347 
BY BAI.SAM. 
“Come, boys, you know we’ve a big day's work be- 
fore us, aud I’ve breakfast all ready; so turn out now 
lively, and stow it in. I want to cross this lake before 
it gets too rough, and the wind’s rising every minute.” 
We had been in camp several days, and were only just 
beginning to get a little rested, but at the words of our 
guide we tumbled out, and after a wash in the lake, we 
put away a good breakfast, and were soon busy taking 
our traps down to the boat. They were carefully pack- 
ed, and after a close scrutiny to see that nothing was 
left, we took our positions, and shoved off from shore. 
We were only a few inches out of water, and things 
looked ticklish, as we could see away out in the lake, 
where the wind had full sweep, the “ white caps” al- 
ready rolling. A few strokes of the oars and paddles, 
and our guide spoke. “ Blamed if I know which way 
to go. It’s pretty rough all around, but we’ll pull down 
toward the island, and perhaps we can shoot across to 
the point, and then get in behind the other islands, and 
fetch across that wa}’.” W'e went slowl}’, keeping the 
boat’s head square to the wind; but in spite of all our 
care, the waves would occasionally wash over, and we 
had already more water inside than any one wished. 
“Carl, look here,” said I; “you had better leave us 
on the island, and go over with the load, and then come 
after us. I know it’s a good pull over, but we’ll never 
round the point without swamping her.” “'Well, I 
guess you are right. It is a leetle rough out there, and 
I don’t care to try it. Nowhere we are; you get out. 
and then I’ll be off. I can get over alone easy.” So 
saying, we landed, and watched Carl as he carefully 
pulled round the point, and disappeared. 
We sat down under the trees, lighted our pipes, and 
waited. We had had a good deal of rain since we start- 
ed, but to-day bid fair to be a good one for our trip, 
which we knew was to be a hard one; but as we had no 
paper to look at and see what “Old Prob” said, we hoped 
for the best. At last, after what seemed a long time, we 
saw our boat come SI0WI3' into view; so we scrambled 
down the steep bank, and were soon in our seats, skim- 
ming over the lake toward the inlet as fast as a paddle 
and oars could propel us. “ 1 tell j’ou, boj's, all of us 
could never have got over in the world. The old lake 
is pretty rough to-da}^ and it was pretty hard pulling, I 
tell you.” “ It don’t seem very rough here,” said Frank. 
“No; but don’t you see we are under the lee of the 
island? You wait a few minutes, and you’ll get wind 
enough. I’ll bet you.” Even as Carl spoke, our boat shot 
out into the wind, and it took sharp practice to keep 
her diy. But she was a good modeled one, and rode 
the waves like a duck. At last the inlet was reached, 
the boat hauled ashore, and reloaded, and once more 
we were under way. We were the first party up the 
inlet this season, and had scarcely gone two miles before 
we came to a jam of logs, which had to be cut out be- 
fore we could proceed. At last we forced our way 
through, aud paddled slowly up the crooked stream. 
The files were very troublesome, and we had to lay on 
our tar-oil freely. Trout were plenty, and jumped 
around us in every direction, but we could not stop to 
fish, as we had a long day’s work before us. “Boys, 
we are going to have rain before long, and j’OU may 
make up your mind to get damp.” “ Well, let her rain; 
we shall have to drag the boat before long by the looks 
of the stream, and we might as well get wet one way as 
another.” I was forward with a pole warding off the 
boat’s bow, as our way was intercepted bj' rocks and 
logs, and was already getting tired. At last we came to 
several trees blown directly across the stream, which 
necessitated our once more unloading. We could 
neither run under nor pull over. “No use, boys; we’ve 
got to port the traps around^ so we might as well go 
for it .” We were right under a steep bank, a 4 fl“ back- 
ing” our stuff over was laborious in the extreme; and 
then the flies took their advantage, and literally drove 
U3 frantic. They swarmed by the million, crawling up 
our sleeves and down our necks, till life became a bur- 
den. We finally got over, loaded up, and resumed our 
journey. Now’ the stream grow’s shallow, and at last 
we are fast in the mud. No other alternative but to 
wade and draw. “Carl, about how much of this have 
we got before we come to the ‘carry?’” “Oh, not 
more than a half mile.” Now I rather enjoyed this fun, 
and so did my companion, for we had both been cramped 
up in the boat and enjoyed this chance to stretch our 
legs a little. But as Carl said it was only a short dis- 
tance to the “carry,” and once more we had the pleasure 
of backing over our boat-load of traps about a half 
mile. By this time I heacd a growl of thunder. We 
hurried as fast as possible and reached the end of the 
“carry.” Before us lay a pond filled with lily-pads and 
grasses, and surrounded by dead trees and a low, fiat 
swampy country. Far ahead we caught glimpses of 
distant mountains. It was no time for sight-seeing for 
the rain had begun, and turning our boat over we hastily 
placed our baggage under it to keep dry, and fixing our 
temporary enameled-cloth tent we made a hasty cup of 
tea, and just as the rain began to fall in torrents crawled 
under and eat our lunch. The rain held on, and at last 
it was sure for a rainy afternoon. “Well, boys, what’s 
to be done?” “Paek up and go on,” say we, “rain or 
no rain, and the sooner the better. Are there any shan- 
ties ahead of us, Carl?” “Don’t know, never was up 
here before; but my opinion is that we shall find them 
down, if there are any. The heavy snow of last winter 
was too much for them ; j’ou saw how it was on Smith’s 
and Albany Lakes, didn’t you?” Again we started on 
up the pond. Carl silently rowed along through a nar- 
row slough, and then into another pond, and as we 
moved along carefully we felt anything but comforta- 
ble, for it had grown cold and we were wet through to 
the skin. “Boys, there’s a deer in ahead of us!” We 
looked, and sure enough there he stood in the water, 
feeding. On went the boat, drawing nearer and nearer, 
and still the deer had not seen us; at length we were in 
twenty rods of him, and then he discovered us, and with 
one or two splendid leaps he gained the" bank when he 
again stopped, raised his head proudly in the air, gave us 
a defiant look and then dashed off into the woods. We 
soon arrived at the head of the pond and once more 
landed. Things looked gloomy in the pouring rain. 
“Well, Carl, how about a shanty?” “Let us take a look 
about; the baggage is all dry, and a little walk will warm 
us up.” We started over the path and found an old 
camp, but, as we expected, it was fiat. We took the 
frame, however, raised it up, and placing the old bark 
over it covered it all with our oil-cloth and made out a 
shelter, and as luck would have it the storm ceased, and 
the sun came out to welcome us. “ I’ll tell you what, 
boj-s, let’s have a log heap that will keep all night, a 
regular old roaster.” At it we went, and we soon had a 
wood-pile that would have lasted a small family a week. 
Then supper was cooked and eaten. We dried our 
clothes and made ready to turn in by cutting a few 
boughs to keep us off the wet ground, and spreading 
our blankets over all. We were just ready to crawl in 
when Carl’s “hold on a minute, boys,” .stopped us. 
“What’s up, old fellow, now; anything give out?” “Oh, 
nothing, only you- know we have been wet all the after- 
noon, and I thought a little hot toddy would not be bad, 
and here it is, and you’ll find it good, too.” As he spoke 
he handed each a tin cup full, and it certainly helped to 
keep off the chills. We then rolled up with feet to 
the fire and were soon in the land of dreams. The next 
morning bright and early, while Carl was cooking, we 
went down to the river and soon had trout enough for 
breakfast. The river here is a series of rapids and falls, 
and full of trout, from a quarter to a half-pound weight, 
and of a beautiful bright color. The camp is .situated 
very pleasantly and commands both ponds, so that it is 
quite easy to “float” either of them, and there are nu- 
merous spring-holes affording good fishing in the season. 
Now the trout lay on the rapids, and we had many a 
pleasant hour wading and fi.shing in its flashing waters. 
Not a soul had we seen since we left the lakes below; 
we were evidently the first who had been up here this 
season. After breakfast we shouldered our packs, Carl 
leading the way with the boat, and soon reaching the 
upper pond we placed her in the water, dropped our 
packs, and returned for the rest of our fixings. This 
backing heavy packs over a rough “carry” on a hot 
day is no boy’s play, as every woodsman knows. But 
it has to be done, and a good many times, too. At last 
everj'thing was over, and we were gliding up the narrow 
outlet of the pond. The water was very shallow, but 
gradually deepened as we advanced, and at length we 
shot out into a pretty oval pond, bordered on one aide 
by high banks covered with noble pines and hemlocks. 
“Byes, we’re here; pick out our camp; we must have it 
up and covered in before night.” Balsam. 
OuH correspondent Clayton, of Berkeley Springs, W. 
Virginia, writes us that he has received many notes on 
the subject of his communication. He repeats his 
statement as to the game in his district, and we see no 
reason for doubting the facts. 
A Hcster and Proipector’s Notes in Colorado.— I crossed the 
Rsnge on the 22d of April, and had rather a rough trip, the snow 
hiing too soft for travel on snow shoes, and yet impossible to travel 
witlioul them. Occasionally I would break through, and it was 
quite d fflcult to get on top of the snow again, it being from two to 
six feet deep. Under these difficulties I finally reached Grirashaw's 
ranche, at the head of the park, where I partook of a good dinner 
prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson. At 2 o'clock p. m.. I stalled 
for Hot Sulphur Springs. Here I found the snow had almost en- 
tirely disaitpeared from the valleys, aud green grase ii- in some places 
from two to sbe inches high. After a few hours travel I came to Mr. 
George Phillips’ ranche. twelve miles from Hot Sulphur Springs, 
and eighteen miles from Grand Lake. Mr. Phillips is eredin.'U 
large hotel for the accommodation of tourists. At this point two 
roads meet, one leading to the Hot Sulphur Springs, the other to 
Grand Lake. C. M. Phillips intends to keep on hand a good sujtply 
of saddle horses and conveyances for persons wishing 10 visit dif- 
ferent portions of the Park. In company with Mr. Phillips I starud 
for the Springe at 8 o'clock a. m., arriving there at 10 o'clock p. u 
We stopped at Ganson's hotel, where we secured a dinner which 
any one could have relished. Judge Hook and Gen. Royer pro- 
posed to accompany me to Grand Lake, each haAing a horse to ride 
and one animal to pack our provisions, blankets, etc. Leaving the 
Springs at 11 o'clock a. m., we crossed the Grand lilver, which is 
quite high at present, traveled twelve miles, and camped at Gent ral 
Royer's ranche. Judge Hook being an expert at trout fishing, he 
cast his hook and finally succeeded in catching one, when, by some 
mishap or other, he lost his line. We fried the trout and divided 
it by three. So while our tront supper was limited, we nevertheless 
relished it as far as it wmt. Next morning the first thing that met 
our view was a herd of elk, not far distant and but for the game law 
we might have had some fun. The General had brought his Sharps 
rifle with him, as bear are quite plentiful in this section. We con- 
cluded. however, to have no trouble with the elk unless they should 
altsmpt to run over ns. Pre cntly one of them showed signs of 
fight, and started menacingly toward one of our horses. The Gene- 
ral remarked to me that if that elk approached any nearer he would 
be compe'led, in .self defense, to break one of its legs. It came on 
np, and. bringing his gun to a level, he drew a fine bead on the elk's 
left knee-cap. The report of the gun followed, and we could dis 
tinctly see that the knee-cap had been knocked off. We took 
breakfast, saddled onr horses, and started for Grand Lake. We saw 
a large number of geese, dneks, sage hens, etc. We found the trav- 
eling good, the snow having disappeared from the valleys, with the 
exception of a few snow -drifts. We arrived at the lake at 2 o’clock 
p. 31 .; found John R. Baker at home My friends. Messrs. Hook 
and Royer, remained here with me two days, and during their stay 
we had flue sport fishing. Judge Hook proved to be the champion 
angler. Mr. Baker informed me that he will have a good supply of 
pleasure boats ou the lake this summer. H ■ also intends putting 
up a hotel and other conven ences for the accommodation of ph a-- 
ureseekeis. The lake is beautiful and abounds in tront, and will, 
at some future day, become one of the most desirable resorts in 
Colorado. 

Followed Throoa:!! the Woods hy a (oiigar. 
It was in Washington Temtory, not fur from Olympia. The man 
was a speculator, looking out wild laud, atid he trudged through the 
forest, following the almost unused path formed by an old road made 
by pioneers in the wilderness. His mind was devoted toone object— 
the critical examination of the trees upon the land about him, and 
of the character of the soil, and he failed to notice for some time 
a “ pit-a-pat” upon the dead leaves near him. He at first scarcely 
looked down, when he felt something rubbing against hie legs, and 
heard a light purring sound, but when he did look his heart came np 
in his mouth and a cold sweat started as suddenly as though he 
were suspended by a weak rope over Niagara. Ibessing itself softly 
against his legs, twining about him ns he walked, moving its llvxile 
body swiftly, bnt with never a sound, turning np fierce eyes with 
something almost like a terrible laugh in them, was a huge cougar! 
No chicken was this man in the woods, but his account of the 
manner in which his hat was raised by his hair is not to be considered 
as apocryphal at ail. Sleek and supple and muscular, the beast 
glided about, and at intervals it would come closer again, and pres- 
its body against the legs of the man, the light tonch making gooses 
flesh of every inch in hie form. It was a terrible experience, that 
interviaw with the cougar in the forest primeval, and it was well for 
the man that his nerves were of the kind to do honor to a frontier 
adventurer. Steadily pursuing his course with steps that would fa'ter 
a little occasionally, he kept on, and with him the beast continued 
its treacherous gambols. At times it would glide a few paces to the 
front, and roli over and over in the road, and wait for the man to 
comenp, and then it would circle round him again until the irapul-e, 
almost too strong to be resisted, would come upon him to spr.ug 
upon the brute, opposing fists to fangs, and ending the iniolerable 
suspense at any risk. The movements of the terrible animal were 
but as the playing of the cat with a mouse, and the man knew it. 
The moment came at length when the strain could be borne 
no longer, and the man kicked desperately at the beast as it 
passed by him. In an instant it bounded in front, and crouched for 
a spring, growling hoarsely and showing its teeth. The man stop- 
ped and shouted hopelessly for aid, while the cougar did not spring 
at once, bnt appeared waiting to gratify its humor a litUe longer. 
The shout fortunately was not in vain. 
There were hunters and dogs in the immediate vicinity, as rare 
fortune would have it, and the hounds dashed suddenly from the 
covert as the cougar, seeing them, leaped fora tree. A few moments 
later the beast fell a victim to bullets, and the man with whom it 
had taken a stroll was telling his story, and trying to restore the 
normal condition of his ’nerves by internal applications from a small 
flask. It was one of the episodes which turn men's hair gray— otie 
which would, doubtless, have brought death to a man with lessm-rvo 
than the hero of the affair. — Exchange. 
IThe story is good. The writeroughtto haveadded a name. Miles 
Blower, of Storysville. would have given it a natural air.] 
The Louisville Register says the wet weather has brought out snipe 
and grossbeak from their sylvan haunt-*, and the pot-hnnters and 
sportsmen are after them from daybreak until sundown, and bag a 
large number. 
