Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-15
4 HUNTING ADVENTURE.

q
man. But the weather became too hot, evenin
this latitrde. for such sport and the fish refused
70 bite - was fam TO wander about the sleepy
little C4ty of Kingston, or watch the soldiers at
their afternoon dTiiI on the slopes of the fort,
their rel coats strongly contrasting with the
D.. green sward cf the battle-ground IL was al
v NsyS a source OF wonder to me how the people
managed TO enjoy life in 50 dull place, for
there vas no hustle, no cOmmrrcial signs scarcely
ever visible
Src evening sat on the hotel stoop quietly
smoking q cigar. when two of nv garrison
friends, Major Ponfret ard Capt. Hardinge,
came mp from their quarters and invited me to
Join them in hunting tramp tn tue great Pine
Belt. a. the lumber district is termed. Both of
the gentlemen had only been in Canada a few
Straight from india They were enthusiastic
spoTtsmer. and talked necessarily of stalking
blue balls and antelopes, or shooting tigers and
cheetafs, while their rooms down at the bar
racks were full of rare skins and other trophies
Of the tn'iian iungles, 80 that readily fell i'm
with their latest hunting programme;
We we're Ia 90 by steamer up the Bay OF
Quinte to Belleviile, a busting little town, and
sfteIward push on by wagon for MadOc, viii
lage then becoming famous for some gold mines
that had just been discovered. The best part OF
that night vas occupied in pack king up. 40 that
when the Belleyille steamer cast oil her moor
sud babe goodbye TO sleepy old Kingston ami
her O'td-lOOkiRg oid-fashiOned Martello towers.
The trip up the bay was a pleasant one. the
scenery being charming and perfect surprise,
and late IN the afternoon we arrived at the
queer little Belleyile wharf. Is il stood among a
aud acres of rough logs hnddled together by end
les boomS-
A cool nights rest at the hotel refreshed us,
ard at daylight the next morning started
for NIsdOc in light wagon, another following
with our hunting gear After rough ride of
nearly three DAYS We found ourselves entering
the Confines of the Pine Belt. Nothing is more
impressive than these vast forests Of pine trees.
over Ous hundred miles in width, ami extending
from British Columbia to the Bay OF FuniV,
the belt of timber affords an almost inexhausti-
BE Supply of that lumber known all the world
over a. Canada pine. 50 dense i the growth Of
these immense trees that scarcely any under
growth j met with. while the ground is softly
CaTpeted with decaying pine needles. The sun
seldom Ienetrates I'll, 81 forest SOlitudes, and
The woods are very cool aud pleasant in sum
Rier. Here and there came across a natural
opening, which abounded with all sorts of small
game
Long before we reached the Pines the road
had become indi>tnCt, ami wt were compeIt.d
10 trust entirely 10 our Ere ncl Cdnas an guides
whom we had enga. d VITA their pack of dogs
81 Nsdoc. Camp was pitched that evening at
the side OF beautiful little lake bearing the
lh,ian rame OF satch- katch-a- wanna, our APP
Francois had caught. while Antoine and .Je-
rome. the other guiies. were pitching the tent
Shd preparing the large hre Sd necessary in
A. the shades OF night darkened in upon u.s.
We cOuid hear the cries OF the wocd-fowl and the
pleasant gable of the wild duck they noisiiy
fed among the reeds Of the swamp near-sounis
which gave us abundant promise of sport the
next DAY. couple Oi pipes and some startling
prepared us for bed. and We slept dreamlessly
IN front Of the fire until sunrise. Francis proved
and soon had Us ON, on the axe in con sun
Of bark canoes kept hung mp to trees. We made
considerable havoc among the ducks by the
time the morning mists had disappeared. for the
birds were deNeiously innocent Of danger 30
We finally gave mp The work in sheer pity. The
afternoon was occupied in fishing. and at sup
Per we decided to push further . 10 the north
wood IN hopes Of larger game.
twenty-mie tramp, for II was useless at
other lake known as Osh-a-wa-hsla, where we
established our headquarters, Jerome and An
tome being sent back for more supplies. At the
end of two days We found ourselves very com
fortsbly fixed, and enjoyed fishing and duck
shooting to our hearts content, the Major being
lucky enough to bag fat buck while he was
rauntering among the openings.
Every night we could hear the monotonous
COO OF the wood pigeons. and a. they promised
to be a diversion, 10 va, finally decided that "A
day shoald be devoted to them. Pigeon-shoot-
ing In the woods IL peculiar sport, for the hunt
sr has to trust entirriy TO bis eye and ear Nov
the pigeons mOurnful cry Is at length heard.
Nou stop and listen. and when the bird again
utteTs bis note YOU carefully trace him TO his
tree, usually finding him sitting ON bare branch
near the top, wholly unconscious OF danger The
woods resound with the discharge of your fowl
Ing-piece, and down tumDles the game. A rest
L. then necessary, in order that the pigeons NAV
recover from their nome ntary fright when of
the party start again. This proceeding makes
pigeon-shOOtiDg rather eNciting. and in such
VIII woods as 1 have described full bag is
generally the result.
We started after pigeons the next day directly
after breakfast, Of course armed only with shot
guns. Francois. however, insisted on taking
hls r,de, and he put in his pocket a handful OF
proved quite providentiai before the dsy was
over. The birds were plentiful, and our hays
Seesme heonyena~ntsy heavy by noon; 50 a
halt was called for lunch, preparatory to our
return to camp. Our rendezvous was at the
base of huge pile of rocks that cropped out OF
the ground in wierd confusion being doubtless
or M haf
deriies the whole region. Though we were in
the very heart Of the woods, the trees in the vi
entity were Stuntsd, showing that the soil was
shallow. Still IL was a beautiful spot for our
purpose, and Francois soon had a dre blazing
ANTOINE meanwhile cl"aniDg lew Of the pig
cons for the spit Our appetites were naturally
sharp set, and the meal proved a famous one
ne sckhng p,ne-knot Ere glcwed in a creyice
of the rocks, and We were in ne fiIIl eniovmsnt
OF roast pigeon, when We were All .tarfis5 =. ~
hoarse growl in our rear
'.Des oSrses' The bear. the bears shouted
feet. " "U'
Bears il was, sure enough, for coming down
upon Us were four the uncouth brut..s scramb-
Ing over the rocks IN evidently an angry moosi.
" was our fre that had done the mischief
Built IN q crevice. a IL had been. some of the
smoke must have been driven by an air current
INTO some sort Of sUUtsrranedn cavern, which
formed the den OF the bears. They had. no
, coubt- been smoked out bv ire, and were
consequently fierce in their blind rage. IL was
decidedly an unpleasant predicament, four
bears opposed TO i've men. one OF them wholly
IhAr med, for Antoine had carried oar proven
der.
TO the trees, CT behind a tree - cried the
two suoes, hmbiy sst-ing the example as they
sioke. Inc Major and the CAPTAIN followed
suit, while st~rte'i on u the left. pr1c.eiing
that nearly cost M nv life The snIdennelss
OF the alarm and the unexpected sight Of fhe
bears in such clo-s proximity con,lt.teiv nv
. settled my nerves, ~ that scarcely knew Win,
was doing. To the horror of NV more ey-s
neneed companions, I Suddenly paused in nv
headlong flight, and emptied both OF nv bar
res night into the face OF q huge brute that had
evidently selected nv upl1cky seff rs its prize
vi course the hail OF small shot only added 10
her rage, Tor II Was the mother of the family
Ihou gh she was IN no way disabled, 10 there
eAs, ece % race To the animal, with an empty
gun N my hand and utterly helpless, for my
companions could Fender me no fllImedia.s AZ
LAYING their hsras full In ioeking sfter the
other bears. 'SA vac
Francois opened the battle bv Grinp q, ,ba
father of the grosr, and saceee.isa M ra,l;n,
In over He had previously handed the two |
4meefs some OF his round bullets aud thsy
loaded rapidly, succeeding between tIas, In
,Ihg one OF the cubs. leaving his ,smpano.