Sept. 12, 1908.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
409 
brought across in safety. After a few moments 
we dressed ourselves and went on to the house 
at Rio Ancho, sleeping inside that night, for the 
rains promised to be bad. The next morning 
W WAS so much enamored with the beauty 
of Douglas Lake and its charming sur¬ 
roundings, that I had no hesitation in 
deciding where I should spend my vacation. 
Among its advantages are grand and almost 
primitive forest, its elevation and purity of air, 
its remoteness from towns and fashionable re¬ 
sorts, as well as the “simple life” that may be 
had and which contributes so much to the en¬ 
joyment of those who love nature, and who get 
away from business and city environment for a 
genuine rest, free from the cares of traffic and 
the restraints and demands of fashion. 
Arrived at Petoskey, the train ride about the 
beautiful Little Traverse Bay, with its many 
summer homes, is always interesting and at¬ 
tractive, and one feels as though he would love 
to linger longer than the scheduled time per¬ 
mits ere losing it from view, and passing north¬ 
ward, again we had a glimpse en route of Round 
Lake, made more famous by the Indian 
Hiawatha performance that has induced thou¬ 
sands to visit it, and soon Conway and Oden 
afforded quite an extended view of Crooked 
Lake, whose every nook and corner was so 
well known to me, and about whose shores and 
hills I had walked many a mile. New cottages 
were in evidence on both sides of this lake, and 
many a launch filled with happy occupants was 
to be seen rushing about. I was informed that 
in the early spring the fishing had been very 
good. The fact that from this lake there is a 
fine thoroughfare for launches through to 
Pickerel Lake, as also through to Burt Lake 
and beyond, even to Lake Huron, will always 
make it an attractive place for those who can 
afford such luxury. There has already de¬ 
veloped quite an interest in racing with launches; 
some very speedy ones have been brought in. 
Although many of my friends were located here, 
I could not stop, and soon we reached Brutus, 
a point from which many an enthusiastic angler 
has sought the tributaries of Maple River in 
quest of the trout it is noted for. 
Arrived at Pellston, I found Ed. in waiting 
with horse and buggy, as expected, soon had 
my baggage in, and we were off over the plain 
and through the big woods, arriving at Douglas 
Lake in time for dinner. A hearty welcome was 
extended; I met old and new guests, and en¬ 
joyed the “square meal” set out. After a cigar 
, on the porch, I was soon in flannels and getting 
the “Wanderer” from its storage into the water, 
rowed away for an hour. Then for a change of 
exercise, as is my usual custom, I went ashore 
and over the island trail, every foot of which 
was associated with pleasant memories, and then 
again to my boat and a pull across to the beauti¬ 
ful southern shore, where I again disembarked 
and strolled through the Emmons Road, and 
we found the river at full flood, but there was 
a canoe and we were soon across in safety, and 
at night were housed in the little town of 
Dibulla, planning a trip to the upper mountains. 
from thence into other attractive trails and 
wood roads of that vicinity, and then rowed 
back to the hotel, with a good appetite for 
supper. 
During the first two weeks the weather was 
all that could be desired, and I passed the days 
in rowing, walking through the woods, cutting 
AN eagle's NEST THAT HAS BEEN OCCUPIED FOR 
THIRTY YEARS. 
From a photograph by Miller. 
out trails for short cuts from one wood road 
to another, and in putting up some seats at 
cosy resting places, where I could spend an 
hour or so in reading or writing, as the spirit 
moved. I had directed that the only papers to 
be forwarded to me were Forest and Stream 
and the Sunday Enquirer—the one to be my 
mental pabulum in the woods, and the other 
for general news. They proved to be sufficient. 
A few bass, pickerel and pike were brought in 
from day to day by guests who were more en¬ 
thusiastic and persistent for fish than myself, 
and the table was supplied fairly well. After 
the middle of September the fish were biting 
more freely and larger strings were brought in, 
ranging from 5 to 29 bass taken in a day’s 
work with two rods. But the weather had 
been very unpleasant on account of cold rains 
and high winds, so that it was only occasion¬ 
ally that a party would brave the cold and the 
wind and waves; in fact, the weather was bad 
until the middle of October. It was quite in 
contrast with the delightful experience of the 
previous year. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it, and 
when it did not rain, and the wind was too cold 
to be on the water, I could enjoy a walk in the 
woods, and was frequently accompanied by some 
of the guests, while any remained, and they 
seemed to enjoy the beautiful trails and views, 
so that it was a pleasure to conduct them. 
When I arrived in early August the red rasp¬ 
berries had been very plentiful. ,There were 
many left on the bushes, and it was a pleasant 
feature of our rambles to take baskets, pick 
what we could eat and bring back enough for 
supper. Later the blueberries were in great 
profusion, and then the blackberries. During 
the berry season a lady was poisoned with the 
ivy vine. I was informed of it next day, and 
went out on a hunt for some stalks of 
Lactura scariola, or prickly lettuce, generally 
known as “ragged milkweed,” which I found, 
and on returning, cut up and steeped, and when 
cool enough, had her bathe frequently the parts 
affected. It acted like magic, relieving the 
itching at once, and although two or three 
pustules had formed, they disappeared, and in 
two days she was cured. This is the fourth case 
that I have personally tried this simple and effica¬ 
cious remedy, and each with certain results. It 
was through an old hunting and fishing com¬ 
panion who was a physician, whose father was 
also a physician, and had learned of its efficacy 
from an old Indian that I knew of it. He told 
me that it was the best cure for poison oak, 01- 
ivy, that he knew of. Those who frequent 
woods should make a note of it. 
We frequently had bonfires on the beach in 
front of the hotel in the evening, and during the 
green corn season we enjoyed a corn roast, in 
which everybody took a hand. At one of these 
Dick had been holding a long stick upon which 
an ear of corn was impaled, and when cooked 
had turned with back to the fire and was eating 
it, when suddenly he clapped his hand to his 
back and in terse English, exclaimed, “Hot—my 
shirt!” 
An incident occurred in the evening of a 
wild stormy day late in September which caused 
much excitement and considerable anxiety for 
a time. Some parties had taken a launch with 
rowboats in tow in the morning to fish in a 
distant bay, and had not returned when evening 
came and the guests were at supper, when three 
shots were heard from over the water. Every 
one supposed they were a signal for help and 
rushed out. Some went for the nearest launch, 
others got lanterns and boats in readiness to 
pull out so soon as the direction was again 
indicated; but before anything further occurred, 
two of the fishing party who had left their row¬ 
boats on the beach and walked back, came in and 
said that the party in the launch were shooting 
at ducks, afid we soon heard them coming in. 
A question came up late in the fall as to 
whether bass always spawned in the spring, as 
generally supposed, Gen. McKee and Mr. 
Vacation Days in Northern Michigan 
By E. S. WHITAKER 
