JxjNB 12, 1897.J 
FOREST AND STREAM 
468 
backbone near the center of his body. He was a young 
buck and in fair order. 
There is nothing remarkable about the manner in which 
I shot this deer, for I had secured many in the same man- 
ner before; but tightly entwined around the antlers was an 
Indian bolas. Two of the balls had been lost, the third 
still hung dangling from the antlers. 
When the deer, turtle and fish had been consumed, Jim 
and 1 started on another hunt early one morning. We had 
now been sleei)ing under a roof for nearly a month, and as 
we were yearning to spend a night in the open air, we de- 
cided to go as far as the Salado River, camp there that night 
and return the next day. 
J ust before reaching the river we saw a doe some dis- 
tance off in the grass. Jim stalked her and secured her 
with a charge of buckshot. It was all I could do to per- 
suade Jim to stalk the deer, as he never seemed to care a 
great deal about hunting anyhow. He almost always in- 
sisted on my taking the shots that presented themselves; 
yet he was the truest friend and best, whole-souled chum 
I ever sat beside a camp-fire with. 
When we reached the river we rode about four miles 
along its bank, keeping a good lookout the while for a 
place to spend the night. We met plenty of signs of game, 
such as the tracks of gama, cervo and other deer. Besides, 
there were tracks of monte cats, pumas, jaguars, wolves 
and carpinchas. We also saw a large troop of ostriches, 
and while passing through a thick monte we came across 
the tracks of a drove of chanchos del monte (wild pigs of 
the woods). 
The cervo is a fine large deer, larger than our red deer; 
in fact, it is rather between the red deer and caribou in 
size. We never met it on the pampas, and it is said that it 
never, or seldom, ranges south of the Gran Chaco in the 
Argentine Eepublic. It is a grand deer, and, so far as I 
know, the largest in that country, Lf not in South America. 
It is gray, and the hide is highly prized by the Indians; 
they use it in the manufacture of their bolas, lassos, reins 
and all horse gear in general. 
Finally we came to a bend in the river where a narrow 
pampas skirted its bank. This narrow strip of meadow 
was covered with such a luxuriant growth of high, rich 
grass that we decided to look no further for a camping 
place. Halting under an algarrobo tree, we staked the 
horses out in the rich grass; then hung our deer up in the 
tree where it would be safe from marauders. Then we 
erected a grass lean-to, gathered large quantities of dried 
grass and filled the rude dwelling full up to the roof for 
our beds. After a bath in the river we felt so pleased 
with the world and ourselves, and were so lazy, that we 
decided to do no hunting that day, but to lie around in the 
shade and take things easy. At evening over a bed of 
glowing coals we broiled slice after slice of venison; and 
supper over, we lounged by the fire, smoking and talking 
It was a delightful evening. A gentle breeze fanned our 
sun-browned faces and played mysterious tunes through 
the branches overhead. The light of a new moon crested 
the tiny waves, that lapped the river's bank, with faint 
gildmgs of silver. Strange croaks, groans, sighs and 
whispers, or shrill pipings and whistlings, would be borne 
on the air from out the thick monte and heavy grass lin- 
ing the river's edge. The distant roar of a jaguar could be 
heard breaking out at regular intervals. Such sounds, 
however, the hunter and herder of that wild country soon 
grow used to and no attention is paid to them. 
Jim was relating some of his sailor experiences while on 
the famous trip around the world aboard Lady Brassey's 
yacht Sunbeam. He had reached a very interesting point 
in his story when we were startled by a commotion in the 
grass near by, and experienced rather creepy sensations 
when we saw, in the faint moonlight, the shadowy out- 
lines of a large puma not more than Syds. away and look- 
ing straight at us. 
We grasped our guns and Jim poked the fire, sending 
up a shower of sparks. I stood with cocked Winchester 
undecided whether to fire or not. While thus we stood 
the puma commenced to act in a strange manner. It 
lowered its head and sniffed around in a queer way, then 
raised its head and stood and looked straight at us in a 
way that made us feel none too comfortable. Soon he 
began to circle slowly and cautiously around the fire, keep- 
ing his shining eyes on us all the while. He had nearly 
completed a circle around us and why I had not fired I 
cannot tell. Presently he reached a spot where the faint 
light of the moon shone more strongly on him and Jim 
and I simultaneously accounted for his strange actions. 
Could we believe our eyes? Our nocturnal visitor was no 
puma, but a large half-famished greyhound. He had 
scented our deer meat and that was what had brought him 
to our camp. 
Cutting off a piece of meat I threw it to him and he 
swallowed it ravenously. We tried to approach him, but 
he would run away when we made the sligh+est move 
toward him. We gradually enticed him nearer and 
nearer with the pieces of meat, until finally we could 
almost touch him. After feeding him fully lOlbs. of raw 
venison we managed to strike up an acquaintance. That 
night we lay down to sleep with a dog on guard for the 
first time since leaving good, faithful Chena. - 
This dog formed one of our party into the edge of the 
Gran Chaco, and was with us to the end of our hunt. 
His breed was mostly greyhound. He was a trifle heavier 
than the full-blooded greyhound, however, and his tawny 
striped color so much resembled that of the tiger, that we 
. decided to name him Tiger. When we became closer ac- 
quainted we found Tiger one of the truest and most affec- 
tionate of friends. He developed into a great hunter, and 
after he had regained his strength sm-prised us by the 
easy manner in which he would run down and kill an 
ostrich. He was not unlike other dogs of the country, and 
we decided that he must have strayed from an Indian or 
a Gaucho. 
We were astir with the sun next morning, and going to 
the river to bathe found many fresh tracks of animals that 
had been down in the night to drink. Among the tracks 
were those of a large puma. 
While there was plenty of game here, we decided not to 
shoot anything (unless a cervo) until nearer the estancia. 
We had nearly reac'ned the arroyo San Antonio, and as 
we were then within three miles of the estancia, we kept 
a sharp lookout for something to shoot. Soon we saw the 
back of a gama showing above the grass 150yds. oS. Dis- 
mounting, I took a rather careless aim and fired; I could 
see the deer bound away at the report of the rifle. I 
surely thought I had missed him, when Jim let out a yell 
like an Indian and was away after the buck. Quickly 
mounting, I dashed away in the rear. When the wounded 
buck reached the banks of the river Jim and Tiger were 
pushing him close. Into the river he dashed, but he had 
hardly commenced to strike out for the further shore be- 
fore Jim's horse plunged in after him. Jim had grasped 
his lasso and was now swinging it round and round his 
head,aiad as the deer scrambled out into the shallow water 
that covered the Canada, he hurled the lasso with such 
precision that the noose dropped squarely over the deer's 
head, and when I had crossed the river and reached the 
spot the chase was ended, and all left was to load the wet 
carcass on Jim's horse. When we had nearly reached the 
house we saw a doe; I stalked her successfully and killed 
her within 600yds. of the house. 
We received word from H. that afternoon, saying that 
he would reach Soledad the next day. This was good 
news indeed for us, as we were growing anxious to con- 
tinue our journey into the wilds borderinst the Gran Chaco. 
Soledad was at that time the terminus of the Santa Fe, 
San Christobal & Tucuman Ry. It was by this road that 
H. was to come. When Jim started for the station next day 
to meet H. I took dog and gun and went after martinets. 
Tiger appeared to have been taught to seek out the birds. 
While he would not stand on a bird and always flushed it, 
still, in that country where birds were so plentiful and the 
shooting so open, it didn't matter if a dog wasn't strictly 
broken to stand. I watched him closely, and when I was 
sure by his actions that he was near a bird, I would call 
out to him: "Chummelly, Tiger! chummelly! chummelly! 
chummelly!" which means "Sic 'emi" I would then stand 
ready, and as the dog drove ahead I never failed to get a 
shot at a martinet. 
Sauntering carelessly over the Canada I occasionally 
dropped a bird, and when I had secured eight I started 
back for the shanty. There I saw two persons standing by 
th^ door— Jim and H.— who came out to meet me. After 
our greetings he said: "Oh, I say. Bill! there's a party who 
came with me — a particular friend of yours — who is at this 
moment in the shanty, and who wants to see you, bad." 
"A friend of mine, who wants to see me? Well, who 
is he?" 
"Oh, you'll see who it is all right when you reach the 
shanty." 
Hurrying quickly forward, and wondering all the while 
who could be there to see me, I soon reached the shanty, 
and as the door swung open my eyes fell upon a sight 
which for a moment held me spellbound from wonder, 
surprise and pleasure; for there, fairly bubbling over with 
nervous, joyful exuberance, and trying her best to talk and 
tell me all about it as she frantically tugged at the chain, 
was good, faithful Chena! Springing quickly forward, I 
put my arms about her precious neck, and as she licked 
my face and gave vent to a number of low, tremulous 
whimperlike sobs, I confess that my eyes were not entirely 
dry, and that I, too, whimpered once or twice. Good, 
noble Chena. Sick and deserted, she had taken the back 
track and slowly and painfully had tottered, staggered and 
dragged herself with those bleeding feet, hour after hour 
and day after day through a wild, unsettled country in- 
fested by many wild beasts, for more than ninety miles to 
Los Carlos, the town from which we had started. Here 
one morning H. had found her hanging around the place 
where I had last put up. Seeing her pitiful condition, he 
took her home with him, doctored her up, and decided to 
bring her along when he came, and here she was, sound 
as a dollar. 
I had many times heard and read of the faithfulness of 
the dog to man, and this incident, coming under my own 
observation, but proved to me that that faithfulness can 
never be overestimated. Poor Chena. We all looked 
upon her as something higher than a mere brute. 
THE WEASEL AGAIN. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
A little time since some items appeared in your columns 
relative to the weasel's cunning and dexterity. I have had 
experience in shooting at weasels with a rifle— I never killed 
one in that way though not distant more than 40ft. The lit- 
tle fellows would disappear like a flash, and almost immedi- 
ately reappear in some other crevice of the stone wafl and 
sit there, apparently laughing at me, while I reloaded the 
rifle. Then the same thing over again. 
One of the best things I ever heard took place in my native 
town in Vermont some years ago. One of the most reliable 
and respected men in the village owned a tannery which was 
often infested by rats. A weasel made war on the rats and 
killed a number of them, 
But one big rat was too much for the weasel, which would 
always, run when his lordship came to the rescue of a smaller 
rodent. At length the weasel was observed industriously 
digging a tunnel through a small knoll in the tanyard. Day 
after day he worked till it was completed. Then he ran 
through it several times back and forth to test it All being 
satisfactory, he then attacked a rat whose squeals soon 
brought out the big ene again. Then instead of running for 
his house as usual, the weasel, closely pursued by the big rat, 
ran into the tunnel and the rat after him. Judge of the sur- 
prise of the onlookers when the weasel, having- run through 
the tunnel, immediately ran around and entered it again in 
the rear of the enemy. 
After a little time the weasel came out again all right, but 
the rat did not. The rats were such a pest and the interest 
in the case so great that an investigation was made. The re- 
sult was not "anti trust legislation," but great trust in the 
weasel He had made his tunnel large enough at either end 
to readUy admit the rat, but in the middle only ju.st laro-e 
enough for himself. In hot pursuit the rat had become 
wedged into the small part of the tunnel and was easily killed 
by the weasel attacking in the rear. Henceforth the weasel 
was master of the situation in the tan yard. 
These facts were vouched for by the above-named gentle- 
man, who was an eyewitness. J should Uke to know how 
the author of "Soul in Plants and Animals" would regard 
this exhibition of the weasel's reasoning power and engineer- 
ing skill. 
And by the way, as I do not believe in post-mortem appre- 
ciation half as much as in alabaster boxes for the living, will 
you please tell Messrs. Fred Mather and S. H. Greene and 
Rowland E. Robinson that their contribution are very much 
enjoyed by Juyenai<. 
The Woodcock's Note. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
1 am very much interested in the article in your paper on 
the song of the woodcock. The song or call has had a 
great fascination for me since the first time I heard, it, and 
that was when a child. 
My father owned a small farm in the town of Greenwich, 
Conn., and near the barn there was a large rock, where my 
brother and I would go on nice evenings to use the steep side 
of the rock as a toboggan slide, and enjoy ourselves as only 
children can. 
It was while playing there that I heard the song of the 
woodcock for the first time, in a swamp close by, where 
they would come every spring and seem to enjoy themselves 
as much as we. 
Since then I always listen for the fir t whirring and 
whistling of wings, a,nd the peculiar call, which sounds to 
melikepatnp! pamp! pamp! 
Nothing gives me more pleasure than to listen, on early 
sprmg evenings, for the first whirring and whistling of the 
bird. I have enjoyed that pleasure very much this season, 
as the swamp not far from the house seems to be full of 
woodcock. Annds M. Atis. 
Hamden, Conn , .June 1, 
Hawk and Carrier Pigeon. 
HoiiYOKE, Mass., June 1.— Yesterday (Memorial Day), 
while at Camo Sans Souci, three miles above Holyoke, 
Mass., on the Connecticut River, I witnessed the ending of 
a tragedy in bird life. A hawk attempted to fly across the 
river, which at this point is about 500yds. wide. He was 
carrying something in his claws, and the load was evidently 
too much for him, for before he reached the other shore 
with his prey, they both dropped into the water. The hawk 
struggled to recover his prize but failed; and a canoe put 
out from shore and picked up what proved to be a carrier 
pigeon. Around one leg was an aluminum band with M. G. 
26 stamped on it. The head was nearly severed from the 
body, this probably having been done by the hawk to end 
his struggles while being carried away. ' If this meets the 
eye of the owner he will be interested to learn the fate of his 
^Jird- T. J. Morrow. 
>Hn(^ und ^utu 
STRAY TRACKS AND LOOSE 
FEATHERS. 
It is only of late that any accurate knowledge has been 
obtained as to the limits of range of many game birds— even 
now much remains to be learned. The woodcock's distribu- 
tion in particular has been regarded as mysterious, thoueh 
there is no doubt his wanderings are not restricted as has been 
supposed. At one time it was asserted that it was not found 
in Manitoba, and to account for its absence a claim was 
made that earthworms did not exist in the province, and m 
consequence there could be no food. Neither supposition is 
correct. Mr. W. R. Hine, of Winnipeg, has three woodcock 
that he shot while they were ne.sting, in the parish of St 
Nobert, within ten miles of the City Hall. These other 
specimens are known to have been shot at various times in 
the same locality, and scattering birds are found as far west 
as Souris. 
But it it -must be remembered that the habitat of game 
birds is continually being enlarged or contracted, and this 
fact is perhaps as well emphasized in the Prairie Province as 
it IS anywhere on the continent. Ten years ago the pinnated 
grouse was unknown notth of the forty-ninth parallel, the 
only grouse found in the open being the sharp-tail, while 
now the bay will contain as many of the one kind as of the 
other The pinnated grouse is the more vigorous bird, and 
appears to be driving tl-ie sharp-tail before it. The latter is, 
howe\^er, spreading east, along the line of the Canadian 
Pacific Railroad, and now att'ords good sport as far as Penin- 
sula, astation on the northern borders of Lake Superior, 600 
miles east of Winnipeg, the species having extended its range 
over that stietch of country in the past twelve years. As 
yet it is not found far from the track, as open spaces in the 
forest are somewhat scarce, but with the advent of settlers 
and the consequent removal of the heavy timber it may pos- 
sibly increase. 
Cauvasbacks have recently appeared in unusual numbers 
on Lakes Winnipeg, Manitoba and Whitewater, though few 
are shot owing to their habit of keeping strictly to the deeper 
parts of the latces. Ctiesapeake gunners complain bitterly of 
the growing scarcity of the canvasback in tlieir waters, and 
have taken it for granted that the birds were becoming ex- 
terminated. May we not rather hope, in view of their sud- 
den appearance in increased numbers on the northern prair- 
ies, that they have merely learnt wisdom by experience. 
Sportsmen in search of arctic conditions need not go to 
Greenland; White River, 747 miles west of Montreal, may 
confidently be recommended. There are moose, caribou, 
bear and numberless fur-bearing animals; but the man who 
would secure them must be no leather-bed sportsman. For 
weeks at a time the mercury remains at 40° degrees below 
zero, and — 68° is sometimes recorded. Winter begins in 
October, and ihere is snow in the woods in June, Neither 
oats or barley will ripen, and potatoes when dug are little 
watery baUs, no bigger than marbles. Snow is sometimes 
6ft. deep on the level, and— but why continue? Men, 
women and children live and 'appear to thrive in a region 
more inclement in winter than many a land within the arctic' 
circle. 
Some of the limited areas where wapiti, miscalled elk, yet 
remain, might almost be'compared to oases surrounded by a 
vast gameless desert, from which the chief charm has been 
taken away; for surely a country from which all the big 
game has been driven must always be a dreary land for the 
sportsman, The most accessible of these oases, to those who 
live in the East, is the Riding Mountain district of southern 
Manitoba. Elk are there in tolerable abundance, but they 
are in such easy ground that the Provincial Government has 
done wisely in throwing the protective ann of the law about 
them and in forbidding their deslruclion until 1898, Elk 
are also found in the Duck Mountains and other isolated 
ranges of the Province, and provided they can be protected 
from ruthless slaughter are likely to flourish for generations 
