08 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Astorin, find the “wood of Jones," where Dutchmen most 
do congregate, were soon left far behind. 
In an hour after, having safely weathered the sunken 
rocks and treacherous currents of Hell Gate, and passed 
the frowning battlements of Fort Schuyler, our pretty 
barque was tossing on the blue waters of the Sound. 
The grey shades of t wilight had gradually deepened into 
the durkness of an Autumnal night, the stars had began to 
peep out one by one in the sky, when, rising from the 
table, I went on deck to take my trick at the helm. The 
wind, which at the stnrt had been quite fresh, gradually 
died out with the sun, until there was only about enough to 
give us stecragewny. With my arm resting carelessly on 
the tiller, now glancing at the sails, and anon peering 
ahead through the gathering darkness, I gradually fell into 
a reverie, when, suddenly, a stream of light struck full in 
my tace, and the portly form of my friend, John M , 
looming up through the cabin hatch brought me back with 
a cheerful hail, front the realms of fancy. 
“llow fares it, skipper?" said lie. “As G. is too busily 
engaged to talk, I thought I wonld come up and have a 
smoke and chut with you." 
“And right welcome you arc, brother councillor,” I re- 
plied. Having laughingly commented upon Q.'a omnivor- 
ous propensities, after a few moments musing, he con- 
tinued : — 
“I have been thinking of the changes which time makes 
in the position of thingH around us, and of the little circle 
that was wont to gather round the hearthstone of the old 
homestead. Father, mother, brothers, sisters and play- 
mates, how quietly some grew old and ripe, and then 
dropped into the grave; how’ gently others stole awny in 
all the freshness of youth to the home of the dead, and 
how the rest have floated down the currents of life and are 
lost to me amid the mists and shadows of time. ‘Change I 
Change ! !' is the war cry of the world, and has been ever 
since the first tree was felled, and the first ray of sunshine 
glimmered in the fastnesses of the pnmcvul forest. 'On- 
ward 1’ is the watchword of this people. ‘Onward !’ over 
the rude cubin of the early settler; onward over tbehenrlh- 
stones of mnny an old homestead, obliterating the ancient 
landmarks with the relentless touch of modern improve- 
ment. ‘Onward I’ over everything primitive that as litllo 
children we were wont to love, and that comes drifting 
along down the currents of memory — bright visions of the 
returnless past." 
“Dlvil a word of lie in that, anyhow; hut, shuro, maslhcr 
John, dear, what would become of ns that does the diggin' 
aud such loiko, if yees was to sthop that same march of 
improvement?" 
This unromantic interruption proceeded from a Celtic 
follower of John's, who called himself cook and steward, 
but was, in reality. Jack of all work on board. The pos- 
session of this valuable henchman was the result of an 
accident, and thereby bangs a tale that will bear repeating. 
Borne seasons ago our party were on a shooting excursion, 
and the day being dull, we concluded to drop In shore ami 
wail for the birds to come over us. Scarcely were our ar- 
rangements completed and the “stools" placed when we 
spied a gaunt, red-haired Paddy creeping cautiously along 
shore to got a shot at them. Kxpecting some fun, we lay 
perfectly still, till having attained what he considered an 
easy tango, his piece was vuisod, carefully sighted, and 
then came an explosion, which made every timber of the 
boats rattle; the water was lashed with foam, and the 
headless bodies of italf a dozen wooden ducks attested 
both the accuracy of his aim and the capacity of the old 
musket to carry shot. Shouts of laughter, blended with 
execrations, greeted this bloodless exploit, when Pat, in- 
stead of expressing contrition for the damage done, ex- 
clnimcd, with a much Injured air:— 
“Arrah 1 why didu'l yecs tell me? sure it was the only 
charge I had.” 
Thero was no gainsaying this; a bargain was ratified on 
the spot, and thenceforth “P. O'Shnughncssy, Esq.," be- 
came an indispensable adjunct to our shooting parties. 
And truly he was a genuine son of the land of “Punch, 
Priests and Potatos," concealing, under assumed Innocence, 
a shrewd and cautious nature. Any man who could put 
the “comether" on Pat, to use his own expression, had “to 
sleep wid both eyes opeu and get up before the burds.” 
Having finished our pipes, and the watch being up, we 
went below and turned in, to be awakened at early dawn 
by the voice of our 6kippcr ringing down through the 
hatch, with, “House out and bit, lads, the birds are on 
the wing.” 
A hasty toilet performed, wo were soon on deck, and 
thero a sight greeted us which will not soon be forgotten. 
The sun was frescoing the eastern horizon with streaks of 
golden light; the air, though sharp, was pure and bracing, 
making the blood bound joyously in tin veins; while 
ahead, astern and under our lee, the black beads were 
dancing iu the swell of t ho sea like the corks of some 
mighty seine. It was a sight that would have roused more 
sluggish natures than ours; quickly our snowy canvass was 
spread, willing bands heaved the windlass, bringing the 
light anchor inboard with a Jerk, when the lively craft, 
freed from her moorings, bowed as if in sulute to a pull 
that struck her, and dashing the spray iu clouds from her 
bows, bore gallantly down upon the prey. “Lull up ! 
Lull ! ! Sharp I ! ! ’’rang out Missing's clear stones from for- 
ward; “and luff it is, sir," was the responsive growl of the 
old sea-dog nt the helm. "There they rise,” was now the 
cry, followed by the sharp crack of the pieces. A dozen 
or inoro white breasts stained with blood were seen 
floating nround us. Scarcely bad the echoes died away 
when “Boo-loong !" roared Pal's piece or ordnance from 
astern. 
•ivtint do you mean, scaring the birds in that way?” 
wruthtully exclaimed the councillor. "What were you 
shoot ing at?” 
“Divit a know I know, sur, but it’s dead anyway. 
Didn't it sit there just iorninst me, bliukin' its eye and 
Blinkin' its head, JuH darin’ me to shoot; and would yees 
have me shlaulliered by a dumb baste of a burd? More be 
the same token." 
Jack got out of patience. “Get into the boat at once, 
you villain, and pick up those birds, and mind, now, if 1 
hear that Columbian of yours again, I'll pitch you and it 
overboard." 
Grumbling and growling away went Pat, soon returning 
with the ducks and a mass of feathers and bones, which he 
informed us, with a triumphant air, was his game; it was 
an auciuot loon which pant thus dearly for an insult offered 
to the blood of au O'Sliuiighucssy. 
But why tax your patience with a repetition of such 
accnes I Three days passed quickly away, aud our lockers 
being well filled with game, we concluded to vary the mon- 
otony by a run on shore. 
The bright glow of afternoon was fading into the mel- 
low shades of twilight, when our party, after a long 
trump, stopped to rest on a headland overlooking the liny. 
The exclamation, “how beautiful !” burst simultaneously 
from our lips. 
The sun just dipping behind the western hills, more clearly 
defining the deep shadows of the vullcys, the broad harbor 
spread out before us like a huge mirror, and the old woods, 
so weird and durk, standing in bold relief against the even- 
ing sky, formed a scene that no lapse of lime could effuce 
from memory’s logbook. 
A week bad now been registered on the calendar, and 
it being decided to start on our return voyage, the guns 
and accoutrements were duly packed, deck and boats 
eleuned up, aud invitations extended to our shore friends to 
take dinner on hourd, anil in a parting glass with iis, good 
speed homeward. A right merry party gathered around 
the table in our little cabin that night. Wine, wit and 
music sped the fleeting hours, and the morning watch was 
well nigh spent ere the last reveller depurled. 
Among the mnny things said and sung, this little squib 
so struck my fancy that I noted it in our log; and thus runs 
the verse:— 
Three men ami a hnll-dogiigly, 
Two guns and a lerrtor lame; 
They’d belicr eland out in (lie mud there, 
And act themselves up for game. 
Hut, no! I see by the cocking 
Of that red-haired Paddy's ej-e, 
He's been sniping too much, for you. sir. 
Any such game to try. 
"Wh'st! Joinery, me boy, knpe aley, 
And hould the Ing bull dog In; 
Here's n bloody big cloud of yuller legs 
That nude a pepperin'," 
"Chip, bang!" speaks the single barrel— 
"Flip, bojng!' r ronrs(beold queen Anne; 
There's a Paddy stretched out In the mire, 
A kicked over, knocked down mail. 
The bull-dog’s eyes stick out, 
And the terrier's barks begin; 
The Paddy digs out of the bog-hole. 
And then the ilDcoorsIn' comes In. 
"Whist! Jnmsoy, ye tunilering blaagurd, 
1 know ye're the Dlvll's own Sou; 
How many flngeis load, thin. 
Did ye* pul In the blasted old gmi?" 
"How mnny Angers! be jnbers? 
I nivlr put in a one; 
Dv ye think I 'd be lift her raiumin' 
Me lingers Into the glint'' 
"Well, give tne the powder, Jamesey." 
"Tho powthcr! a» sure a» yer born, 
1 put It nil In the old musket. 
As I'd ulvlra powthcr horn." 
Fur For til and Stream. 
IN THE WILDERNESS OF MAINE. 
I HAVE read with much interest the articles of General 
Sherman in Fo ihcht and Stub am, recounting a tort- 
night’s visit to the Adirondack Wilderness; though, for 
myself, I prefer a less formidable outfit, and in the follow- 
ing sketch will attempt to show wherein we differ in this 
respect, when seeking a vacation in the forest: — 
In the first place, there are hut two in our party — namely, 
an old hunter called “Uncle Nathan,” born and Drought up 
in the woods, and always uneasy when away from them, 
and Frctl, who is always Fred, wherever he is known, either 
along the banks of the Kennebec, or in “Old Middlesex." 
1 leave Boston at eight o’clock one September morning, by 
Eastern Railroad cut Portland and Kennebec to Sltowhe- 
gan, 225 miles in all; thence by stage fifteen miles to Solon, 
where wo have supper, then on again eight miles aud our 
day’s work is douc. We go to sleep in Bingham 248 miles 
from Boston. Early the next morning a drive of three 
miles brings me to “Undo Nathan’s" hospitable home, 
where our preparations commence. My outfit consists of 
a pair of flannel shirts, two or three pair thick woolen hose, 
yarn, thread und needles; a pair of thick woolen pants, 
with a few pieces for patches; a good comfortable vest t hut 
can be buttoned to the chin; a short jacket like a “reefer,” 
with plenty of pocket room; a soft, light felt hat, and moc- 
casins. 
They get wet easy? Yes, but so do hob nail shoes, or, 
worse yet, cavalry boots, neither of which would 1 recom- 
meud; hut they dry much quicker, are more easily kept in 
order, and above all, they don’t gall your leet. My blanket 
is a little heavier than an army blanket, and a little larger, 
sewed up like u bag, with both ends open, yet long enough 
to cover botli feet and head. With such a contrivance, oue 
can’t get uncovered, uo matter how much he rolls. 
I pack all these iuto my knapsack, which is made of a 
new seamless meal hug, cut the required size, and fitted 
with a set of Uncle Bain’s old army straps, the shoulder 
aud hack straps sewed on just as they were. This will hold 
from fifty to one hundred pounds, aud carry all that is 
necessary for anyone, and has served me through muny 
thousand miles of travel. Others may make pack mules 
of themselves if they choose, for the sake of carrying 
delicacies into the garden of bountiful nature, but for my- 
self, 1 go iuto the woods tor a change, a thorough radical 
change. It would take the pleasure all away were 1 to see 
tine houses, find accommodating porters to carry nty bag- 
gage and a table groaning uuder the display of a variety of 
dishes. No, no, 1 go to commune with nature, to leant of 
her, live like her in simple style, und thereby gain health 
and strength. I like good high living as well as anyone, 
but if we indulge in such, we must spend a month m the 
woods every year, living on simple lood to counteract its 
evils, for an evil it is. 
Now for the larder: First, and most important, is salt 
pork. Then comes tea or chocolate, suit, pepper, iiors- 
lord'a Bread Preparation, flour aud beaus. Our cooking 
utensils are also as few as possible. My fry-pan is my own 
invention und not patented or applied for, and this is how 
it is made: Buy a ten-inch compressed tin plate, and then 
punch four holes, equi distant from each other, ttroutul the 
rim; then bund two pieces of wire so that when they lie 
down they lest on the edge of the plate, crossing each 
Ollier; fasten the cuds in the holes, and if you waut a plate 
there it is. It you desire a fry pan just cut u long stick 
and split oue end aud raise the two wire bails, and crossing 
them iu the split, you huve a good fry-pan ut a convenient 
distance from the intense heat of the tire. 1 have also a 
tin dipper, a cotubiued knife aud fork and spoon, and a 
three- -pint pail, which I cau use for lea, or to bake beaus in, 
or for a stew, or nuylhing, for one must not be too par 
tieular, only he clean. Sundries comprises a small axe, 
(2$ lbs. is large enough,) mutches in two separate places, to 
guard against accidents. (1 always make it a point to pm 
a lot in a large-mouthed bottle, tightly corked, to prevent 
wet,) a little liniment or pain killer, bottle Arnold’s balsam, 
some sticking plaster, and a few baiidnges, a compass' 
coslile soap, towel, salve, a few nails, comb, small file, gun 
oil, and waste for gun. Then, of course, I have my trusty 
gun and rod with necessary implements. I carry a patent 
rifle, interchangeable with a shot barrel, or a "slock that 
has a lifie or shot barrel in it at will," as a countryman 
said, while “Uncle Nathan" has a double-barrel piece — 
one barrel a rifle and the other for shot. 
Slinging our packs on our backs, L T ncle and I grasped 
our guns and axes, und with our rods fastened to our packs, 
struck out for pleasure and health. As we were not 
amateurs nt walking in the woods, night found us twenty- 
live miles from home. 
We soon hud boughs for our bed and wood enough for the 
fire, which we needed all night, ns we were on the shore of 
a large pond nine miles long. While cutting wood and 
getting houghs, we knocked over five ruffed grouse, and 
could have shot many more. As we could not use the 
grouse till breakfast, and we wanted something for supper 
after our .long jaunt, I took a small piece of pork unci cut 
a slim switch, to which 1 fastened a few feet of line and a 
hook, with a piece of pork for bait. Now, don’t laugh at 
the mention, ns it was dark, and not a very pleasant time 
tor fly fishing, and we were “living on the country.” I 
then proceeded to .the hanks of Mosquito Btreani, and 
dropping my bait, soon had three trout hooked, which 
turned the scales at 7 lbs. 2 ozs. , and that supper tasted as 
good ns though I Imd caught them with a lly. With our 
leet to the fire, Indian fashion, we soon went to sleep, our 
slumbers being occasionally broken by the practical oc- 
cupation of replenishing the fire. 
The next morning we had more trout for breakfast, to- 
gether with hot biscuit. I’ll tell you how to make biscuit, 
hike a piece of birch bark for your mixing-pau, turn tho 
edges up about an inch, and pin them in that position; 
when your dough Is ready, cut a split out of a dry tree, 
take care not to use wood that will give any unpleasant 
taste to the bread; then place your split in close proximity 
to your bed of live coals, which, I suppose, you have 
ready by this time, as you can without burning your bis- 
cuit, your split to stand a little angling. By occasional 
turning you will soon have better bread than half tho people 
have with far more conveniences. 
As we proposed to stay some time we proceeded at once 
to build a “home shanty." Situation is of first importance, 
with a good draft and free from gusts of wind to smoke 
you out. A good dry location, with the right kind of wood 
liandy and a cool spring, is about pcrleciion, though I 
always try to get out of sight, for reasons every hunter 
well knows, especially if you are gone from camp a day or 
so at a time. We fixed on our location under a cliff twenty- 
five feel high. Binoke will climb anything it can cling to, 
and besides, the rock holds heat and gives it out long after 
vour fire is out. A spring six rods off supplied me with 
water. As one sometimes wishes to move camp it is not 
an easy job, if it is a “log camp," hut we built ours so we 
could use most of the materials again. We laid our ground 
logs facing the ledge 8x8, excepting one side it was two 
feet shorter for a dour; there were three layers of logs laid 
in the usual manner; then we luid ribs from the top log at 
the back of the camp to heavy crotched sticks one foot 
high sunk in the ground near the cliff; across these ribs we 
h id stringers three feet apart; that took hut a short time. 
Real work now commenced. Going into an adjacent 
swamp, we leveled three fine cedars, cut the butt lugs off 
seven teel long, split them into four equal parts, which are 
culled “holts.” Each holt has some heart ou it that is split 
off and thrown ou the ground, and a projecting root or a 
cavity under a sloue being taken advantage of to introduce 
one end of your holt, you use your “heart strips” for a 
“holster" and commence to “split" your stringlcs with your 
“holt" at an elevation most convenient for you to work at. 
You will split your shingles about one-fourih of an inch 
thick and as wide as you can get them. Afterwaids lay 
them the way ordinary shingles are laid, keeping them in 
place by a “hinder," which is a pole luid over the butts of 
your splits and immediately over your stringers. The ends 
of the "hinder" aud stringer are witlicd lightly together. 
In this manner you have an impervious cainp. If cedar is 
not liandy, peel spruce, though it is not half as good, and 
gels mouldy. The sides are made with splits stood up and 
joints broken as iu shingling, and fastened by poles on each 
side, hound at each eml wiln withes. 
We now took our canoe aud guns, and paddled up to 
Sandy Btreani, where we found caribou and hear signs 
abundant. At dusk we puddled back toward camp, and 
just as we wero rounding a point of land we heard ducks 
feeding. Ruuniug our canoe ashore we got out, and creep- 
ing up within opeu sight of them, both fired at once, kill- 
ing three out of niue. They were the black or dusky duck. 
This pond was a breeding place for them, I expect, us I 
have seen them at all times ot the year between ice. They 
made a very acceptable addition to our larder. 
The name of the beauiitul pond where we camped is 
Moxie. ft lies iu Moxiu township anil empties into the 
East Branch three miles above Hie Forks. It might he 
better described us three ponds connected by narrows, 
"Mosquito Narrows” at the south, “Black Narrows" in 
middle aud "Caribou Narrows" at the north. I give them 
iu this order, as the inlet is at the north end. At the south 
end it receives Baker Stream, from Baker Pond, and another 
from “The Bog," three miles long. On the west side, south 
of Mosquito Narrows, it receives “The Little dandy," aud 
on the east side Bear Brook and Big dandy. I huve fished 
up the Big Bandy lor live miles aud 1 don't know how 
much further one could go, but tiie trout were as plenty 
there us at its mouth, and the stream just as broad. North 
of Mosquito Narrows, ou the west side, Mosquito Stream 
empties from Mosquito Poud; north of Black Narrows 
Aider Brook empties; while north of Caribou Narrows is 
a hog just alive with ducks in their season. South and 
east of the pond, making down to irs shore, is Austin 
Stream Bald Mountain, a noted resort for caribou; on the 
west side stretches Pleasant Pone Mountain range, while 
between Mosquito and Black Narrows Mosquito Mountain 
rears its ragged lolly sides. These ponds are all lull of 
trout; streams ditto, The mountains are tracked with deer 
and caribou in great abundance, and in blueberry time the 
black bear "is lliur.” Ruffed grouse 1 cau kill with clubs 
or stones; no game to them, hut ducks are different, aud 
act with more life than I wished they did at times. 
Sunday? so it is I Well, how’s them beans? You see 
