824 
' came back" and hung around the scene of his depreda. 
tions all day. That night lights were put out promptly 
and a guard placed in various heavy shadows awaiting the 
return of the bandit. It gave a queer sensation to be 
suddenly halted as one forgetfully poked around in the 
dark. 
At daybreak next morning he was captured after a spir- 
ited chase, in which the dogs gleefully joined. A grave 
council followed, our captive being tied to the stake after 
the best Indian models. He whimpered and moaned so 
effectivelly that the ladies pleaded with us stern warriors 
not to shoot, ha«g or burn him. Being persuaded, the 
last we heard of the redoubtable 'Lias was the spatter of 
his bare feet through the spring branch on the road to 
the nearest town. . Edgar Magness. 
Alabama. , 
An Adventure with Smugglers in 
Alaska. 
Away up north on the Pacific coast, where the Port- 
land Canal separates the cold, green, mountainous shore 
of British Columbia from our own interesting Territory of 
Alaska, is a sheet of water about fifteen miles in width, 
and protected either by mainland or islands at all points 
save from the south. This is Dixon Entrance. 
On the British shore is the little town and Hudson's 
Bay Company post of Fort Simpson. On the American 
side, just east of Cape Fox, there still remains on a 
small island the old log buildings of Fort Tongas, one 
of the first garrisons occupied by our troops after the 
purchase of this valuable country from Russia in 1867. 
Facing the ocean on this same bit of land is the deserted 
Indian village of the Tongas tribe, with its motley line 
of grotesquely carved and painted totem poles, typical 
of all Siwash (Indian) villages along the coast. When 
a Siwash wishes to proclaim himself a delate tyee (very 
big man), he erects before the door of his shack one of 
these totems, generally his own design, that often costs 
the sum of $600, or its equivalent in blankets and skins. 
This entire settlement is now installed at Ketchikan, 
about sixty miles to the north, and the old fort is kept up 
and used (under the pretext of a trading store) as a 
place where cultus (bad) whisky can be bought at 
exorbitant prices by the Siwashes, in defiance of the 
law and the revenue cutters. There is always a demand 
' for this article, I am sorry to say, by both white and 
red men in this section, and the officers are not sufficient 
in numbers to successfully cope with the smugglers. Only 
words of praise can be said for the efficiency of the 
former, who have much more territory than they can 
effectually cover, and it is with them also this narrative 
has to do. 
The events below occurred last fall, while three of us 
were voyaging from Port Essington, at the mouth of the 
Skeena River, British Columbia, to Ketchikan, Alaska, a 
distance of nearly 150 miles. It was no doubt foolhardy 
to undertake such a journey with- no chart and little 
knowledge of the coast, but we were really forced into 
so doing. Contrary to expectations, it was found on 
arriving from the interior, where we had been many 
months prospecting, that it would be impossible to reach 
our destination by steamer without going south to Vic- 
toria, which meant "hyiu" money. 
Necessity caused us to select the proposition demand- 
ing the least outlay, so we invested in a 32ft. skiff, rigged 
with a mast and sails and two pairs of long sweep oars. 
It was not bought on account of a sound bottom or 
graceful lines, but because she was the only one for sale. 
After the purchase, some one calmly volunteered the 
fact that the salmon fishermen had already condemned 
her as being too water-soaked and rotten for safety. 
Loaded with a month's provisions, we started north, and 
on the morning of the fourth day pulled away from 
Simpson, having come a distance of perhaps sixty miles. 
Rain was falling softly, and signs of storm were in^ 
the air, but we had decided to make a run for it, and 
only when too late to turn back did we realize our mis- 
take. Fifteen miles across the surface of uneasy water, 
an indistinct mass of blue marked the mountains on the 
American shore, and a long pull it looked to Mr. Att- 
wood, better known as the Major, and to the writer, each 
of whom labored with a heavy oar. As the wind in- 
creased, the taunting waves frequently pelted us with 
spray; and Bill, our partner, who hailed from Montana, 
and who was more at home on a horse, sat serious and 
resolute at the helm, for it was his initial experience on 
the briny, and proved a rather heroic one. Later in the 
day, when an exceptionally heavy sea combed over and 
threw him from his seat to the bottom of the boat, to- 
gether with a half-barrel of water, he jocosely remarked, 
■'You may call this fun, fellers, but give me the hurricane 
deck of a bronco !" 
It is unnecessary to give in detail this day's trip, which 
might well make a story of itself, but I can truthfully 
say that it was an experience none of us care to repeat. 
After five hours' battling with the elements we heard 
the pounding of mighty Ijreakers on the Alaskan shore, 
and through the fog and blinding sheets of rain could 
iust discern high ledges besieged by mountains of white, 
angry billows. From that moment, none of us expected 
to make a landing or save our outfit, but merely pulled 
away with a firm resolve to put up a good fight when 
the time came to swim. 
Fortune favored us, however, and wind and sea both 
aided our little craft to safely round the point of a small 
inland some distance ofif shore, where we found a quiet 
harbor nestling under the high cliffs. Only a long ground 
swell was felt, and much fatigued, now that safety 
was assured, we rested on our oars, while gust after 
gust of driven rain tore through the hemlocks behind 
us. In the shelter close at hand, kittiwakes and herring 
gulls loudly clamored a welcome, and a flock of Siwash 
ducks eyed us with suspicion and distrust from a dis- 
tance. Truly it was a wild and eventful introduction 
to Alaskan soil. 
The island was a small affair, very rocky and densely 
wooded, and with much undergrowth. Our tent was 
pitched some way from the water, at the head of a deep 
cut or fissure in the ledges, which formed a natural giant 
stairway to the landing where we beached our boat. 
Only food and necessary articles were removed to the 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
camp, but fortunately the Winchesters had been brought 
up to clean and dry. From water-proof dunnage bags 
we obtained dry clothing, and with the dying embers of 
our camp-fire we fell asleep, only to be awakened a few 
hours later by the sound of voices close at hand. 
The storm had ceased, and by listening intently, we 
found that the persons — for there were a number of 
them— were commenting on our tent, so we hailed them 
in a friendly way, only to receive a surly response. Then 
one of tliem, evidently a Swede, asked in none too polite 
a tone who we were and what we were doing. This was 
explained, together with how we got there, and where 
Ave were bound, and finished by asking them to come up 
to the tent. After a short consultation among them- 
selves, of which we caught but an occasional oath, the 
men charged us with being "infernal revenue officers, 
laying for smugglers," whereupon we naturally deducted 
that they were themselves engaged in that shady occu- 
pation. 
We, of course, protested our innocent intentions, which 
had no other effect than to call forth a volley of curses 
and threats. Bill's wrath, which had been steadily ris- 
ing, was now at danger point, and in true hot-headed 
Western style he told them plainly to "get out" and 
that "right smart," or he Would open up with both six- 
shooters, which he always wore, as he said, out of respect 
for the good old days. At this sound of definite trouble 
Ave followed his example and threw ourselves at full 
length on the ground, Avhile Major and myself hastily 
pumped a cartridge into the barrel of our repeaters, and 
lifting the Avail of the tent, peered out into the darkness. 
Whether "Old Montana" Avould have made good his 
words, I was most anxious to see; but as he hesitated, I 
remember thinking at the time that he was Avaiting for 
them to fire the first shot.' We could not see his face, 
for his head and shoulders Avere outside of the door as 
he lay, still wrangling Avith the quarrelsome marauders, 
who, as near as Ave could place them, Avere clustered at 
the bottom of the ravine. Of a sudden a shot rang out, 
but so unexpectedly that it left me uncertain whether or 
not they were the first to fire. At any rate, it Avas a 
signal for a general fusillade, the etTects of which may 
still be seen in the canvas of my little wall tent, and dur- 
in which we missed out hot-headed partner. Bill. Our 
volley, apparently, failing to injure any one, for which 
my friend and I were very grateful, nevertheless caused 
them to beat a hurried retreat ; and the air was filled with 
vile language only too common in such uncivilized coun- 
try. We listened to their Avild scramblings down the 
rocky fissure to the beach, urged oh by the whip-like 
reports of Bill's revolvers, and finally heard them rowing 
aAvay up the coast. 
Soon after lighting the lantern, our aggressive com- 
panion returned, fairly bubbling over with joy and satis- 
faction at this little brush, and cooly informed us that he 
had "sure winged one of the varmints" as they un- 
ceremoniously tumbled into their boat. We talked the 
little engagement over from all sides, and came to the 
conclusion that we should see more of them again, which 
luckily proved to the contrary, although through them 
we were soon put to much annoyance. Our rest during 
the remainder of the night was naturally more or less 
broken, for we were on the qui vive lest they return and 
resume the attack. 
Next morning, while rustling wood for our early 
meal, Major discovered a whisky cache of four kegs 
and many bottles, which our midnight visitors had 
evidently come to secure. His shout brought us to the 
spot, and while re\'ieAving the night's adventure a Avhite 
steam vessel came in sight flying the Stars and Stripes, 
the first banner of our country Ave had seen since our 
departure into the interior, nine months before. Al- 
though none of us had ever seen a Pacific Coast revenue 
cutter, this Avas easily recognized as one, and it was with 
much interest that aa'c Avatched her heave to, a short 
distance above us, and saAv two boats put off a fcAv mo- 
ments later, full of men, and headed in our direction. 
Hastening to the beach, Ave hailed them. They laid 
their course directly for us, and as the foremost boat 
grounded, the officer in- charge, dressed in a fatigue 
coat, leaped ashore. Without giving us a chance to 
speak, he peremptorily ordered us to stay by the boats, 
and taking several marines, made straight for our camp, 
which was investigated Avith careful scrutiny. Then we 
saw them disappear in the direction of the cache. Short- 
ly the officer returned, and Avith a serious countenance 
placed us under arrest for violating Uncle Sam's whisky 
law. "- 
The Avhole thittg %zd been done with such dispatch 
and abruptness that it fairly struck us dumb with 
amazement. Bill, whose tranquilhty nothing seemed to 
phase, was first to recover, and while a number of tars 
were occupied in transporting the liquor from its hiding 
place to the boats, he told the officer all about ourselves 
and the trip, as Avell as the adventure of the previous 
night. I also produced a letter of introduction Avhich I 
happened to have upon me from the management of the 
Hudson's Bay Fur Company at Montreal to the officers 
of its posts throughout the Northwest, thinking it Avould 
convince the commander that we were perfectly re- 
spectable, and might lend weight to our story as well. 
It must be owned, howeA'^er, that our appearance belied 
us. 
We pressed him to run across the Entrance to Simp- 
son, where we told him our recent friends could prove 
that we had embarked the previous morning without a 
particle of liquor aboard. Or, I told him that if we were 
taken to Ketchikan, where my brother was, or if he was 
given time to come down to Mary Island (the head- 
quarters of the customs service), Ave could be identified, 
to all of which he apparently turned a deaf ear. We 
were not very apprehensive, hoAA^ever, for we could see ' 
that the man was at least partially convinced of the , 
truth of our statements by the questions which he occa- 
sionally asked. 
Bill treated the entire proceedings as a huge joke, and 
kept up a running fire of small talk with the sailors in 
the boats, some remarks of which I remember as being 
exceptionally funny and full of dry wit. _ All this tended 
to brighten a situation that might prove in the end to be 
a serious matter — in fact, the officer plainly told us that 
he was afraid Ave Avould have to accompany him to Sitka. 
He treated us now, however, Avith the utmost courtesy, 
and after loading the confiscated spirits, he allowerf m 
to pack our dunnage aAvay in our little skiff, which w 
rowed with us to the ship and hoisted upon the dci k 
by the starboard davits. At that time Major called the 
attention of several officers to the fact that it would 
have been impossible to have brought that load of spirits 
over in our boat during yesterday's storm; and one of 
them said that that was precisely the trouble, for the} 
didn't belicAre Ave crossed the Entrance at all in that 
rough weather — Avhich shoAved that a feAV of them at 
least thought Ave were telling untruths in regard to the 
whole matter. 
We breakfasted in the cabin, and were then permitted 
on deck, although I noticed one or more of the self- 
appointed guardians stayed with us continually. The 
vessel steamed sloAvly by Tongas Island, rounded Cape 
Fox and proceeded northward to Mary Island, where we 
were told, after some delay, that the ship would go a-t 
once to Ketchikan, it being on the way to Sitka, and the 
officer was to use his own discretion as to whether or 
not Ave should be released. 
_ An hour and a half's hard steaming brought us in 
sight of the little Avhite hamlet so typical of the Alaskan 
coast. Here, after much trouble, for the tide was run- 
ning swiftly, we secured a berth at the steamer's wharf. 
During this operation we had been taken beloAV, and a 
little later there Avere ushered in to us, not only my 
brother, but two friends from Massachusetts, whom I 
never expected to find in that out-of-the-way portion of 
the globe; and after a surprised and hearty greeting, for 
my arrival was entirely unexpected, Ave told our story. 
Starting with the trip across British Columbia, by pack 
train, we hastily sketched the canoe voyage down the 
Skeena River to Port Essington, and our subsequent 
journey up the coast to where we were captured in the 
false position of smugglgers. 
All three helped in telling the narrative, and when it 
was finished the officer quietly told us that (just as we 
had already surmised among ourseh^es) four men in an 
open boat, one of whom was wounded in the leg, had 
informed them that morning off Fort Tongas about 
being attacked by a party of smugglers on that island, 
and also that if they went at once to the spot they would 
find both lawbreakers and Avhisky together, Avhich is a 
condition that is necessary in order to arrest and convict 
parties that follow this illegal business. 
The one in charge then told us that he had believed our 
story from the first; and he actually apologized for the 
necessity of coming to Ketchikan to prove our state- 
ments. We parted the best of friends, and during our 
stay in that neighborhood found them to be royal good 
fellows. Afterward we spent many pleasant evenings 
together, Avhen the good ship Rush Avas in port, and the 
real offenders, who had long been under suspicion, Avere 
finally obliged to leaA^e the country, though never receiv- 
ing the just deserts they so richly merited. 
F . E. Taylor. 
Another Reverie of a Bachelort 
Lying on a bed of hemlock under the little A tent, you 
draw the blanket closer and listen to the raindrops pat- 
tering on the canvas a feAV inches above. What ecstacy of 
comfort beneath that blanket, what SAveet memories Ha'c 
in the music of the raindrops of rainy nights long ago, 
when you slept on the couch in the garret over at "Cousin 
Jim's house," after all day "hauling to mill" or hunting 
rabbits in a drizzling rain. You had a AA^arm supper by 
the kitchen stove, and you and Cousin Jim ran up the 
steep garret steps, undressed in no time and were under 
four hea\-y comforts, lulled by the music of falling rain- 
drops blended with the thump of larger drippings from 
among the leaves of the old .elm tree AA'hose branches 
partly sheltered the Ioav roof. Was ever eiderdoAAm more 
gracious than those four old home-made quilts? Was 
ever music more sublime or soul more thrilled? 
You think of long tramps when on the chase, in later 
days, and of the lullaby of the raindrops on shanty roof 
or tent fly, Avhile the last flickering embers of the camp- 
fire were being quenched, and ensued darkness and chilly 
blast Avithout; but within Avas Avarmth and comfort be- 
tween the blanket and the hemlock — comfort within Avhile 
cold and discomfort are so near, without, that one must 
guard the comfort as if it sought to steal aAvay and admit 
the chill and dampness. Aye, the nearer these, the more 
marked the contrast — the sensation of present security 
from them. For all things, joy and sadness, good and 
bad, even Avet and dry, are by contrast. 
Minstrel touched zithern chord, in days of old. 
And Icings were pleased — brave knights more valiant greiv ; 
Fair goddesses and mighty gods did list 
In former days the lyre. 
The piper's note, o'er dell and highland moor, 
Wafts, to cause lassies' hearts, in joy or pain, 
To quicker bound or only throb and sigh. 
Toiling peasant on Alsatia's slope 
Looks out o'er valley broad with shaded eye 
To see whence cometh note of shepherd'? flute. 
Salmanca's light guitar — Italia's harp— 
Woos maid with moonlit face — speeds dancers ^3.y. 
Mingled with cannon roar, is martial strain, 
And legions march to death, nor count it loss! 
And as the world groAVS older come yet grander strains, 
thrilling alike the souls of yeoman and lords, yet will 
there not ever be gentler sound than the pelting of the 
raindrops, now more steady and strong upon the ganvas 
as Ave aAvake from our first dream, draAv the blanket now 
close over our ears and settle again for sweeter repose 
than comes to any but nature's child, in thankfulness that 
pain comes so near, while happiness, partitioned off by 
but the thin texture of the canvas, is yet securely ours. 
Tripod. 
Mississippi. 
A Second Edition of the October Brief. 
An unexpected demand has exhausted the first edition 
of the October Game Laws in Brief and Woodcraft Mag- 
azine, A second edition is noAV preparing and will be 
ready in a tfeAV days^ 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday and as much earlier as practicable. 
