Sept. 2, 1911.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
373 
some eatables and then started back for our 
camp. The return trip was without incident, 
with the exception that a guide-boat, which a 
week before had been the object of our derision, 
rowed by a sturdy guide, practically “walked 
away” from us. We stopped at sunset at the 
mouth of a small stream that flows from Upper 
to Middle Saranac, to try the fishing, and suc¬ 
ceeded in catching a dozen brook trout and a 
good-sized bass. On our arrival at camp we 
prepared them for the pan, with the mess we 
had caught the night before, which, topped off 
with a liberal portion of stewed prunes and 
apricots, made an extraordinary fine meal. 
We broke camp early the following day and 
struck out for Tupper Lake, by way of a short 
carry to Stony Creek Ponds and the Raquette 
River. As soon as we touched the current of 
the Raquette, we pushed our craft along at a 
steady pace, so as to reach the lake before 
nightfall. We saw many herons along the 
route, also the work of some beavers that had 
successfully dammed a small stream. About 
seventeen miles from Tupper Lake we stopped 
for a light lunch, after which we settled down 
to our usual pace, when suddenly we were con¬ 
fronted by a pretty fawn, which was standing 
on the bank of the river feeding. Naturally the 
camera was tied up in the dufflebag, unloaded. 
On nearing the town of Tupper Lake, the 
first thing we noticed was the desolate appear¬ 
ance of the surrounding country, which was 
caused by a forest fire that had swept this sec¬ 
tion seven years before. We finally reached 
the mouth of the Raquette and proceeded at 
once to the town, which was accessible only by 
paddling around a large swamp filled with 
thousands of stumps. Ted and Jack purchased 
supplies, including cakes, strawberries and 
candy, all of which we had not tasted for some 
time. Then we pitched camp about a mile from 
the town. On landing at the campsite we were 
welcomed by a rabbit that was foraging about 
for its evening meal, but after a casual glance 
at us he made for the woods. During the night 
there was a shower and luckily we had erected 
the waterproof covering over our mosquito 
tent, which was not our usual custom. 
We arose early, and it was with regret that 
we were obliged to move in order to keep up 
to our itinerary, as we were looking forward 
with great pleasure to trying our skill against 
the large lake trout for which this region is 
noted. Presently we came to a falls, the outlet 
of Bog River, in reality a large brook. Here 
we portaged up a steep embankment and pushed 
on up the river against a fairly strong current. 
We were now in an extremely wild country, 
but were downcast on reading the signs forbid¬ 
ding fishing by non-inhabitants of the town of 
Tupper Lake, as we felt quite sure this was 
the place where fish abounded in large num¬ 
ber and size. 
Shortly we came to some rapids and a port¬ 
age. After a little carry we were afloat again, 
but only for a few minutes, when we came to 
foaming rapids. We prepared our outfit for 
the carry, Jack assisting Ted and Bill to get 
away with the canoe and a pack. By the time 
he had his tumpline adjusted they were quite 
a distance ahead, and a shout from him for the 
direction to the path did not bring an answer. 
Wending his way through the woods for some 
distance, he came to an old lumbermen's trail. 
Evidently, no wagon had been through this 
section for several months at least, for the 
“road,” which was deep with mud, was covered 
with deer tracks, and a number of paw tracks 
were also visible. Large overhanging branches 
kept the sun from drying out the place and 
gave it a gloomy look. At last he came to ?. 
deer-run, and letting down his pack and noting 
his position from the compass, followed the 
trail southward, until the rapids of the Bog 
River came into view. Having returned for his 
pack, he was just drawing up when he was wel¬ 
comed by a call from Ted, who was having a 
time pushing his way with the canoe through 
the unbroken country. Both stopped to rest 
and wait for Bill, who came along shortly. In 
one place we had to walk over a brook, with 
nothing but two small trees to support our 
weight and were obliged to edge across side- 
wise to maintain our balance. 
Finally we came to Round Lake, where we 
had a good meal and then started out again. 
It was getting late now, and as we knew this 
was a favorite time and spot for deer, we kept 
our eyes open for game, and presently saw a 
couple of deer getting their evening meal on 
the bank of the lake, and shortly thereafter 
espied another. We made camp on a small 
point projecting into Little Tupper Lake. 
Bill and Ted turned in early, while Jack stayed 
up ’round the fire, enjoying his pipe and writ¬ 
ing up the diary. It was a beautiful night and 
the cries of loons and owls added to the lone¬ 
liness of the scene. Finally he prepared for 
sleep, and after extinguishing the fire, 
started for the tent, when suddenly there was 
a rush in the woods, accompanied by a crash¬ 
ing sound and the snort of a deer. Jack made a 
grab for the ax, expecting some kind of an at¬ 
tack, for this experience was a new one to him. 
On relating the happening next day to his 
campmates, they expressed doubts as to his 
condition at the time and passed it up for future 
consideration. 
A paddle of about two miles brought us to a 
small creek. Proceeding up this a short dis¬ 
tance, we came to a dam, and in trying to run 
up as closely as possible, our canoe was 
punctured in two places by a nail projecting 
from a submerged log. To get to the opposite 
side of the dam was a drop of several feet, and 
in making the jump with the packs and canoe, 
we were thoroughly shaken up. Shortly we 
came to the end of the waterway and our long 
carry into Bottle Pond began. 
From the first we had rough going, being 
obliged to straddle trees with our load and 
cross swamps nearly up to our knees in mud. 
Oftentimes our pack would catch while passing 
between trees and almost take us off our feet; 
then again, we would step into a hole and be 
brought to our knees, being forced to throw 
the pack to avoid injuring ourselves. Mean¬ 
while, Ted was having troubles of his own with 
the canoe. Trudging along, an overhanging 
branch would suddenly catch the bow of the 
canoe and spring him backward. Then, while 
looking at the ground to secure good walking, 
he would unexpectedly be thrown back with a 
jar, in his endeavor to knock down a twelve-inch 
pine. Altogether, the traveling was the hardest 
we had been obliged to make, and when a de¬ 
serted lumbermen’s camp came into view, we 
thought we would have smooth walking, which, 
however, was not the case, for on drawing up 
close we found a road full of stumps and deep 
mud and occasionally crossing swamps. 
We plugged on, but in a short time became 
anxious, for we were moving directly north¬ 
east, while our correct direction was southeast. 
We kept going, however, and it was high noon 
when we came to another camp, where we met 
two men with a team, who were taking away 
the camp furnishings, as the past winter had 
wound up lumbering in this region. 
On being told the trail did not lead to Bottle 
Pond, we were ready to drop on the spot, but 
silently took up our loads and tramped back to 
SAVING A PORTAGE. 
THE LAST CAMP. 
