Oct. 19, 1912 
FOREST AND STREAM 
491 
My Three-Pointer 
By D. 
AST year, as an appropriate relaxation 
after a year in an Eastern school, my 
sister and myself “camped out” with my 
father for about five months, along the Sacra¬ 
mento Canon. Needless to say we had endless 
experiences, but the one I am going to relate 
at present concerns itself with my first deer. 
First, let me introduce you to my dad. 
“Dad’’ is affectionately known all over California 
by this title. To know him is to love him. 
Over forty years he has lived more or less in 
the woods of Michigan. Minnesota, British 
“dad's deer.” 
Columbia and California. His store of wood¬ 
craft knowledge is unlimited, and he has a fund 
of anecdote, humor and intimate tales of the 
creatures of the woods that is unrivaled. Next 
comes “Sis,” a lover of the woods and all that 
pertains to them. Lastly, myself. 
On a morning in September we started 
forth at daybreak, Dad carried a pack and his 
gun, a combination of rifle and shotgun, of 
which he is very fond. Betsy by name. My Sis 
and I bad a pack that we were to carry in turn; 
she also had a sack of shells and a fishing rod 
folded in its case. I carried a .25-50 carbine, 
brand new 7 , and to be mine in case I shot a 
deer. Our two dogs—Mother and Dot—both 
foxterriers and trained deer dogs, accompanied 
us; also Genevieve, familiarly known as Jinny, 
a member of the "Rocky Mountain canary” 
species. She had a heavy load, bedding, pro¬ 
visions, canvas to be used as a roof and all the 
B. W. 
cooking paraphernalia. Unfortunately, we could 
not get a regular packsaddle and the makeshift 
that we contrived was to cause 11s much trouble. 
The trail we were to follow started right 
back of our camp, which was on the bank of 
the Sacramento River. This trail, known as 
the McCloud trail, leads for four miles up hill, 
then seven down. 
Fortunately Sis and I were hardened by a 
series of fishing trips and exploring excursions, 
else we never would have reached the spot for 
which we started. The climb up hill was terrific, 
extremely steep and the trail exposed to the 
sun which was quite far up in the heavens by 
the time we conquered the up-grade. 
Once Jinny’s pack came off, and we had a 
dreadful time. A fractious burro is bad enough, 
but imagine having two girls who are scared 
to death of her for aid in boosting and tying 
the packs in place. Dad walked ahead, leading 
Jinny. Sis and I took turns in walking next 
and prodding her with sticks, as she was very 
balky. I found my rifle barrel very effective! 
After an hour’s walking down the trail we 
came to a spring. It was about eleven o’clock 
and we were parched. Jinny’s pack was nearly 
off again, and we were all pretty near a dis¬ 
play of temper. Luckily, the water and rest 
had a cooling effect, both on tempers and 
throats. Also we espied a sheep camp. One of 
the men had an extra horse and agreed to bring 
most of Jinny’s pack and one of ours over that 
afternoon, so we set forth again with lightened 
hearts and loads—Jinny frisking along with oc¬ 
casionally a sonorous "hee-haw” to express her 
delight. 
The scenery was magnificent, on one side 
old Shasta was in view; on the other, Mount 
Lassen. Vistas of hills and valleys, gullies and 
ravines opened before 11s. Part of the way was 
beside Tom Neal Creek, part along hillsides 
covered with timber, while often we passed 
through barren spots where burr oak, white 
thorn and chaparral bush ran riot. 
Of course, we did not enjoy all of the tramp 
—the latter part required great effort. We had 
to wade streams, and tired feet in stiff wet boots 
are not conducive to comfort. Sis and I wore 
middies and bloomers of a dark material, non¬ 
descript hats and high boots. And oh! the 
times we blessed the absence of skirts, for even 
short ones are a hindrance. 
At last we grew so tired we had to give 
in for one more long rest, so threw down the 
pack by the side of the creek and gave our¬ 
selves up to a few moments of luxurious rest. 
Just as we were getting ready to start again, 
the sheep man—Mr. G. came riding along 
the trail, leading the pack horse. Sis and I 
were showing signs of fatigue, I guess. At 
any rate, Mr. G. offered us his horse to ride. 
Sis climbed on and we were on our way. 
The trail ran around the side of a hill. We 
were all walking along peacefully, when sud¬ 
denly Jinny discovered a hornets’ nest—or, per¬ 
haps, I should say the hornets discovered her. 
At any rate, she gave a series of jumps that 
nearly proved disastrous to Dad, for she almost 
butted him down the bank and into the creek. 
Fortunately the horses passed without moles¬ 
tation. and in a few moments we arrived at- 
Tom Neal’s flat, as our camping place is called. 
It is a beautiful little flat with the trail run¬ 
ning along the foot of the hill on one side, and 
the creek curving around the other almost turn¬ 
ing the flat into an island, for you have to ford 
just as you reach the flat and just as you leave. 
About four hundred yards further down 
the trail is a famous lick called the Crossing. 
We were very lucky in finding the flat vacant, 
for it is a very desirable camping place. One 
wall remains of an old cabin, and camping in 
the lee of it, it forms a needed protection from 
‘ dad’s dear.” 
the wind, for at night a perfect gale blows 
through the little canon. 
We rolled a huge log down the hill and 
placed it lengthwise with one end against the 
wall, fastened the canvas to the log, then 
stretched it up to a pole placed lengthwise, 
fastened to the top of the wall on one side and 
supported by a prop on the other. This formed 
a little three-cornered room. We made three 
beds, hung the packs to form a shelter on the 
side opposite the wall, built a fire in front and 
our camp was complete. Tea and bread and 
butter satisfied our hunger and we rolled into 
bed very, very early and were soon lost to the 
world. 
Next morning Dad awakened me about 
four-thirty. We ate a hasty breakfast, left Sis 
asleep in camp, as she does not hunt, and 
journeyed forth. Dad took the dogs and went 
(Continued on page 507.) 
