Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-14
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.



: "HalIo, Mike when did you come
in?" asked my friend Jack a. one Sep
TENDER day, as met him in the streets
of the Cream City, ''and where are you
bound for?"
"I am just in from the Lakes, to
make my preparations TO return to
New York." answered, ''and am off
in three days"
mo, you are not; you promised to
go up TO the club-h with me, and
you have got to go. The boys have
been up and opened the shebang;
summer ducks are plenty, and / can
just tell you that you have got TO go,
as you agreed to-" said this worthy
old Jack with much emphasis.
"How many days will it take me-, :"
/ asked, ''to go up and have a good
shoot and get back here"
''Three days." he answered; ''pro-
vided you wanted to come back at that
time. which L will guarantee you do
not."
"All right, my boyl am with you
for that time, and no longer. When
shall we meet
''At the train, at two O'clock" he
answered; ''and take nothing but your
guns"
Hustling myself around and getting
out my traps, which were all packed
away, | met him at the train according
TO agreement, aud in three hours or
| less We were set down at Horizon, about
| fifty miles from Milwaukee, ut the low
er end of lake of the same name. -
Procuring a conveyance, we loaded our
traps, and were driven to the landing,
where the boats belonging to members
OF the club were hauled mp.
While Jack was slowing the traps
into the boat, stripped for a pull to
the island nearly seven miles distant
The sun vas scarce an hour to going
down, and the day one of those days
such as are seen only III the west at the
beginning of autumn-warm and mel
low, with not a breath of air stirrinC.
/ felt as happy as any sportsman could
standing there, surrounded by every
thing pleasing to the wild-fowler's eye;
an endless overflow of water, filed in
all directions with isles aud bogs, tall
weeds, tussocks, and brushes every
where lifting their heads from point,
bog and inlet, giving shelter from the
wary eye of the birds, and furnishing
blinds from which they could be
Knocked over by the hidden sportsman.
''See there, Jack, / said, pointing
to a large flock OF teal which came up
the lake. Flashing by US like moteors,
they turned towards an island fourth
OF a mile from our landing place, and
swept down near It's shores. Dropping
into the calm, mirrored surface of the
Like, they sent the little waves, one chas-
ing the other toward the opposite shore.
els not that beautiful sight?" Don't
speak of It," he answered. ''Wait till
you get up the lake aways, and then
Won will see duck" & good old-fash-
toned pull at the oars sent the boat
along with a swift and easy motion.
and everywhere, aEead and near the
shore west of us the disturbed summer
duck, starting from weeds and water
holes, whlrled away towards the club
house, seeking some more quiet place
for their evening meal. Something
over an hours pull brought US to the
island, discovered years before by adj
venturous hunters and taken possession
of after many and divers periis by sea
inhabitants were principally hatch
ing-ducks, weeds, brush, and species
of birds almost as troublesome and
noisy as a Broad street broker, called
s'caw caw," from whom the island and
club derive their names. Having cleared
no the brush, and persuaded the ducks
that their eggs we're only fit to settle
their coffee, and that it was insecure
for them to tarry longer there. these
hunters navigated lumber and work
men TO the spot, and on that place
comfortable aud convenient building
arose like magic. Their fir nights
rest was not what they wished for or
had right TO expect after hard days
labor, the caw-cisw having called
convention to take into consideration
the state of their country, aud, all being
DESTROYS Of taking the floor or stump
at the same moment, they made
might ,hideous," and disturbed the
slumber of those tired adventures to
such an extent that Gid H, chief pr
rese and robber of ducks nests, said
He'd be hanged if he wouldn't clean
the animals out, aud called upon his
friends to come to his help. Backing
shot, they soon drove the caw-caws to
other grounds, and the tree-tOps of
that island, that once knew them,
knows them now no more, and all that
is left of this noisy community is their
name.
AS we landed, was overioyed to
clasp by the hand my old friend B.,
the perfection of good fellows and the
most observing of sportsmen-one
whose word can be depended on re-
gerding all things pertaining to field
sports, not given, like most shooters,
to telling large tales, based on nothing
but the creations of some overGro ded
| brain; for instance, like Jack A. s, a
sporting newspaper man, who tells the
most wonderful d les, and then curses
us if We don't believe them. l wish
the readers of the Spirit to bear the
fact in mind that he is an editor, for it
will account for his many peculiar say
ings and doings, of which / shall
speak hereafter. Jack is clever fell
low withal, keen and thorough sports
man, and many glori us day have we
passed together among the feathered
tribe.
"What luck. my dear b. ?'' / asked,
land how are you p
s'First rate" he answered, cas- to
health; and for luck, A No. l. I have
bagged since dinner eighty five as fine
lot of mallard and wood-duck as were
ever seen; the game is abundant, the
cover good, plenty to eat and drink,
and you are as welcome as a pig is to
an Irishman's shanty."
ssThanks for your Kindness" said.
car an for1 Of eating and "a for 1ryp Z