2 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[July i, 1899. 
The Trapper's Shack. 
They are not palatial residences by any means, but 
they serve as a home just the same, and I have seen them 
when they were beheld with something like the joy a 
traveler feels who greets an oasis on the Sahara. 
I had a little experience once in the swamps of Missouri, 
on Little River. It was in the early '70s a party of us were 
on a camp hunt; we had been in camp several days and 
\yere havmg a jolly time. Deer were plentiful and the 
, fishing was all that we could ask. One morning I con- 
cluded I would do a little prospecting on foot and alone ; 
so I left camp bright and early and plunged into the 
swamp. After walking several hours without seeing any 
game, I sat down on a log and ate my lunch, then lit my 
pipe for a good smoke. Presently I saw a large fox 
squirrel frisking on a limb directly over me, and I soon 
had hmi in the bag. That put me in mind that as I 
had no game to my credit, I would bag a few of them. 
After an hour or so had been spent after them and I 
had a pretty good bag, I began to think of returning to 
camp. I struck off in the supposed direction, and after 
walkmg, as I thought, long enough to reach camp, began 
to be apprehensive that I was not going right. I could see 
no familiar landmarks. It had been cloudy all the after- 
noon, and I had forgotten my compass, so I was lost as to 
direction. I fired my gun several times, but heard no 
response save its echo. Then I knew I was lost. 
I tried another direction, and walked till I was getting 
very tired, for a lost man walks very fast. I was hungry 
too, and had given my belt an extra hitch to compress the 
void. The 7lb. gun felt as heavy as a Queen Aaine musket. 
My watch told me that I did not liave much more daylight 
to spend. I thought of everything I had ever read about 
telling the points of the compass— the knife blade, thumb 
nail, the watch face, the moss on the trees, the rough and 
smooth side of the trees. I tried them all, and each one 
seemed to lead me deeper in the swamp. I came to the 
conclusion that I Avas in for a night of it. and began 
to cast my ej-es about for a suitable place for a lean-to. I 
had a supply of matches and could dress and broil one 
of my squirrels for supper. 
With these thoughts in my head and still walking, I 
suddenly came upon a little shack nestled deep in the 
woods._ One would hardly see it till almost right upon it 
My spirits went up a dozen points as I hastened my steps 
toward it. It was built of logs, with a stick and dirt 
chimney. There was no fence around; the heavy Avoods 
came almost to the door. Hanging on some bushes was 
an old seme and some fishnets that had been freshly 
tarred. In the corner of the chimnev were a few weather- 
beaten cane fishing poles. On a 'large nail driven in 
one of the trees was a trout-line. A few old rusty game 
traps were lymg around: coon, deer and bear skins 
stretched on canes were hanging here and there. All 
these proclaimed the aA^ocation of the OAvner. In the 
only AvindoAv of the little shack, Avhich Avas a sq-uare hole 
closed by a sliding board, Avere one or tAvo tomato cans, in 
Avhich were a few morning glories trying to climb some 
strings. A clothesline stretched from tree to tree 
Avith a fcAv articles of Avearing apparel, a large iron kettle 
on some blackened chunks, a tub and Avashboard 
showed that there was a woman around; and the little 
grape-vme swing and the mud pies neatly arranged on a 
board gave plain evidence of children's presence. All 
these were taken in at a glance as I hastened my steps. I 
kneA\'- I Avould be Avelcome to such as they had, and after 
being refreshed and rested Avould be directed back to 
camp. 
On mynear approach an old hound set up a dismal hoAvl 
that brought a woman to the door. In a few Avords I 
made her acquainted Avith my situation. The good Avoman 
invited mc in and one of the children was sent to the spring 
for cool water. While the busy housewife is preparing a 
frtigal meal, I take in the interior. The floor is roughly 
covered with slabs; a large goods box answers for a cup- 
board ; there are a plain homemade table covered with oil- 
cloth, a few plain chairs, one or two pictures of Presidential 
candida:tes on the Avails. OA'er the low door are 'a pair 
of deer horns that serA^e as a, rack for the long Kentucky 
rifle, game bag. bullet pouch and a highly decorated pow- 
der horn. On a small table I see a few old books and a 
large Bible. In one corner stands a bed coA^ered Avith 
homemade quilts of bright but uncertain pattern, but all 
spotlessly clean. The old cedar churn and the shining 
mtlk A^essels prove that the owner believes in cleanliness. 
While my hostess was out of the room I raised the lid of 
the old family Bible. It opened to where the record of 
births and marriages and deaths are recorded, and then I 
<^oon had the history of the family. I had replaced the 
Bible before she came in, and began to make friends with 
the children. When she came in I called the A^oungest to 
me, and called it by name. The woman looked a little 
surprised that I should know it. I asked the little one its 
age. It did not know. J then told it hoAv old it Avas, giA^- 
mg its birthday. Then I gaA^e all the children their full 
names and date of birth. , The AA^oman by this time had 
left the fireplace Avhere she Avas cooking and asked me 
Avho told me their ages. I told her no one, and that i had 
never been in that nart of the country before in my life 
and had never heard of them before. 
'•'HoAv can you tell these things, if no one has told 
you?" she asked. 
"Oh. that is easy, if you know hoAA'," said I. T then 
gave her her OAvn age, and date of birth and marriage; 
also her maiden name. By this time I could see she was 
getting quite uneasv, so I picked up the Bible and opened 
,-it the record. "There, madam, is hoAV I fonnd out so 
much." 
T think she felt much relieved as I did AA-hen T had 
spied the shacl<-. She laughed heartily when the trick 
was exDosed. Pretty soon the hound again o:ave tongue 
to one of Ihose dj.smal howls, and the children flew to 
meet their father, who they knew was coming. He. too, 
was made acquainted Avith mv situation and gave me a 
hearty- Avelrome to his humble fare. Supper was an- 
nounced. Such a supper T did not expect to find in that 
shack — arood coffee, with .sugar and cream, too: bisr, fat. 
white biscuits. A'enigon steak, fresh fish, a jug of milk and 
plate of jsWqw butter, rHd from the spring, Avild honey — 
and it tasted all right, too. We gathered around the 
table, the old hunter offered up thanks to Him above for 
all that he enjoyed, his family and stranger under his 
roof-tree. It was an impressive scene — one that you don't 
find in every hunter's shack. 
It goes without saying that I did full justice to that 
meal; I loosened mv belt so as not to be hampered. 
After supper I told the the hunter where Ave Avere camped 
on Little RiA'er. "Well, I can have you in camp in a very 
few hours," said he. '"My shack is Avithin a short dis- 
tance of Little River, and I am going out in my boat to- 
night with my headlight after ducks and can take you 
just as well as not;" which he did, and landed me safe in 
camp by bedtime. 
Years have pa-ssed, but I have never forgotten that day 
nor the trapper and his family, and I don't let Santa 
Clans forget them, either. C. L. Bradley. 
Clarksville, Tenn. 
^The Man who Visits Spiker/' 
Editor Forest- and Stream: 
One evening after supper Jim sat smoking on the step 
of his front porch, admiring the beauty of the wide ex- 
panse of rolling valley that lay betAveen him and a dis- 
tant hazy mountain. His dog lay at charge near by, ap- 
parently in the same degree of meditation as his master. 
The sun had settled behind a large cloud bank, Avhose 
top and sides were trimmed in brilliant gold and sih'er 
sunshine, Avhile from beneath broad bands slanted sharply 
in the direction of his gaze. 
A step in his neighbor's yard and the pattering gallop 
of his setters, as they bounded around the corner of the 
house, caused Jim's dog to prick up his ears and tap 
the Avalk with his tail, then bound forAvard to meet his 
play-felloAVS. After Jim had invited his neighbor over 
to enjoy the view vvith him, and the inevitable pipes 
Avere Avell a-going, Jim said: 
"I Avas thinking of what a happy hunting ground the 
Indian had Avhen he occupied the country we see before 
us. Then, wild and uncultivated, it must have been 
a good place to hunt in." 
"Yes, and I can say that it has been so long since the 
Indian departed, for I have hunted over all that territory 
myself. Years ago, before the march of improvement 
Avas so progressive, I have brought to bag many a quail 
in the loAver country and grouse on yonder hill. There 
is an old man in this neighborhood Avho Avill tell you of 
the time Avhen deer, turkey and bear Avere quite plenty. 
To-day there is nothing but a fcAV hares in the thickets 
and an occasional grouse on the bluffs of the mountain, 
Avhich would not be even there noAV if the hunters could 
get at them. But thoughts of the past bring vain re- 
grets, and from a sportsman's standpoint, what little of 
life I have left I want to devote to comforts of the 
present and anticipations of the future," 
"I like your sentiment," said Jim, "and as to present 
comfort, if Ave have been good and true sportsmen, the 
knowledge of that fact is satisfying. The future is de- 
pendent. To me it looks a little gloomy, and in that 
I disturb my comfort; but, judging from the past and the 
present outlook, our sons Avill see the day Avhen their 
guns Avill be useless. Already our OAvn territory is 
nearly depopulated of game, and if we go far Ave en- 
croach upon some one's else territory, Avho will in time, 
by laws, deprive us of the privilege of hunting upon it. 
States are making non-resident laws; rich clubs are 
establishing extensive preserves, and the overfloAV from 
'them are protected by trespass laws. What shall Ave do?" 
"Get rich and join a cltib," said the neighbor. "Prob- 
ably the best thing to do is to make the best of Avhat Ave 
liaAX while we can, be laAV-abiding, moderate in our in- 
dulgence, a:nd let the future take care of itself. If game 
is scarcer the finding of any Avill be all the more grati- 
fying." 
"That's a philosophic view, at any rate. As to getting 
rich, if you will show me the way, I will follow it," 
"I believe the man Avho is even Avith the world, who 
eiiA'ies his neighbor northing, has all' the comforts he 
needs and Avho is contented, is rich enough. Wealth 
can only bring luxury, and luxury breeds discontent. 
The hardest part of it all is to be contented." 
"Your philosophy reminds me of an old toll collector 
on the road to one of the places we shall visit next 
fall. Once, when driAang over, I stopped to pay toll, Avhich 
Avas 4 cents. I handed him a nickel and told him to 
keep the change. 'No,' said he; 'every man should 
keep his own. If I should keep the penny I Avould feel 
as though I had something that did not belong to me.' 
In speaking to my host of the occurrence, he said: 
'That old man is as conscientious and honest as it is 
.possible for any man to be. His income is so small that 
he can hardly make both ends meet, yet he is happy and 
contented.'. It does me good to go among such people, 
and in the country Avhere I visit I find the majority of the 
people that way. No strife, no selfishness and possess- 
ing a neighborly kindness that city people do not feel." 
"That is one of the good influences that a sportsman 
comes in contact Avith and accounts for a good deal of his 
better nature. When I return from a visit to such people 
I always feel more charitable toAvard my fellow man, and 
the desire to repeat the visit is stronger every time. I 
make iieAV acquaintances, acquire new hunting territory, 
and am glad to believe that my return is always Avelcome. 
The farmer, and country people generally, are among 
my best friends." 
"There is an inseparable relation between the sports- 
man and the farmer that may be strained or strength- 
ened according to its abuse or respect. I look upon the 
farmer as the sportsman's best and indispensable friend, 
for it is he who furnishes the land and through Avhose 
courtesA' the sportsman is permitted to hunt upon it. I 
haA^e ahvays found the farmer Avilling to meet a gentle- 
man more than half Avay. Rowdies he Avill not tolerate. 
Nearly all farjners like to hunt, and they possess a 
keen sense of its enjoyment, although they may. to 
some extent, be lacking in appreciation of some of its 
minor details, that go to make the city man's outing 
enjoyable, because an every-day association with bis 
surroundings makes them less noticeable to him than 
to his city brother, avIio comes in contact Avith them 
only when enjoying the farmer's hospitality. Just so is 
the case Avith the city man who sees much less at home 
than does his country friend AS'hen A'isiting the city. My 
friends from the country often point out things to me that 
I have never seen before, and Avhich are equally interest- 
ing to me after I have found them. Most farmers are 
naturalists in a general Avay, if not scientific. The sea- 
sons of vegetation are of necessity well learned by them, 
and the habits of common animals and game are general- 
ly Avell understood. From boyhood they have associ- 
ated with these things, so that they are as able to judge 
of what is good for one and another as average humanity. 
And contact Avith the rapidly increasing army of sports- 
men adds greatly to their knowledge of human nature." 
"When you spoke of the farmer meeting the sports- 
man half way I was reminded of an incident in my own 
experience," said the neighbor. "Adjoining the farm of 
my host was one belonging to a man who was considered 
in the communty as a hard man to deal with, in that he 
was severely strict in his business transactions with his 
neighbors, even to the minutest detail, yet obliging 
and charitable when occasion required. His farm Avas 
posted, and I Avas cautioned against encroaching upon it. 
One morning, while covering a field on my friend's 
land, a bevy of quail Avent over into the forbidden ter- 
ritory, I marked them down in a small brier patch, 
Avhere the shooting would be easy, and after studying 
a while, I determined to take chances and go over. My 
dogs soon pointed, and I got a brace of birds. Then I 
heard a shout and saAV a man coming toward me. Re- 
.solved to_ face the situation like a man, I went to meet 
him. His face was stern, but there was no sign of 
anger, and I considered that a point in my favor. 
"'Didn't you see that notice?' he said. 'Yes, sir, I 
did, but those birds flew oA^er here and 1 couldn't resist 
the temptation to follow them,' I replied: "but if you 
insist upon my going out I Avill do so, but I Avould like 
to have another chance at them.' 
" 'I have kept even my neighbors from shooting here 
and you couldn't expect me to break the rule in favor of 
a stranger,' he said, - 
" 'No, sir; I don't ask you to, and I am sorrv I in- 
truded.' 
"Pie scanned me closely Avithout a Avord as I started 
for the line fence, but had not gone far Avhen he 
called: 'Say!' As I stopped he came up and continued, 
'Ain't you the man Avho visits Spiker?' I said I Avas. 
'I thought so.' said. 'I've seen those dogs over there, 
and I haA'e heard of you. Spiker is a good neighbor, and 
I don't Avant to offend him or his guest. You can hunt 
here, but don't shoot near the house; my daughter is 
sick and nervous.' 
"I thanked him, and sent the dogs after the scattered 
bevy. He folloA\'ed mc around, and seemed delighted 
Avith watching the dogs work, and when I made a double 
.shot he was captivated. After I had killed half a dozen 
of_ the birds I engaged Avath him in conversation, com- 
plimented him on the order in Ayhich his place was kept, 
and finally offered him the birds I had shot, of which he 
Avould accept only a couple for his daughter, and as T 
left he gave me a cordial invitation to hunt there again." 
"You cast your bread upon the waters," said Jim. as 
his neighbor arose to go. 
The evening was Avell spent, and he Went into the 
house to refill his pipe and think of the future. 
J. H. B. 
Pioneer Days.— V. 
Unwelcome Visitors. 
BY ROWLAND E. ROBINSON. 
During the season of sugar-making Josiah became 
intimate Avith the Canada jays, impertinent thieves that 
they Avere; they Avere company, and so were the friendly 
chickadees and nuthatches, and Avoodpeckers that bored 
the logs of the house for grubs and drummed on the 
resonant stick chimney, and he made friends Avith a soli- 
tary old croAv, though they Avere likely to fall out after 
corn-planting. Bluebirds brought the color and song of 
heaven down to the clearing, and robins came, and 
blackbirds thronged the border of the marsh, where 
open pools began to form, into which returning water 
fowl dropped to rest and feed. Stumps, logs and Avinter- 
green-clad cradle knolls began to show above the snow. 
Partridges drummed far and near in the purpling Avoods. 
There the snow and ice disappeared magically, the black 
mould of the clearing Avas laid bare, and the blue Avater 
of the creek shimmered in the sunlight doAvn to the 
slumpy ice of the bay, and there Avere the sounds of 
running brooks, the crackling croak of frogs and trill 
of toads, and lo! the miracle of spring had Avrought its 
magic transformation. 
The luxury they won from the maples made a most ac- 
ceptable addition to their monotonous fare. Josiah 
even attempted the manufacture of a pie from their 
precious stock of flour, with bear's grease for shorten- 
ing, Avild straAvberries, SAveetened Avith maple sugar, for 
filling, and Avas so far successful that they ate the in- 
terior with considerable relish, and had the crust left 
OA'er to fill again. 
Summer was upon them, with no end of work to do, 
and Avhen they could least afford it they both fell ill 
Avith fever and ague. One day they were burning Avith 
a consuming fire, the next shaking with chills that froze 
the marrow of their bones, and during both Avere barely 
able to croAvl about to the most necessary tasks, though 
fortunately their ague fits came on alternate days. 
During one June day when Kenelm lay shivering in 
all the blankets before a roasting fire, and Josiah was 
administering hot drinks of herbs and hemlock twigs, a 
figure darkened the door, and looking up they saAv a 
tail Indian silently regarding them. He asked for food, 
and Josiah set cold johnny-cake and dried A'enison be- 
fore him, whereof he partook and departed as silently 
as he came. 
Next day he returned, accompanied by an old squaw, 
and bringing a large salmon. The woman produced 
a package of dried red berries, giving out an aromatic 
odor like lemon peel. She called for liquor of some sort, 
and thev brought out a quart bottle of hoarded New 
England rum. The Indian and sduaAv each took a ' 
drink from it to make room for the berries, which Avere 
then added, with the result of producing a mixtm-e Avhich. 
Avas liquid fire. When Josiah, AA'hose ague fit Avas on. 
took a mouthful of it, it burned its Avay into his interior 
with such effect that the ague was banished from his 
