FOREST AND STREAM. 
68 
boat The tl^pory t^raa aU right, but in practice it didn't 
■work worth a cent. 
For every crawfish that climbed on to our net there would 
be thrf-e or four conger eels from 3 to 6ft. long. We got one 
big Pel into the boat. : He was about 5ft. long and as big as a 
man's leg, and when he decided fo take charge of the boat, 
every man promptly got overboard and his majesty had pos- 
session. Finally, one man reached over the gunwale with a 
hatchet and chopped the monster into two pieces, ard we 
took possession of the boat once more. But we didn't fish 
for crawfish with a net any more. 
We had a Kanaka in the boat who said he could catch 
crawfish. Off went his clothes, and balancing himself on 
the gunwale he watched for a fish. The water was about 
laft. deep and very clear. Soon he made a plunge, and in a 
fe'tv ffeconds came to the surface with a large crawfish. The 
crawfish here is about the si^e of a lobster and shaped like 
one, but without the large claws. Upor seeing ihe Itanaka 
come up with his prize, Dick, a Massachusetts Yankee, said 
be could do as well ; so over be went, and between the two 
wp bad crawfish enough for all hands. 
One day the mate went gOHt hunting; he brought home 
two, tbey looked very gcod, hut when cooked were too 
strong to be eaten. We afterward captured one alive which 
we made a pet of for a year, and finally left at Chatham 
Island (one of the Galipagos) with a copper collar on his 
mck, containing the ship's name. 
Altogether we passed the time very pleasantly, fishing 
along the shore, hunting goats in the hills, or tramping for 
sandal wood on the mountains. Peaches and a small wild 
toinato were the only fruit we were able to get, but of fresh 
eggs, chickens and beef we had our fi'l. And when we 
nllod our topsail and turned from the land, we all said 
"Good-bye, Big John," for he had not come back. 
Tabi'On. 
ALONG THE POTOMAC— V. 
In one of my communications I promised to give a de- 
tailed description in vindication of our action in disposing 
of certain corn thieves. The source of the trouble was as 
follows: Dr. Smith, the proprietor of the plantation, em- 
bracing the pocoson within its bounds, had a field of about 
200 acres planted in corn, in fine condition, promising an 
abundant yield, as it was perfectly developed in growth 
and undergoing the process of maturing under the rays of 
the autumn sun, when the marauders entered it night 
after night, destroying great quantities, thereby blasting 
the expectations of the proprietor. Several attempts bad 
been made to capture, or prevent the nocturflal visitors 
from committing further depredations; but all efibrts had 
been ineflectual. The destruction was so great it had 
become a serious matter with the proprietor in reference 
to the food supply. For corn was the staple crop and was 
indispensable for the horses, cattle and hogs. Then there 
were the slaves, fifty to s($venty-five,on this plantation, for 
whom the proprietor had to provide food and clothing. 
This was a great responsibility resting upon the slave- 
holders, consequently they were vitally interested in the 
protection of their crops. Consequently we bad carfe 
blanclw to hunt, gun and fish, when and where one wished. 
We frequently availed of the privilege to indulge in 
night hunting, as well as other field sports, and had made 
two or three of such hunts, in that identical field, which 
were complete failures, although we found ample evidence 
of the recent presence of the marauders on each occasion 
of our visits. Such a repetition of failures we had never 
before experienced, and concluded to visit the locality in 
daylight and discover, if possible, the cause of our failure, 
and to adopt a plan of campaign with the view of retriev- 
ing our reputation as huntsmen. Therefore, my two usual 
companions, Nathan Kell and Joseph Elliott and myself 
proceeded to investigate. We crossed the creek at our 
usual p'ace and followed its banks about one mile, which 
brought us to the cornfield. It extended from the banks 
of the river running parallel with the creek on one side, 
and the pocoson on the other, to a wooded ridge about 
a half mile distant. On the side of the field next to the 
pocoson there was a vacant strip of land about iGOyds. 
in width, too wet for cultivation, across which the ma- 
rauders crossed to gain access to the object of their* 
plundering operations. Therefore, we found that by ap- 
proaching from the direction we invariably used, we must 
necessarily enter the field from the side which placed 
the objects of the hunt between us and their place of 
concealment with an open line of retreat. Therefore 
the cahse of our previous failures were obvious, and we 
determihed to avoid in future failure from similar causes. 
Before leaving the plantation we saw Lewis, one of the 
colored plantation hands, who was considered an authority 
in woodcraft by all young aspirants for the honors of the 
chase. Lewis had often accompanied us on nocturnal 
hunts, and after telling him of our previous experience 
we wished to get his opinion on the case, which we con- 
sidered of the greatest importance. He said: "I heerd 
dem dogs ebery time you was in dat cornfele, but neber 
heerd 'em tree. I knowed dem dogs was fooled. You kan't 
ketch dem varmints widout you git 'twe'n dem and dere 
boilers were da sleep all day wid one eye open. Dat's my 
'pinion." We then suggested to cross the creek on the fol- 
lowing night in a boat with our dogs, and enter the field 
from the strip of wet ground separating the cornfield from 
the swamp containing the hollow trees. "Dat 'il do," said 
Lewis, "and ile be dare wid you." 
According to agreement we embarked with our three 
dogs, and in due time the bow of our boat touched the 
sandy beach at thedesired point; the river end of the opeu 
strip alluded to, where we found Lewis with his dog quietly 
awaitingsils. His dog was secured with a stout cord tied 
around the neck, then brought forward and a half-hitch 
taken around the jaws; and Lewis peremptorily insisted 
that ours must be secured in the same manner, to prevent 
premature tongueing before we reached the point he con- 
sidered absolutely essential, to frustrate the exceedingly 
vigilant and crafty objects of our quest. After securiiio' 
our dogs satisfactory to Lewis, who assumed the poshion of 
leader (to which we willingly assented), and after receiv- 
ing a peremptory order to keep quiet, we set out on the 
war path in Indian file, Lewis leading. After proceeding 
a considerable distance be directed us to halt and keep quiet 
until we heard his dog tongueing, then to let ours loose. 
He then vanished through the silent gloom as stealthily as' 
an Indian. AVe remained as quiet as possible under the 
circumstances, as the dogs were tugging and straining to 
relieve themselves from restraint, as they evidently scented 
fhe game, which, doubtless, had passed over the ground 
where we stood within a few hours. While exerting our- 
selves to the utmost to restrain their frantic eff^orts, we 
heatd the welcome signal notes from Dandy, the dog of 
Lewis. It required but a few seconds to release oursy whose 
music joined the chorus. 
Above the din and turmoil of the unrelenting notes of 
the dogs in full cry, the stentorian voice of Lewis could be 
heard encouraging the pursuit: 
"Were is you, Dandy? Let me hyar fum you. Dat's 
right, speak to um," 
In addition to the clamor and turmoil inseparable from 
the chase, all those gloomy, inharmonioas birds of night 
aroused from their lethargy and joined the chorus with 
their blood-curdling, discordant notes. Notwithstanding 
the weird and hideous sounds which filled the surround- 
ing gloom, we pursued the chase oblivious to all other 
objects. The game made desperate efforts to escape, but 
tbey were cut off" from their usual route to their hollow 
trees; ahd, as if knowing that it was inevitable death to 
take refuge in a tree without a cavity, they attempted 
stratagem, by running in small streams to break the trail. 
But their pursuers were too close, and so their last and 
desperate resort was to take refuge in a tree, with the dogs 
dangerously close to their hindquarters as tbey ascended. 
This was the tree spoken of in voj article, and the ring- 
tailed marauders were the ones that were lynched. They 
made a judicious selection, for it was a difficult tree to 
climb. I was generally the climber on these nocturnal 
hunts, but on this occasion I was disabled during the 
chase; in running, a large thorn pierced the side of my 
foot through a thin part of my shoe, therefore I was the 
last one to arrive. As I limped up to the tree, around 
which the doigs were frantic, Lewis remarked, "Dere's 
more dan one coon up dat tree; dere's more den two; my 
dog had onfe a-gWyib', and jv'en your dogs cum up dere, 
every one had ohe wid hitti. §um of their obercotes will 
be hanging on the end of my Cabin 'fore to-morro', mine I 
tell y'u." 
In the meantime Nathan Kell was climbing the tree, 
while I was performing the duties of astronomer, or astrol- 
oger of the hunt. Nodoubttheideaof astronomer to acoon 
hunt will be read with a smile of d'^rision. Nevertheless, 
it's a position which frequently prevents the escape ot the 
game. A raccoon seldom hides in a crotch, but goes to the 
extreme end of a branch, and manages, with the assistance 
of the leaves, to make it difficult to spot him. Then the 
above functionary walks around outside the spreading 
limbs of the tree intently observing its upper branches. 
If he discovers a suspicious clump of leaves or a dark spot; 
he obtains a position which places the object of his sus- 
picion in the line of his vision and a star in the firma- 
ment, thereby he can nearly always ascertain if his sus- 
picions are correct. 
After the climber had reached near the top of the tree, 
he announced the discovery of one. Lewis immediately 
took hold of his dog, and after ascertaining upon which 
side to expect him, said, "Shake him down." In a few 
moments the vibration of the branch sent him plunging 
through the outer branches. Dandy was there to receive 
him when he touched terra firma. They all joined in the 
fray, and as they were specially trained coon dogs, he was 
disposed of in short order. The climber shouted, "Look 
out for another," "Let her come.'' It came, crushing 
down very close to the site of its comrade's disaster. This 
fellow was an immense animal for that species, and held 
the dogs at bay a considerable time; and when they did 
attack he made a terrible fight, and the contest would have 
been doubtful if the dogs had not been so thoroughly 
trained; but they forced him to succumb. Tn a short time 
the climber announced that he was readv to present 
another gladiator to contest for the honors of the arena. 
In due time he came, saw, was vanquished. The climber, 
after a careful search without discovering any more, 
started down; upon reaching one of the lower limbs he 
noticed a protuberance, which he thought- was a slight de- 
formity on one of the large limbs, but upon close examin- 
ation it proved to be another member (perhaps a director) 
of the ring-tail coon league. He also descended, and after 
the usual preliminaries on such occasions, was placed by 
the side of his comrades at the foot of the tree. 
We considered it a successful hunt, though it was not a 
propitious night for coons— not for those four at least. As 
the gray streaks of early morn appeared on the eastern ho- 
rizon we set out ou'our return, bearing our trophies, like old 
Atlas, on our backs. .^ ^ 
There is a strange fascination attached ttf night hunting, 
and yet if its features are analyzed, we fail to see its at- 
tractions. The huntsman cannot see the beauties around 
bis gloomy pathway; the notes of the screeching owl are 
not harmonious to his ear; yet the mind will become in- 
tensely eager when one hears the peculiar notes from his 
dog, plainly indicating that the game is treed. Therefore, 
the only solution is that inherent principle in man to 
overcome the cunning of all other animals. 
Before transferring my thoughts to other localities I 
propose to impart my recollection of the status occupied 
by our companion, Lewis, in this hunt, and his comrades 
in bondage on this plantation. There were fifty or sixty. 
The field hands occupied cabins at what was called the 
quarters, which consisted of twelve or fifteen log cabins, 
located near the center of the plantation. Each cabin was 
inclosed with a paling fence split from the woods, within 
which there was ample ground to cultivate such vegetables 
as they wished. The head of each family was also per- 
mitted to raise two hogs, and fatten them with corn from 
the general crop, and dispose ot them as they pleased; aa 
their master furnished their rations, they frequently sold 
the hogs to get surplus articles of dress. Don't smile. 
Every one knows they were fond of gewgaws, particularly 
bandannas. I suppose if I should say they lived in epi- 
curean style, I would be ridiculed out of court, yet such 
was the case on this plantation. There was nothing to 
prevent it — with an abundance of water-fowl of all kinds, 
from the can^asback down, myriads of fish of the finest 
quality— shad, rock, perch and others. But the toothsome 
catfish was their delight. The marsh furnished them an 
occasional change to gratify their palate: the snapper was 
a favorite dish, while rail could be taken with so little 
trouble (by knocking them down with a paddle at night( 
that their taste would become monotonous. When their 
taste became palled they could readily change for the pro- 
ductions of the field and forest, and as they were skillful 
in trapping, tbey could easily supply their larder with 
partridges, pheasants and an occasional wild turkey, as 
they were in this vicinity also. James Noreis, 
SHEEP AND SNOWSHOES.— V. 
A Winter Hunt on the Summit of the Rockies. 
Rifle and Snowshoes. 
It snowed at or near our camp every day during our stay 
ill the mountains, and nearly always more snow fell at 
night than during the daytima. It was no surprise, there- 
fore, on the morning of our first hunt for sheep to find 
that the woods were full of a deep, soft snow, which made 
shoeing a most laborious affair. The morning broke bright 
and dazzling, so that we were forced to wear the smoked 
glasses for the protection of our eyes most of the time, eVen 
while we were in the shadow of the forest, the reflection 
from the snow being intensely trying to the eyes'. 
We had about three or four miles to go through the 
woods skirting the foot of the high ridges before we got up 
to the foot of the big mountain where 0-to-kd-mi had seen 
his sheep. Part of this was over a trail broken by Schultz 
the day before over in that direction, but this only ran a 
little over a mile, and then we were adrift in the big snow. 
At each step one would sink down to the knees in spite of 
the shoes. The snow would pile in on the shoe, so that 
after a while the muscles of even the hardiestwould begin 
to weary. Schultz and Jackson started on ahead, then 
O-to-ko-mi took a turn at it for a time, McCbesney and I 
being spared as long as possible. It is not such very hard 
work to snowshoe, even in the worst of snow, when one is 
fourth or even third on the trail, the trail-breakers having 
the real work to do. Alternating as best we could, we 
were all tired when we got to the foot of our mountain, 
along about 9 o'clock or so in the morning. The weather 
was still bright, for a wonder, and our heavy clothing, 
which had seemed too light when we left the lodge, now 
was oppressively warm. It is a continual error on the part 
of most winter hunters to put on too much clothing. As 
we became more and more used to our work we dressed 
more and more lightly, of course depending upon being 
constantly in motion until we got back to the camp. One 
chills out very quickly as soon as he stops the violent ex- 
ercise of climbing; and on top of the mountain, where the 
wind gets a fair sweep over the rocks and icy slopes, the 
temperature is much lower than it is down in the forest. 
When we got to the edge of our mountain, O-to-ko-mi 
called a halt, and there was a long consultation among our 
leaders in the Piegan tongue. The use of the field glasses 
showed no sheep trails on the ground where they had been 
seen the day previous, and O-to-ko-mi said the sheep had 
gone further back 'into the mountains, so that it would 
take a long chmb to get to them. He also said that our 
party was too large for a successful hunt, and that we 
would have to divide. There were six of us in all, and we 
finally concluded that O-to-ko-mi, McCbesney and hunter 
Powell should go together, taking the route pointed out by 
O-to-k 6-mi. We considered that this was the surest chance 
to get a sheep, and, indeed, considered it perfectly certain 
that McChesney would kill a sheep that day. The latter 
had along his small camera, in order to take a picture of 
any game he might get; and the other party had my large 
camera, which we had also brought, Billy Jackson having 
this slung over his back as well as his rifle. The other 
party had three rifles. 
After we left the others, Billy, Schultz and I made ofiTto 
the left from them, upon the other side of the mountain 
from them, or rather upon the further side of a second 
mountain, which would take us far from their hunting 
ground. We knew that we were making our first explor- 
ation, and did not expect to find anything on that part of 
the country, though we were continually listening for the 
sounds of shots behind us. We crossed some choppy little 
hills and coulees at the foot of the big mountain we intended 
to climb, working all the time as high up as we could. 
We noted a number of trails on the mountain-side above 
us, which we took to be madei by a mountain lion. The 
animal had been traveling all over the country up there, 
and we concluded it must have driven the sheep away 
from that country. 
. I must say, in order to describe the nature of the place 
we were hunting over, that at the foot of the mountains 
the ravines ran up sharp and steep, covered with heavy 
pine timber. Still further below, this timber became very 
dense and swampy. A little above us, the timber thinned 
out, and there was a great bare strip of wind-swept snow, 
with no cover of any kind showing upon its expanse. Yet 
a little higher above this, there was a rim of bare rock, too 
smooth for the snow to take hold upon. This wall rock 
was kept bare by the wind. From the wah rock the 
mountain ran on up and back boldly, with no more snow 
upon its summit except where it caught in eddies and hol- 
lows and depressions in the summit. Once in a while a 
gnarled cedar showed above us on the rocks, but no other 
growth broke the expanse of windy and icy waste that lay 
above us, and beyond the band of snow which ran up the 
edge of the naked wall rock. When we started we were 
low down in the timber. Then after a hard climb in the 
shifting, yielding, soft snow, we began to get into thinner 
timber, and finally came out to the edge of the naked 
strip of snow. Here the snow was hard under foot, and 
we began to climb up mor«« rapidly. Always the bighorn 
of the Rockies must be hunted upon the tops of the moun- 
tains, even in the winter time, as it seemed, for though at 
that season they feed low down toward the timber, the 
least alarm sends them as high up as they can get. We 
figured that thirteen rifle shots and a mountain lion had 
not tended to soothe the nature of any sheep near us on the 
dav before, so we kept on climbing as high as we could, 
all the time circling around the mountain aa we went on. 
The Bighorn In the Snow. 
We were just at the edge of a last Uttle strip of timber, 
around the shoulder of the mountain where we had left 
our friends, perhaps two miles from where we left them 
and about six miles from camp, when all at once I saw 
Schultz, who was ahead, suddenly squat down and come 
rapidly back on the trail. 
"Shoot! shoot!" he whispered hoarsely and with excite- 
ment. "Hurry up!" 
At that instant I saw the reason for his excitement. 
There, on the mountain side above ua and before us, on 
this same strip of naked snow which I have mentioned, 
was a big, grayish white object, with an exaggerated head 
wiiose horns seemed to have been done up in curl papers. 
It was the first mountain sheep I had ever seen, but it 
needed no second look. It was a ram, a good head; I felt 
that at the first look, Also it was an able-bodied ramj for 
