402 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[May 21, 1898. 
Ho! for the Wilderness of Maine* 
Welcome to the sunlight of Sept. 21. I put the fin- 
ishing touches to my woods outfit and boarded the 
train. It soon carried me by the towns and forests, 
fields and lakes, until Bangor, Old Town, Brownville, 
had become things passed and "Norcross! Norcross!" 
was the brakeman's cry. 
It was now twilight. Two friends had arrived by the 
morning train, and were probably well in on Debs- 
coneag Carry, fourteen miles away, putting the finish- 
ing touches to a bed for four. My canoe mate had that 
blessed craft at the landing, and it only remained for 
me to tote the outfit over the thirty rods between the 
station and the cove. 
As the shadows deepened we got afloat. The calm 
lake and bright moonlight made our work a pleasure. 
Out of the cove, through the crooked northwest pass- 
age, up North Twin, through the narrows, where a 
quick dip and strong pull are needed to stem the cur- 
rent, then through shadows and moonlight, past point 
and island, hearing the whir of a belated duck's wing, 
the distant loon call, the questions of an owl, and noth- 
ing else but the drip of the paddles. Off to the north 
Katahdin lifts her brow into the clear sky. A great star 
shone over her as though it were a light kindled upon 
her highest point. 
Coats are off, and we are making good time, yet not 
so busy as to be unable to tell of the race down this 
same lake last fall before the northwest gale, when the 
only trouble was to keep out of the way of the combers. 
"Just around that island B. C. and I camped on the 
sand beach three years ago." 
"Did you ever hear of his improved camp bed?" 
"This was the way of it. He was at the mattress fac- 
tory in Portland and saw them putting together woven 
wire beds. The thought struck him that it would be 
fine to have such a bed in camp, so he bought 7ft. of 
the wire. It rolled into small compass and was not in- 
convenient to carry. This is how we stretched it. We cut 
two spruce poles and put pins in each far enough apart to 
stretch the wire. Then we split two poles and nailed 
them back together again with the end edges of the 
wire between. Rigging a double purchase, we sprung 
these cross-end pieces over the pins and moved all 
into the tent. 
"We ate a hearty supper and retired. A few extra 
blankets served as a mattress. B. C. was in ecstacies. 
I felt the pin giving near my shoulder. He slumbered 
before the catastrophe came, and did not awake till 
morning. Cramps and rheumatism twinged him into 
consciousness at last, but as that was a common experi- 
ence of his he laid none of it to the bed. 
"All the morning he bragged about his good idea, 
and it was only when we broke camp later in the day 
that he discovered that he had lain all night hard down 
upon the sand. We do not let him forget it. That 
wire went back into the woods beneath a log to await 
our return to civilization." 
Nine miles of Pamedomcook, and we enter Nahma- 
kanta stream, shoal, crooked and snaggy. Only a little 
way up the carry is found upon the right. Twenty 
rods at first, then a narrow stretch more of water to 
cross requiring the canoe, and we reach the main 
landing. The greater part of our outfit was placed 
beneath the overturned canoe, but we shouldered the 
bags containing the blankets and picked our way over 
the trail for half a mile to our friend's camp. On the 
corduroyed portion of the trail the logs were covered 
with frost. It was quite a feat to keep our feet in cross- 
ing them. 
A midnight vision. The rising wind swaying the tops 
of the tall trees, a full moon, shadows from the branches 
weaving ever changing patterns upon the carpet of 
tinted leaves, fallen and ever falling. A tiirn in \X\z 
road adds a faint, wavering spiral of smoke, while in 
glimmer of moonlight and glow of fire the white tent 
stood offering shelter and rest. 
Our coming awakened the sleepers, and the echoes. 
We were united again after months of separation. 
What a wooing to slumber. Plenty of weariness, a fra- 
grant bed, warmth at our feet and zephyrs of cool, sweet- 
scented, pure air about us, while the murmur of the for- 
est was a perfect lullaby. Try it, ye insomnia-cursed 
mortals whose midnight weariness is caused by courting 
sleep. 
The red squirrel is the usual morning awakener. Jolly, 
jollier, jolliest, sound that ever broke woods silence is 
the squirrel's laughing glee. He is so full of it that he 
swells and wriggles and hops with the utterance. En- 
livened by his merriment it is so easy to bid drowsiness 
good-by and add the snap and crackle of blazing kin- 
dlings to the woodland melodies. 
"Breakfast." 
Coffee, toasted bread and some kind of broiled or cold 
meat, with all the little things that make up the larder 
of the experienced camper and an appetite that has 
already assumed a very domineering tone, putting the 
emphasis continually upon more, more; these constitute 
the meal. 
And now for the hard work of the carry, always a 
terror. It finds each man green to burdens of the sort 
he must take, and unused to the roughness of the road. 
Problem: Shall we load light and tramp more, or tramp 
less with heavier loads? Nothing seems light after it has 
been carried a mile and a half. Everything possible is 
packed in bags for convenience. The canoe is heavy 
anyhow. To many it would seem the worst load, but 
it is not. There is a springiness about it that eases the 
ghoulders wonderfully, while some bag that has in it the 
provisions will put misery into its worst form for him 
who lugs it. 
This world is full of cost and compensation. A hard 
carry is made with the definite assurance that few will 
take it and that the chances of hunting in good territory 
are much greater, while the chances of being shot are 
reduced. 
The first load is taken along until the shoulders rebel, 
then left by the wayside while we go back for another. 
The walk rests us, and the lighter load is taken far 
enough by to give us a new start. Debsconeag never 
looked so handsome as when we laid the last burden on 
its shore. 
The sky was cloudy, occasional rain drops fell, but the 
lake was calm and the four miles of paddling proved 
a delight. The spot chosen for camping was a new one, 
just above a boiling spring, ground high and dry, well 
sheltered and wood of the camp-fire quality abundant. 
Wc hastened to get up the tents before the ground got 
wet. This sliould always be the first thing done in 
making camp. Well sheltered, you are ready for any- 
thing. The tent is easily pitched. Down came the yel- 
low birches with echoing crash. A pail of water from the 
spring, and soon the fire is merrily flashing beneath the 
black kettle. It was late when we sat down to dinner, 
and as we ate a good while, not much of the afternoon 
was left when we were done. One task remained; to a 
novice it would seem impossible, namely, to put down 
a dry brush bed when all the brush was wet. This was 
how we did it. After cutting the brush to proper size 
we took it piece by piece and passed it through the fire, 
drying it in a hurry. 
In tlie gathering darkness our brisk fire and brightly 
burning lanterns made the tents as light as day. We 
ate again, of course planned for the morrow, enjoyed 
the sense of deliverance from all usiial cares, talked till 
tired, mused till sleepy, then got out the needle and twine 
and sewed the blankets into bags, put the largest logs at 
hand upon the fire, slipped into the bags and our sleep 
was first quality, double extract, until broad daylight. 
He who sleeps by an open fire, upon a fir bed, will 
always have an appetite for breakfast. If he has the 
extra pleasure of getting it ready himself, it will taste 
all the better. This morning we have before us the 
pleasant task of fitting up the camp for our three weeks' 
stay. 
First of all, we put the spring in order. Noon found 
us with that job well done. An excavation deep into 
white sand, lined with split hemlock and roofed with 
split fir. The water came in so abundantly that a small 
stream flowed through the trench below. That water 
was distilled through the granite mountains above, and 
filtered through gra^'el for many hundred yards before 
it gushed to the surface so convenient to our camp. 
An old box, which we found on the carry, furnished 
boards for our table top. Split fir, trued and smoothed 
with the axe, made a good shelf and rough table for the 
cook, while cedar splits were just fine for a cupboard. 
Comfortable folding chairs were made from small spruce 
poles and wire nails, with a bag for the seat. The top 
of the table was laid off into a board for checkers and 
chess, good amusement for a rainy day and long even- 
ings. 
Ah me! would I were there again! Our camp faced the 
south. A mountain and its ridges towered just back of 
us. The heavy forest completely sheltered us from any 
stormy wind. Before us stretched the beautiful lake, 
broken by many a point into coves and inlets. Hard 
and soft wood ridges hedge it in. Among these ridges 
gleam a score of large and small lakes aboun.ding with 
trout. Moose, caribou and deer roam around their 
shores or tramp the ridges, while beneath the beaches 
the partridge scolds at every intruder. What days were 
in store for us! 
"I go a-fishing." How gladly do we follow Peter's 
example. Beautiful Galilee could hardly be more beau- 
tiful than the little lake to which we went. We took 
the canoe to the outlet, carried over to Second Debs, 
and crossed this to near the mouth of a rushing brook 
that bounds over the rocks and glances through the 
low-hanging bushes of the hillside. Here we followed 
an old road and had a sharp climb for ten minutes, 
then turned to tlie left along a spotted line, keeping near 
the brook. We passed one lake and soon reached an- 
other, the Mecca which we sought, girt by hills upon the 
north and west, the grand old trees extending their arms 
over its waters, deep, cool and glorious as a mirror of 
the frost-painted foliage above. We were entranced, but 
the thought of trout within those waters soon awakened 
us to action. 
On the north side a giant pine had fallen out into the 
lake, and was well staked into the mud by its many 
broken limbs. Stubs of other limbs offered convenient 
support to the angler. Here two of the boys tried the 
attractions of salt pork, squirrel meat and partridge's 
breast upon the trout, while two of us went to the other 
Side and built a raft out of dry cedar. Six logs loft. 
long, with short cross pieces of fir notched and fastened 
to the logs by wooden wedges staked over the cross 
pieces. A rider was put across between the tops of the 
wedge stakes to prevent their loosening; side poles, 
used also for propulsion, were laid as rails, and the logs 
were floored over with cedar splits. All this came quick- 
ly together under the skillful hands at work, and we were 
afloat. 
Trout flies were daintily taken, but a piece from tlie 
little fellows cut to the backbone from just front of 
the vent fin, then along the bone and out at the middle 
of the tail, proved very killing. 
One of the boys started for the inlet, where he fished 
without success, then moved to a big rock, which he 
reached by wading. Here also he was unsuccessful, and 
started for the shore. I see him yet. Tall, slim, lean; 
his pants would easily roll away up. In one hand he 
held his shoes, in the other his rod. The water was 
as deep as he could conveniently wade. When in the 
deepest part he stepped his naked foot upon a sharp 
something. Like a flash he went down on all fours, and 
the water fairly flowed over his back. We heard the 
splash and looked in time to see a tall man, a slim man, 
a soaked man emerge from the water, and holding aloft 
two shoes in one hand and a fish rod in the other, dram 
himself. It was a ludicrous unfolding. Shouts and yells 
of laughter echoed over the lake. J. has not yet heard 
the last of wearing his shoes on his hands and wading 
on all fours. 
Rain began to fall, and soon we were all as wet as J., 
but a good fire, the sizzling pork, frying trout and 
steaming coffee banished all discontent. 
With a good string of fish we hurried back over tlie 
trail, crossed the lake, made the carry and were soflfi ttry 
clad' within the shelter of our tents. 
"Tired?" 
"Yes, rather." 
"Hungry?" /: . . ■ - . - 
"Most decidedly." 
Abundance of wood was cut yesterday. We pile the 
back logs high and lay one, well packed in dirt, close 
against the bottom, inside. Two solid Sin. andiron sticks 
support an abundant pile of large and small wood. Kin- 
dling wood is stuffed beneath and a match applied. Up 
into the darkness flashes the blaze, and the air is filled 
with the odors of birch and resins. 
Oh! the comfort of a rainy night in camp! The tent 
is snug beneath its abundant spray cloth; the door flap 
is raised to turn aside all water from the entrance; a 
fire fierce enough to bid defiance to the downpour; a 
good trench forbidding the water to run under the tent; 
the rubber blankets and the woollens spread upon the 
springy, fragrant boughs; lantern light and firelight com- 
bining to cheer; abundant warmth, and added to all, the 
jolly companionship. Could heart desire more? 
Ktaadn. 
Yukon Notes.— VIL 
Tools. 
Perhaps the most essential tools for use in the Yukon 
are axe, cross-cut saw, brace and bits from ^ to VAm., 
auger (i or I'^in.), draw knife or spoke-shave, plane, 
hammer, chisel, and plycrs, as well as a supply of cop- 
per or annealed iron wire, rivets, wire nails, including 
a few of the largest made; tacks, files (chiefly for use in 
sharpening axes and saws), whetstone and oilstone, etc. 
Extra helves for the axes should be taken, and if the 
party expects to build a boat, pitch, oakum, caiflking 
iron, and whipsaw. A large ball of maiiin twine will 
come in service for innumerable uses, and plenty of 
small rope should be included. 
A great luxury up next the timber line in the passes 
where green wood and roots must be used for fitel is a 
small bellows. It is wonderful how quickly one can 
start a fire, with the worst possible material, with these 
bellows. Miners also put them to other no less import- 
ant uses. 
Candles come in very nicely for starting fires where 
the fuel is poor, or in winter when the hands become 
"quickly numbed, and it is highly desirable to get the 
fire going from a single match. A roasted birch bark 
roll will do in place of a candle. The Yukon birch bark 
does not burn as freelj' as Eastern bark, for some rea- 
son, and is better if dried out in the oven of a stove. 
One should have at least two waterproof match safes. 
In lieu of anything better a small bottle will answer, 
but two brass shotgun shells make the best safe. It is 
well to carry matches in two of your pockets, for it is 
very easy to lose one supply, and a man can't afford 
to be out of matches for a single moment. 
For the same reason it is well to carry two compasses 
in different pockets, putting one where it can easily be 
consulted, and holding the other in reserve. When se- 
lecting a compass get one with the needle an inch and a 
half or two inches in length. The compass with needle 
that takes the longest time to settle after oscillating is 
best. 
I would suggest taking at least a dozen best quality 
jack knives, each having a good, heavj' blade, broad audi 
with point not too sharp. Such knives can be put tO' 
good use even if you do not require them yourself, and' 
are always valuable for trading. Adirondack guides, 
have a single-bladed clasp knife with a fastening and' 
ring at the butt that will stay by a man and prove very 
useful if fastened by a thong iBin. in length to his bek 
and carried in his hip pocket. At times, with cold 
hands, it is very convenient to be able to let go j^our 
knife with the blade open, with the certainty that you 
can find it any moment when required. 
Such a knife is handy for a vast range of uses, from 
cutting shavings to start the fire to slicing bacon or eat- 
ing. For use at meal time, however, a combination 
knife, fork and spoon is the thing. Incidentally, the 
spoon will get the hardest usage. 
Two or three traps for small animals may on occasion 
prove valuable, and likewise a half ounce of strychnine 
for wolves or foxes. A pair of field glasses, magnifying 
glass and camera may also be taken. 
If you take a camera, select one having the very sim- 
plest spring shutter, with provision made for time ex- 
posures. Pneumatic shutters freeze at the slightest ap- 
proach to cold weather and are useless. Film at times 
proves unreliable, but it is made to stand cold better now 
than a few years ago, and is not nearly so likely to strip 
though it is just as brittle and tears on the slightest 
provocation. For this reason, and also because such 
film keeps better, daylight rolls will be found much 
the most satisfactory. The paper backing of such film 
has a very beneficial effect in keeping out dampness and 
preventing the film from sticking in the roll. 
Developing powders and fixing salts and a paper ruby 
candle lamp may be taken in if desired, and also velox 
printing paper. It is sometimes very satisfactory to be 
able to develop and print a few pictures on the spot 
where you happen to be. 
A thermometer is very useful to indicate the difference 
between ordinary cold weather and exceptional cold. 
If a man relies solely upon his own sensations he is apt 
to make many mistakes. Ice forms on a man's beard in 
zero weather, and old-timers know it is 40 below or more 
when the camp-fire sends up columns of steam. Such 
indications, however, are altogether too general for prac- 
tical uses, and a good spring thermometer is worth its 
weight in gold in the interior. Mercury freezes at a 
comparatively moderate temperature and is useless. In- 
cidentally, kerosene freezes milk-white, and is .mighty 
cold stuff to handle wath bare fingers. We had an ac- 
curately adjusted spring thermometer, and took greaf 
satisfaction in it. 
Firearms and Fishing Tackle. ■ 
If oniv one gun can be taken, the shotgun is likely 
to do most to earn its salt. A single-barrel gun with 
good, strong action, or a Winchester repeating shotgun, 
will answer very well. Take along ball cartridges adapt- 
ed for the gun, but have the bulk of the ammunition 
suitable for ducks and partridges. The ball cartridge 
will do very nicely for a stray bear or moose. 
If a rifle is taken, it should be a bard-shooting gun, 
