Ava. 1, 189fl.] 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
80 
us who should coax and hang the first trout. Ned's flies 
went whizzing around quite lively, while mine were kiss- 
ing the shady surface with the same intent. Alas, alas, 
that infernal bandit of red-headed and red-bodied noto- 
riety received the first response, which came with a 
thunderbolt splash that slightly disturbed my equanimity. 
Ned sent the curved poniard into the lovely pilferer with 
a vengeance and after that played him like a master of 
the art, and then boated him, with his heart in a tumult 
of delight. 
"Another knock down for the 'dusting brush,' tbe brush 
of deep dyed red, the brush that tempts and then devours," 
cried out Ned when he had taken in the loveliness of his 
victims. 
"Say, boys, puU ahead for home. We want no more 
trout," I solemnly replied. 
Ned triumphantly looked at me, and on seeing my some- 
what disappointed air like a generous fo© abstained from 
any reference to the success of his red-headed devil or the 
excess of his spoils. I was a little in the sulks, just a 
little, but determined if that flaming monstrosity of his 
excelled in our next outing it would necessitate some very 
fine and hard work on his part. I carried the silken ban- 
ners of the artistic fly-makers, and would survive or perish 
in their behalf. 
As we pushed along to our quarters, a delightful fresh- 
ness, redolent with spruce and balsam, was in the air; the 
cool waters purled like a gentle streamlet, kind, quiet, 
soothing, but melancholy, while above a few faint stars 
looked from the unfathomed blue. Even 
''The sunbeams dropped 
Their gold, and passing in porch and niohe, 
Softened to shadows, silvery, pale and dim. 
As if the very day paused and grew eve." 
Reaching camp, we felt the need of afire, and soon the 
half-breeds had the white smoke and golden sparks curv- 
ing upward. There is nothing so pleasing as to gather 
around a camp-fire and while away the hours. In sweet 
mood we fight our battles o'er again and renew the pleas- 
ures of the past strife; stories of adventure are related, 
songs are sung, jokes are cracked and plans for the mor- 
row consumma,ted. Our half-breeds always added to such 
entertainments, and many an Indian story with its super- 
stitious tendency has Kenosh related. That evening he 
was unusually talkative and interesting, for he was really, 
notwithstanding his pigeon-toed English, an excellent and 
impressive narrator. After he had told a very absurd 
and fabulous story of the creation of the Indian, he turned 
to us for our share of the programme. Ned's bear story 
was still ringing in his ears and he insisted that he was a 
"big story man." He tried to draw Ned into another re- 
cital, but his elprincipe was not half smoked yet and so 
he would not yarn just then. 
"Well, you tell something then," he said, turning to 
me. 
"You don't want any more bear stories," I replied, 
"No, no, no burnt bears; they too much for me," he 
answered. 
"I could tell a story of a man that killed a bear and 
then took to a tree to get away from it," put in Ned. 
This created quite a laugh at Kenosh's expense, and 
one in which he did not join. It was a quid pro quo for 
Ned and completely silenced the dusky hero in the affair, 
who concluded that he was no match for the pale-faced 
angler of the snowy locks. 
"Well," says I, turning to Kenosh, to relieve him as 
much from the embarrassment he was thrown into by 
Ned's piercing arrow as aught else, "I will tell you a 
story on one condition." 
"What be it?" 
"That you ask me no questions about it after I am 
through." 
"All right, go ahead." 
After the boys fixed the fire and had taken'seats on the 
ground, with their backs against the flinty wall and their 
eyes and ears opened wide, I started the story in the old 
formula by stating that: 
"Once upon a time a cunning fox came to a meadow 
where a flock of fine fat geese were feeding, and he said 
with a grm, 'I am come just as if I had been invited; you 
sit together so charmingly, I can eat you one after the 
other 1' The geese cackled for terror, and sprang on their 
feet, and began to groan and beg pitifully for their lives; 
but the fox would hear nothing and said, There is no 
mercy— you must die!' At length one of them took heart 
a,nd said, 'If we poor geese must at once give our young 
lives, show us yet one single grace, and permit us to say 
our prayers, that we may not die in our sins. Afterward 
we will all stand in a row, and you can pick out the far- 
test as you want us,' 'Well,' said the fox, 'that is a just 
and pious request. Pray away; I will wait for you.' 
"So the first one began a long prayer and it would not 
cease; the second also commenced before his time and 
cried 'Ga, ga, gal' the third and fourth soon followed, 
and in a few minutes they were all cackling together 
their prayers, 
"WHen they have done praying this tale shall be con- 
tinued, but meanwhile, I suppose, they are praying still." 
"When will they stop praymg?" inquired Kenosh, with 
a queer look on his face. 
•'You were to ask me no questions after I had con- 
cluded the story." 
"Oh, I see, you fool me. White man too much for 
half-breed." 
Ned at this finale having smoked sufficiently tossed 
away his unfinished cigar and, leaning back, laughed 
heartily at Kenosh being so cleverly tricked. The half- 
breed felt much embarrassed over the contre coup, and 
sat for quite a while holding his head with one hand, as 
if endeavoring to solve the riddle of "The Geese and the 
Fox." At last, having partly returned to his normal con- 
dition, he turned to me and said, 
"You tell me when they done praying what the fox 
did ?" 
"Kenosh, you must keep the compact; ask me no ques- 
tions." 
"Me fool, that all." 
Ned and I had to roar at his confusion, with his son Jo 
adding to the merry shouts. 
The wily half-breed now threw up the sponge and never 
again reverted to the subject, but he kept in a deep study 
the remainder of the evening, doubtless trying to evolve 
some scheme wherein he could even up matters with the 
pale-faoe joker. Alex. Stakbuck. 
[to be continued.] 
IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN. 
Chicago, July 17.— Five weeks ago a friend and myself 
left hot and dusty Chicago for a" month's fishing trip 
among the lakes of northern Wisconsin. 
Taking the 5 P. M, train on Chicago & Northwestern 
R. R. for State Line, Wis,, at which place we arrived at 
5.30 A. M. next day. After a good country breakfast, 
prepared by a comely woman of evident Irish descent 
named Sullivan, we started on our twelve miles ride 
through the woods to our destination, Bent's Resort, Lake 
Mamie, Vilas county. Wis. 
The conveyance was a good strong buckboard, made ex- 
pressly to stand the daily trip over this rough road. It 
was a typical backwoods wagon, as were the horses, 
harness and driver, the latter being a character. He wore 
a broad-rimmed gray felt hat, on which braid and gold 
embroidery were prominent. Around the hat, serving as 
a band, was a strip of black cloth on which were em- 
broidered the words "Camp Assiniboine." The balance 
of his make-up was in conformity with his hat. Our first 
impression of the rig was that it was entirely too cum- 
bersome, heavy and unwieldy, but before we had gone 
very far we changed our opinion. We sat in the middle 
seat and found the "board" rode very easily. This driver 
knew his business, as by talking to his team, saying, 
"Back, Colonel," "Steady, Nellie," "Easy there, beauties," 
he avoided the ruts, stumps and rough places exceedingly 
well. 
About five miles from State Line our trials and tribula- 
tions commenced. Mosquitoes made their appearance, 
and in the language of my friend "they didn't do a thing 
to us." They were not your city mosquitoes, but big, 
cadaverous, hungry, hump-backed fellows with bills half 
an inch long. They were aggressive and no respecters of 
person. 
When we arrived at Camp Assiniboine we were sad 
sights. The first lake we came to was the Saw Mill Lake, 
which contains no fish now; the next was Black Oak, 
named for the many black oak trees growing on its shores 
— a beautiful sheet of clear water with fine beaches. 
In the early spring and during the fall landlocked 
salmon and pike are plentiful in this lake. We next 
came to Mirror Lake, very small, which contains nothing 
but carp, the fry having been put in by a half-witted home- 
steader who formerly lived on its shore. 
Here we were halfway to our destination, and our ride 
was then through the virgin forest. After being out from 
State Line three hours we first got our glimpse of Lake 
Mamie and the camp. In five minutes we were at our 
journey's end, where we received a hearty welcome from 
the boys. After a thorough clean up, a good refreshing 
drink, we sat down to a black bass dinner, excellently 
cooked by Mrs. Chas. Bent. We had our appetites with 
us and did full justice to the meal. 
We took a day's rest to get our bearings and ascertain 
about the different lakes. 
It is an indisputable fact that with the aid of a guide 
one can fish for thirty days and fish in a different lake 
each day, and not be away from Camp Assiniboine over 
night. 
We concluded to go to Wild Cat Lake, twelve miles dis- 
tant, as it was getting late in the season to catch mus- 
kalonge. 
We were informed it was a hard journey to go there 
on account of the portages, and that as we were the 
first to go there this summer we might encounter difficul- 
ties in getting through the connecting streams between 
lakes, but as we were determined to go preparations were 
made, such as packing provisions, tent, cooking utensils, 
blankets, etc. 
Two guides were assigned us, and very good fellows 
they proved to be. One was an Irishman nampd Wallace, 
full of Irish wit, song and volubility of speech; the other 
"Dele" was the younger, of rather quiet disposition and 
manner. 
Everything was made ready and at 9 o'clock we dipped 
oars and were off for Wild Cat Lake. Many of other 
fishermen who were at the camp made light of our going, 
saying that I never could stand the portages, as I was 
too slightly built, but at all events they gave us a hearty 
cheer and we were off. 
^Leaving the camp, we crossed lakes Mamie, Crooked, 
West Bay, through the thoroughfare to Big Lake, 
crossing which we came to the portage to Palmer Lake, 
a distance of miles, carrying our large boat, provisions, 
etc. Reaching the shore of Palmer, we again embarked, 
crossed this lake until we came to the west branch of the 
Otonagon River, which stream we traversed for two miles 
until we reached Tenderfoot Lake. 
This stream is very picturesque, being very winding, 
overhung with pine, cedar ana birch trees, and covered 
with the most beautiful and large pond lilies we had ever 
seen. We could see the ruins of many beaver dams, saw 
several deer, porcupines, mink, cranes, hawks and eagles. 
We reachea an island in Tenderfoot at 3 o'clock, where 
we camped over night. My friend and I took a small boat 
and we here first wet our lines, the result of which we 
caught thirty-two small-mouthed black bass in one and a 
half hours, the smallest of which was not under 21b3., and 
ranging to 41bs. We had a good fish fry for supper that 
night; the other fish we set free, not wishing to be 
wasteful. 
_ The next morning we again started on our journey at 
o:30 o'clock, dividing the party and taking smaUer boats. 
After crossing Tenderfoot Lake we made a portage into 
Sanborn Lake, crossing which we then went through San- 
born Creek into JMorton Lake, thence across to Morton 
Creek, through which we went to McCuUough Lake. 
After crossing this lake we made a short portage into 
Knight Lake, which we crossed, and then commenced on 
the long portage of two and one-half miles to Wild Cat. 
It was quite a severe task, as we made steep ascents, 
sharp declines, and through marshes; but we went on, and 
reached the shore of Wild Cat at 11 A. M., being four and 
one-half hours en route. We were all tired and hungry. 
Dinner was then cooked, after which we felt much 
refreshed. 
We then embarked for the point where we were to pitch 
camp, and in thirty minutes were on the spot. All hands 
fell to, and before we had realized it camp was in order, 
even to making our beds of pine and balsam boughs. 
At 4 o'clock we got into our boats and started for the 
muskalonge grounds. My friend caught the first one, 
lOlbs. in weight. I was almost envious, but before I 
could say a word I had one on my hook, and the way he 
started to swim was something new to me. He made a 
jump out of water that was a sight and an experience I 
never had before, this being my first muskalonge fishing. 
After a good hard fight he was brought to the boat's side; 
the guide hitting him over the head with a club, he was 
stunned enough for us to bring in the boat, which was 
promptly done; we finally killed him by cutting his 
vertebrae. I now had landed my first "musky" and felt 
quite proud over the feat. 
Wild Cat is the nearest lake to Camp Assiniboine that 
contains "muskies," its waters flowing into the Mississippi 
River, the others into Lake Superior. 
We remained here for five days, and as far as known 
were the first fishermen on Wild Cat this spring or sum- 
mer. 
We had a fearful storm one afternoon while here, the 
wind was high, rain heavy and much thunder and light- 
ning. 
We built a large camp-fire, sat around it and tried to 
make ourselves cheerful by telling yarns and singing 
songs, but to no purpose. It was too gloomy, so we all 
went to bed at 6 o'clock. 
Deer were very plenty on the shores of this lake. The 
writer and his guide saw thirteen different ones in one 
day. 
One night we had quite a concert which prevented us 
from sleeping much, as between the concert of the frogs, 
owl hooting, loons hallooing, and the howling of wolves 
sleep was quite impossible. 
We had exceedingly good luck during our stay, having 
caught sixteen muskalonge and ninety-seven bass, the 
smallest of the latter weighing g^lbs. ; anything smaller 
we did not count. 
Provisions gave out. As we had all the fishing we de- 
sired in Wild Cat, we decided to return to Camp Assini- 
boine. 
Starting at 5:30 A. M., we reached our cabin at 4 P. M., 
after stopping an hour in Tenderfoot to cook dinner. 
We arrived in good cheer, well sunburned and joyful 
of our trip. 
After a day's rest we again started to fish in the 
other lakes we had not yet fished in, viz.. Crooked, 
West Bay, Big, Morley, Leo, Lindsay, Poor, Fish Hawk, 
Thousand Island, Bass, Palmer, McCuUough, Knight, 
Morton and Tenderfoot. 
We spent two or three days on some of the larger lakes, 
such ae Big, Morton, Palmer and Tenderfoot, where we 
caught our largest bass. At times the bass bit so rapidly 
that after, two hours' fishing the novelty wore off, and we 
seemed to be fishing for market. 
After selecting what fish we wanted for our own con- 
sumption and remembering our Chicago friends, we re- 
leased the balance to be again caught by some good 
angler. It can be safely said we caught 700 fish during 
our stay. 
After having been at the camp "No see um, big feel 
um" made their appearance. The above quotation is 
what the Indians call the little black flies that oite so hard. 
The fishing and deer hunting should be good this fall, as 
then muskalonge, landlocked salmon and rainbow salmon 
will resume their biting, and deer should be very plenty, 
judging from the number we saw every day. 
There are trout streams in the neighborhood, but we 
did not try them, though we met parties who did make 
good catches. 
Not far from Lake Mamie are the Indian reservations 
of the Pottowatamies and Chippewas, We met several 
of the families encamped on the different lakes. 
The Indian men "shine" for deer at night, a practice 
which should be stopped, as they do not discriminate be- 
tween buck and doe, and many fawns are left in the woods 
to die. 
Eagles are not an infrequent sight, as almost every day 
we would see one or more soaring in the air. We saw 
several eagles' nests in the limbs of tall pine trees. 
During the last half of our stay Horace Bent guided us, 
from whom we learned much concerning the surrounding 
country. He entertained us with his fund of experi- 
ence with different fishermen he has met during the past 
five years. Charlie Bent is the boniface and a good one 
he is. 
Our stay was of five weeks' duration, and it was with 
great reluctance we started homeward. We hope to visit 
this camp again in September next, as we are infatuated 
with the place. 
Plenty of fresh air, pure spring waters, good food, ac- 
commodating guides, plenty of fish, obliging hosts, we 
could ask for nothing more. When we returned to our 
hotel, the Chicago Beach, the manager jestingly refused 
us admission, saying we were so brown and hair so long 
that we were Indians. We had a good time, came home 
refreshed and strong. William K. McClintock. 
The Nlpigon. 
NiPiaoN, July 20.— The following sportsmen, J. L. 
Smith, of Minneapolis; Hon. Chas, B. Elliott, Minneap- 
olis; Edward Hazen, of Duluth; Judge Morrison, of St. 
Paul, and Mr. Clark, of St. Paul, have just returned from 
a two weeks' trout fishing trip up the Nipigon River. They 
report trout very plentiful, and they caught some very 
fine specimens, Mr, Clark caught one 6^108,, the lar-est 
caught. Mr. Smith caught one S^lbs,, and several 4 and 
5lbs. each. They had very fine weather and altogetner a 
very enjoyable time. 
A party of four lady a,ngler8 from Cleveland, O,, are 
at Camp Alexander, on the Nipigon, trout fishing and 
enjoying themselves, 
Mr. John A, Lea, of Independence, and Mr. W. B. 
Stewart and M. C. Pelkington, of Scotland, have gone 
up the Nipigon for a three weeks' trout fishing trip, 
July £2.—AMr. Green, of Amsterdam, N, Y., caught a 
speckled trout that weighed Slbs., in the Nipigon River, 
on J uly 31. This is the largest trout caught this season. 
John E. Newsome. 
Rudyard Kipling's Salmon. 
When I went down the late Gov, Russell was on the 
train and we were together a day and a half. I found 
him one of the most entertaining companions I have met 
in a long while. If he had stayed on the river instead of 
going to the Chicago convention, who knows but what he 
may have been alive to-day? 
Returning home I had the pleasure of traveling a 
greater part of two days with Rudyard Kipling, who had 
een down around Gaspe, and was chock full of enthusi- 
asm and joy because he had taken a 151b, salmon, the 
first and only one, I believe. M, 
