FOREST. AND STREAM. 
| GATE RAG 

[May 26, 1906. 
GUN 

Camp Life Near the Tetons. 
One of the most picturesque sections of coun- 
try lies in the valleys and depressions formed by 
the Gallatin River where it, winds its way among 
the rugged mountains of Montana. Sometimes the 
river steals its way noiselessly through level 
spots, forming great pools of clear ‘greenish 
water, where ‘the big rainbow trout love to bask 
in the sunshine, which the gamy fish love for its 
brightness more than its warmth; frequently the 
stream challenges the obstructions of masses of 
rock, forcing its way with angry murmurs to its 
destination. Amid such scenes | fell into repose, 
while sitting near a large camp-fire; yielding to 
the heaviness due to a hearty meal and a long 
day’s travel on horseback. I do not remember 
how I managed to make up my rustic bed, or 
whether I had anything to do with it at all. i 
simply recall the quiet scenes around the camp- 
fire, the ruddy faces of my companions as they 
caught the glow from the burning fagots and the 
wild scene which surrounded us. I entered 
dreamland in the same way everyone else does, 
the unreal realm of fancy 1 accepted as a matter 
of course, but when the chill of a cold autumn 
night gradually revived me to consciousness and 
the sullen gloom of the silent forest, only broken 
by a murmuring stream nearby, had succeeded 
the cheerful camp-fire, I returned to the world 
of reality with a feeling of strangeness and won- 
der. 1 rubbed my eyes to make sure if 1 was 
really awake, and lay watching the stars shining 
brightly overhead. The beauty of the night, how- 
ever, was not sufficient to keep me awake, and 
when I had finished my night’s rest it was broad 
daylight and my two companions, Jake and Aleck, 
were “already astir. .Aleck was the cook and gen- 
eral handy man aoe camp, Jake acted as guidé 
and horse-wrangler. These men could take a turn 
at helping each other, but each had his spe- 
cial work cut out for him. In packing, and pitch- 
ing tents they were mutually helpful; whenever 
things went wrong and descriptive language was 
required to soothe irritated feelings, their com- 
mon desire to aid each other developed into a 
generous rivalry. Aleck was busy getting break- 
fast ready, but the other man was not in sight. 
“Where is Jake?” I asked. 
“Gone after the horses,’ Aleck answered. 
“Do you suppose they are gone far?” 
“Oh, maybe a mile, maybe fifteen,’ was the en- 
lightening response. 
Horses are an unknown quantity camping out 
in the western country. They are apt to wan- 
der over a considerable space in search of good 
pasturage which is not easy to find on account of 
the extreme dryness of the soil and the difficulty 
of any vegetation thriving which cannot shoot its 
roots deep into the earth. Fortunately Jake soon 
appeared with the stock. 
“We will have the tents up so that you can be 
comfortable to-night,’ he remarked with a look 
as though he were conveying a most welcome 
piece of intelligence, for we had been sleeping 
out in the open for several nights. 
With the air of one who despised all such 
things as enervating luxuries, I replied: “Let 
that go to some other time; we want to get an 
early start after something.” 
“It won’t take long to put up the tents and 
then Aleck can get everything else to rights while 
we are hunting,’ Jake replied. 
I ate a substantial breakfast, and after finish- 
ing that meal I ate a substantial lunch before 
starting. Needless to say, I felt in no condi- 
tion for vigorous exercise which I would be com- 
pelled to take when our course led over ascents 
too steep to take on horseback. About lunch 
time, however, my capricious and unreasoning 
stomach, like some people who are mere slaves of 
custom and routine, demanded a square meal, 
which was not to be had. 
Two dogs, which served more as sociable com- 
panions about camp than in any other capacity, 
accompanied us. One of the dogs was a large- 
sized bull terrier, rather old and at times inclined 
to be cross. This animal answered to the name 
of Major. Major had a peculiar trait, which it 
is hard to account for. In the evening, when the 
cook pulled out his harmonicon and began to 
perform on it, Major would stick his nose straight 
up in the air and emit the most doleful and 
lugubrious wail I ever listened to. 
The other dog was a fox terrier, named Jack. 
Like most of his species, a very animated little 
creature, always ready for a scrap. ‘This dispo- 
sition was a source of annoyance at times, be- 
cause Jack had a strong prejudice against porcu- 
pines, and on several occasions I have had to sit 
on the ground and help pull the quills out of his 
hide after one of these encounters. 
As I was leisurely riding along some distance 
behind the guide, 1 saw him stop on a slight 
elevation somewhat in advance, and at the same 
time I heard the dogs barking very savagely. Jake 
made a sign to me to hurry up. When I arrived 
at the spot I saw a couple of coyotes not more 
than forty yards away yelping and tantalizing 
the dogs. I dismounted, after pulling my rifle 
out of its scabbard and brought it carelessly to 
my shoulder, Jake in the meantime had un- 
sheathed his knife ready to strip the hides. 
I fired, and, much to my surprise, both of the 
coyotes vanished with startling suddenness. I 
had evidently missed, probably over shooting. I 
think it was about the worst shot I ever made, 
and I never could understand it. A sportsman 
will once in a while flinch through some muscular 
contraction, which it is hard to account for. The 
thick sage brush and intervening hills made a 
second shot practically hopeless. Jake seemed 
overcome with emotion, quite as much as myself. 
For once his eloquent tongue failed him; the 
words appeared to stick in his throat. His wide- 
open eyes and his distended jaws, which seemed 
to be pried open with a quid of tobacco in one 
corner of his mouth, betrayed his astonishment. 
In silence we remounted and rode a considerable 
space without speaking a word. 
Finally Jake opened the conversation with all 
the tact of an accomplished diplomat. 
Turning in his saddle and looking intently at 
me, he exclaimed: “Say, do you know what I 
would do if I missed a shot like that?” 
“No,” I replied. 
“T would take that gun and smash it over the 
first rock I came across.” 
I quite agreed with him that it was the fault 
of the gun, but, strange to say, I did not take his 
advice. I still have the weapon and I can recall 
some of its achievements which are not wholly 
discreditable. 
Several days passed quite uneventfully except 
for a rather novel experience. While. sitting 
around the camp-fire one evening our attention 
was attracted by the noise of some*animal ‘break- 
ing through the undergrowth. 
approach closer. 
“That’s one of the horses, and he seems in- 
clined to be sociable,” said Jake as he leaned over 
to lay hold of a good-sized stick to cast at him. 
The animal presently appeared, coming straight 
to the camp-fire, but when fairly revealed by the 
light of the fire, the horse we were about to drive 
unceremoniously away, developed a splendid set 
of antlers. We were confronted by a black-tailed 
deer which had been attracted by the strange 
fascination of the blaze to within several paces 
of the fire, where he stood perfectly still. No 
one moved nor uttered a word for a considerable 
space for fear of alarming our timid guest. It 
was a charming sight to watch the graceful and 
shapely form of the deer, his head crowned with 
a perfectly balanced set of antlers, the wide-open 
The sound of... 
cracking branches and pattering hoofs seemed to : 
eyes staring in bewilderment at three rough look- 
ing men sitting around the fire like petrified 
images. The deer held his position for some 
thirty seconds rigid and immovable, except for 
the swelling of his sides in breathing, while the 
glowing embers brought out in distinct view 
every line and muscle of the body against the 
dark background of the forest. 
He posed like a beautiful statue with all the 
advantage of picturesque and weird surroundings 
to set off his perfect figure! © 
What a chance for a photographer to take a 
snapshot of the group with a flashlight. Sad to 
relate, the only impression I could take away 
with me was that which was photographed upon 
my mind. In place of a photograph to show to 
my friends I am compelled to relate the bare 
circumstance with but limited power to portray 
the scene in words; the imagination of the reader 
must do the rest. 
How long the tableau would have lasted I can- 
not say, if I had not pulled the curtain, so to 
speak, by attempting to reach out and get my 
rifle, which was nearby. I knew it was a des- 
perate chance, but I was extremely anxious to 
secure the head of our handsome guest. 
Hardly had I attempted to move my hand in 
the direction of the rifle, although very slowly, 
than the watchful eyes seemed to become con- 
scious of something wrong, and the spell was 
broken. With a’single leap the deer cleared the 
lighted space‘and was lost in the darkness of the 
forest. 
It is a well known fact that wild animals and 
birds are stupefied at the appearance of. artificial 
light. Birds and insects are often attracted by 
it, while animals dazed by the strangeness of the 
sight and the glare seem to lose at times all power 
of motion. Whether it is because of curiosity or 
on account of the judgment becoming paralyzed 
through excessive fear, artificial light of great in- 
tensity seems to deprive a wild animal of his 
usual cunning and alertness. Wildfowl, such as 
ducks and geese, are notably affected in the same 
way. “Firelighting,’ which it is well known, in- 
volves the destruction of so many thousands of 
game birds every year, fairly illustrates and 
proves the foregoing statement. Insects seem 
strangely aitracted by artificial lights and fre- 
quently pay for their temerity with their lives. 
What impression artificial light makes upon wild 
animals it is hard to state. Sportsmen know 
how easily a deer can be taken at a disadvantage 
by “jacking,” but this does not account for one 
entering the lighted circle of-a camp-fire. In- 
stances of wild animals being approached when 
stupefied by the presence of artificial light are 
plentiful, but I have never known before of any 
animal actually invading a camp and standing in 
front of the fire. 
When we had exhausted comment upon the un- 
usual incident, which was the absorbing theme 
for conservation for the balance of the evening, 
a good night’s sleep came as welcome relaxation 
from the exefcise of the day. The morning 
broke bright and clear and quite cold. Break- 
- fast was soon bolted down; an abomination.which 
Aleck called a pancake was the principal article 
of our repast. This dish compensated by its size 
and quantity what it lacked in_ other respects. 
Even Jake, whose digestion might excite the 
envy of an ostrich, hesitated before tackling a 
second one. Alex, seeing his uncertain look, 
Ses him whether he would have another pan- 
cake 
“Only a small piece about | the size of your 
foot,” Jake replied. 
Having saddled the horses the guide took a 
course which led along a rocky defile for a con- 
siderable distance. While looking up at the red 
sandstone cliffs. which overhung us, and admiring 
the contrast their rugged outlines furnished. 
against the clear blue of the sky, I saw a large 
