 Ah 'U min' to, an' mud turkey, an' Ah 'U goin' Canady 

 vis'tin' an' Montreal. An' Ah 'U goin' built im white 

 haouse wid green blindin', an' bought it two bonded nacre 

 Ian' an' set in de settlin' room an' see de mens work, an' 

 smoke all de tam w'en Ah '11 ant heat." 



' 'I haint ezackly settled in my mind haow I shall inves- 

 tigate my funds," Solon declared when he had an oppor- 

 tunitj' to speak, "but let's duff in a-diggin' an' see what 

 we got. But you wanter remember one thing, Antoine," 

 he said very impressively, "if ever we du strike the money 

 you mustn't speak a laudible word afore we git a holt 

 on 't er it '11 sUde intu the baowels o' the aii-th." 



"Oh, no, no-no-no. Ah '11 won't spoke no more as 

 snaikes," wherewith they fell to digging with great en- 

 thusiasm. 



The ground was composed of loose rock more than soil, 

 and the digging was slow and laborious, but the crowbar 

 and spade clinked merrily, awaking echoes that had never 

 before found voice in that green solitude, and at last at- 

 tracted a party of jays that for a while kept up a discord- 

 ant and annoying outcry above the delvers and then flew 

 screaming away, as if to proclaim to all the forest that 

 strange work was going on within it. 



They had sunk a little pit somewhat deeper than their 

 knees, when Antoine, driving his bar deep into a crevice, 

 it struck something which gave forth a sharp, metaUic 

 sound. 



Solon shook his open hand at Antoine to beat back the 

 exclamation that the suddenly parted lips foretold, but 

 too late. 



"O, mon Dieu, we '11 gat it!" he cried, and the words 

 were followed by a smothered clink and rumble. 



"There," Solon groaned, sinking back on the edge of 

 the pit and casting his spade from him as a thing of no 

 further use. "Naow you've done it! It's moved, an' jest 

 on accaount o' your darned, useless, onsensible Canuck 

 gabble. Darn ye tu altermuttable darnation!" 



Antoine looked dismayed, then defiant. 



"Bah gosh, all feesh hooks! You s'pose mans goin' shut 

 off hees head so long he '11 f regit de nowse of hees vowse? 

 Bah gosh, po, Ah guess not me, not for f eef ty, fave hon- 

 ded, bah goah, fave tausan' doUarr' 



"No, you'd rather gab, gab, gab, 'an tu hev the hull 

 world, you infernal, eternal, internal, external fool!" 

 Solon groaned and howled in despair and wrath. "An' 

 we most the same as hed it. Oh, by thunder! I'm as 

 good a minter lick ye as ever I had t' eat!" 



He made a half -threatening movement, and Antoine 

 scrambled out of the hole and got behind a tree, where he 

 looked forth with craned neck, as if expecting the explo- 

 sion of a blast. 



"'FAh '11 gat mad, Solem! you'll ant leek me pretty 

 heasy, an' Ah 'U gat mad pooty quick 'f Ah '11 tried. Den 

 you'll wan' ta' careful, fer Ah '11 was danger mans, me, 

 Br-o-o-o-o-o!" 



He uttered a terrible growl and pranced a little way 

 from his cover, but was disappointed that this demonstra- 

 tion made no impression on Solon. 



"Ah tol' you Solem," he said in a more peaceful tone, 

 " 'f you can fetch back dat moneys fer givin' me leekin', 

 Ah '11 wiUin'. But dat ain't gat no difference. You 

 leek me, it gone jes' de sem. De bes' way was for come 

 aout here an' heat aour deeny? Come." 



" I guess that's a sensible idee," Solon conceded, climb- 

 ing out of the hole and picking up his coat, from the 

 pocket of which he drew forth a packet of luncheon and 

 tossed Antoine's coat to him. Then they sat down upon 

 a mossy log and began an amicable repast, Solon supple- 

 menting his companion's coarse and meagre fare with 

 portions of his own boimtiful supply. 



"Ah an't see mah hoss an' dawg an' watch an' white 

 haouse, an' Canady half so plain Ah was while ago," 

 said Antoine ruefully. 



"I tell ye what, Antoine," Solon said between mouth- 

 fvds and waving his jack-knife toward the scene of their 

 labors, "when we get aour victuals eat, I'm goin' tu try 

 the rod agin. It looks philosophioable tu me 'at if you 

 can find it once you can agin', an' ef we du you can keep 

 yom- hed shet." 



"Ah '11 will, sah, Solem. What Ah '11 goin' spoke, Ah '11 

 mek notion. Shssh." Suddenly sinking hia voice to a 

 whisper and pointing to a little black animal moving awk- 

 wardly and aimlessly about the border of a yew thicket 

 near them, "See dat black woodchuck. See me strike it 

 wid a stone." 



Stooping cautiously, he picked up a fragment of a rock 

 and threw it with such true aim that it struck the animal 

 full in the side, evoking a sharjD, snarling cry of pain and 

 anger. Almost at the same moment there was a crashing 

 rush in the tangle of brush above as Antoine breathlessly 

 asked: 



"What mek dat nowse?" and a great she bear came 

 lunging out of the thicket with a fierce and startling 

 "woof, woof." 



As if simultaneously impelled by the impetus of her 

 charge, both men sprang to their feet and went tearing 

 down the ragged mountain side at a breakneck pace, 

 wondering at their own sureness of foot, and silently pray- 

 ing it might be further vouchsafed them, as they plunged 

 from rocK to rock, snatching at trees and saplings, and 

 leaping over prostrate trunks that they had slowly climbed 

 over in their ascent. 



Never did men maintain a better pace over such a 

 course, and it was kept up till they emerged, blown, torn 

 and trembling, into the clearing, and sank down on the 

 first cradle knoU. Coats and tools were left far behind, 

 nor even remembered till now they were half rested, 

 Antoine arose, straightening his stiffening legs, and after 

 listening a moment shook his fist at the mountain. 



"Damn dat bears. 'F he '11 come aout here Ah '11 leek 

 it, me." 



' 'I p'sume tu say 'f you want her very bad you'll find 

 her up back there. I don't." 



Then they made their way homeward, chopfaUen, yet 

 in a measure thankful. A few days later they made an 

 expedition for the recovery of their things, whose disap- 

 pearance was causing domestic comment, and Solon tried 

 the magic power of his rod but it made no sign. 



RowLAj^D E. Robinson. 



HUNTING WITH A CAMERA. 



Yellowstone National Park, November, 1892.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: A few years ago I wrote 

 for the FoKEST and Stream a short sketch of my first at- 

 tempt at photographing wild animals in their home in 

 the Yellowstone Park; and this, I think, was the first 

 article of the kind ever pubhshed. Last winter I made 

 another snowshoe trip after game pictures, hoping espe- 

 cially that I might get photographs of buffalo, 



I fitted out at the Mammoth Hot Springs, not as com- 

 pletely as I wished, for I was disappointed in not getting 

 a long focus camera. I had to content myself with a 

 No. 3 Kodak, a handy little machine, but not suitable for 

 good game pictures. StiU, hampered as I was, the trip 

 was very interesting, so much so that I think it may in- 

 terest some of your readers. 



The commanding oflicer at Fort Yellowstone kindly de- 

 tailed a soldier— Private Dare — to accompany me. For 

 him the trip was a scout, and only one of many made by 

 the soldiers stationed in the Pai-k. We spent one day 

 getting our outfit in shape. We had the best snowshoes 

 (skis) obtainable and spent part of a day heating wax, tal- 

 low and rosin into them with hot irons, making the wood 

 very smooth and waterproof. John Fossom, who acted 

 as mail-carrier and telephone line repairer for the Park 

 hotels, joined us for the start to Norris. 



We reached Golden Gate about sunrise and found that 

 we must climb up over the rocks to the right, in order to 

 reach Swan Lake flat. The snow blows from the open 

 country, drifting over the roadway clear into the canon, 

 and forming an overhanging barrier impossible to pass. 

 The climb over the rocks is not the easiest, as they are 

 nearly perpendicular, and one is hindered by his snow- 

 shoes, pole and the pack on his back. We aU reached the 

 high ground safely and from here on our road was com- 

 paratively level to Norris Geyser Basin, As the sun 

 reached the noon mark it warmed up the snow, making 

 it very hard snowshoeing, I had not been on snowshoes 

 for a long time and was quite willing to rest at the Crystal 

 Spring Canon when we reached it. We had intended to 

 make this our first night's camp, but found the cabin in 

 very bad condition, and anything but a comfortable place 

 in which to spend a winter night without any bedding. 

 We built a fire in the broken stove, made a cup of tea to 

 go with our luncheon, waxed the bottoms of our snow- 

 shoes and rested for two hours. By this time the snow 

 was very sticky, and had our shoes not been in the best 

 possible condition we could not have moved at all. Aa it 



was, they would hang on to the snow in the shady places 

 — the snow there being colder — and we would have to 

 strike the sides of the shoes with the pole to knock the 

 snow off. Often there was from five to ten pounds sticking 

 to each shoe, and when one gets tired toward the end of 

 a long day's tramp, he would swear that not less than a 

 ton clings to each shoe. All the snow under the shoes 

 clear to the grass roots comes up at every step; and the 

 snow was ten feet deep on a level. By rubbing the bot- 

 toms of the shoes with a candle now and then we got 

 along very well until about 3 o'clock, when we had no 

 more trouble, for then the snow got cold everywhere, and 

 the shoeing was easy. We reached the long hill north of 

 Norris early, ending the day's trip with a splendid run of 

 half a mile in about 70 seconds. 



The next day we spent at Norris Hotel, resting. Here 

 Pete Nelson was in charge as caretaker. Pete is one of 

 the most expert and fastest snowshoers in the country. 

 He is also always having adventures with lions, bears, 

 and other wild animals. A short time before we reached 

 the station he saw a lynx go in the open door of the meat 

 house, and, thinking to secure it alive, he slipped up 

 and was shutting the door on it, when it attempted to 

 come out. He kicked it back, when it bit him through 

 his boot. Pete shut the animal in, thinking he had it se- 

 cure, but the next morning it was gone, having gnawed 

 through an inch board, where it was slivered a little. 

 Pete has more respect for the teeth of a lynx now. Here 

 I was able to secure a very good negative of a Clark's 

 crow during the day, shot with the camera from the win- 

 dow at a distance of 80ft, 



Norris is one of the coldest places in the Yellowstone 

 Park, There is hardly a day in the year when ice does 

 not form. No matter how hot it may be during the day, 

 if the night is clear, there is sure to be ice next morning. 

 We were up by 4 o'clock of the morning of Feb. 36 for an 

 early start, Dave and I for the Grand Cailon, and Pete 

 for the Mammoth Hot Springs. He went to the door at 

 4:20 to look at the thermometer, and called out, "If I 

 tell those fellows at the Springs how cold it is here, they 

 won't believe me." 



" What's the matter, Pete; what ails you?" 



"Why it's 35° below zero." 



"No! Let's see." 



Sure enough it was — 35°, I had to look carefully to be- 

 lieve my own eyes. There was not a particle of wind, the 

 candle did not flicker at all, but soon began to bum dim, 

 even while we were looking at the thermometer. It 

 registered 33° below when we started at 5 A. M, We did 

 not notice the low temperature much; the exercise we 

 were taking in snowshoeing was enough to keep us com- 

 fortably warm. 



Before we were 100yds. from the hotel we noticed a 

 fresh mountain Hon track along the snowshoe trail. In 

 places the animal had left the road, passed behind trees, 

 stumps or piles of logs that were good places to look along 

 the road ahead for game. It was evidently hunting for 

 its breakfast. Other fresh tracks covered the road in 

 places; now a lynx, a rabbit, squirrel, a fox, birds for a 

 short distance, and even mice tracks. About two miles 

 from the hotel the lion track became so mixed up with 

 older tracks that we could no longer pick it out. Here 

 we found a hole in the snow that led down and under a 

 small bridge buried under five feet of snow. The snow 

 arotmd the hole was patted down with the tracks of ani- 

 mals. The space xmder the bridge was probably utilized 

 by some of them for a den, I could see only a short dis- 

 tance down. Further on we saw tracks of porcupine, 

 martin, and, along the Gibbon River, mink. We could see 

 no sign that the lion had succeeded in getting a meal. AU 

 along the road to the canon we found a network of tracks. 

 At the caiion we saw the trail of a small band of elk and 

 where they had been feeding. On a point overlooking the 

 mouth of Cascade Creek was a place that was used often 

 by lions to look for elk. Several fresh trails led to this, 

 and as long as we were about here we saw that it was 

 often used, but could never succeed in seeing one of these 

 beasts, nor could we see from any sign that the lions had 

 ever killed anything larger than a rabbit. 



Just as we chmbed the hiU to the hotel we saw two 

 foxes. Quite a number of these animals hang around 

 the hotels aU. winter and live on the waste meat that has 

 been thrown away during the summer. They have to 

 burrow through the snow after it. I have noticed some 

 very beautiful specimens, some almofit black, some silver 

 gray and some cross foxes. The most numerous were 

 light red. 



The man in charge of the Canon Hotel did not go out 

 much and so could not tell us anything about what was 

 going on in the animal world around here. The Canon 

 Hotel is a very interesting place, as it is on one of the 

 greatest game trails in the Park. A great many animals 

 of all kinds pass here winter and summer, because they 

 cannot cross the canon for miles and miles below. 



Next morning was clear and cold. We packed up 

 early, taking enough grub for two or three days' camping 

 in a cabin. We had secured two single blankets, one 

 rubber blanket and one small ax, A tin cup, each a spoon 

 and our sheath-knives made up our camp material. We 

 carried all the provisions we could handily. Traveling 

 up the Yellowstone, we saw the usual number of tracks 

 along the road and to and from the river. There was 

 one place much used by otter. They had a slide of about 

 30ft. , ending in the water. On a bank of snow was a 

 I)lace much used by them while eating fish. I passed 

 this spot many times, but could not get a picture 

 of the animals, though I have often seen them. 

 The river was open most of the way; it was possible to 

 cross only at two or three points. All the kinds of water- 

 fowl that breed in the North were wintering along the 

 river, including swan and geese. At Camp Creek I saw 

 a very black fox, a few gray hairs on his breast and beUy, 

 otherwise it was jet black. 



We reached Hayden Valley a short time after sunrise. 

 A band of ten elk were feeding close to Alum Creek, We 

 were high up in the dead timber on the side hill, cutting 

 off a point in the trail and to get a good view of a portion 

 of the vaUey. There was a cloud of mist or steam rising 

 from the warm water in the creek. The elk saw us and 

 made for the creek, traveling in the water, except where 

 they could cut across from one bend to another in shallow 

 snow. I ran down the hill to cut them off, or have them 

 pass close by me. I reached the creek in time, but could 

 1 not get a picture; the elk trotted up the creek within 

 i 50yds. of me, splashing the water over each other in 

 showers. The steam was too thick to think of taking a 

 I shot with the Kodak; I would have got but a blurred 



