Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-08-17
A CAMP SURPRISE.

three Cuides-I mention the guides
first because they are the most impor
tant members of camping party-two
gentlemen, two children, two ladies, the
children's old maiden aunt, myself and
an English nurse to help take care oi
the little ones.
We had pitched our tents i'll the grand
old Adirondack forest on the shore of q
beautiful lake in the heart of the North
Woods" and for ten days had had the
iolliest time imaginable.
AT last we were getting ont of venison
and the gentlemen proposed night
hunt for deer.
On former occasions they had always
left guide to guard the camp, but
knowing that deer were scarce, we
thought the more men in the party, the
more likely they would bring home a
fine, fat buck. So we protested against
being left in charge of guide, and after
talking it over a while the gentlemen
finally agreed to take all the guides
with them, and just before dusk start
ed for pond some miles distant from
our-camp.
We watched the boats until they pass:
ed out of sight, and then strolled about
the shore until it was dark.
Then drawing near the tents we sat
down on some logs around the camp
fire. Touching a match to huge pile OF
brush hard by we sat gazing upon the
flames as they leaped upward, roaring
and cracking, and filling the forest with
cheerful glow.
Every one, we suppose, knows that be-
ing courageous in broad daylight Is one
thing, and being courageous In the dark
is another. We had been as brave as
lions before sunset, but l think the
feeling that we were alone in this i'm
mense forest miles and miles from
hunters tent made us feel a little ner-
yous. for 1 noticed that we started at
every rustling of the bushes, looking mp
anxiously if the wind gently stirred the
branches overhead, and the English
nurse jumped at least foot as loon
sent forth his wild, mocking cry.
Was that panther, eh?" she asked
in frightened whisper.
so, no indeed, replied the chlldreh'5
aunt, and yet the feeble attempt at
laugh ended in little shiver, and saw
her glance quickly over her shoulder In
in scared sort of way.
Piling several logs of wood OH the fire
to make it last as long as possible, we
withdrew to our large sleeping tent.
The English nurse headed the process
sion with an old rusty hunting-knife she
had found among the cooking utensils.
Rob. the youngest boy, lugged bro
ken oar into the tent, while aunt brought
up the rear with tin pan and pudding
stick.
81 have often read that any loud noise
will serve to frighten away wild beasts,
she whispered to me, "and I though
these might be handy to have with us"
After securely fastening the canvas
flaps at the entrance of the tent, we
Law down on our beds of hemlock boughs,
but we didn't seem to be very sleepy;
in fact we were to nervous too sleep at
once. 1 was just dropping into a doze
when heard q sound in the distance
kind of prolonged howl.
I raised my head to listen--so did
aunt.
"What was that?" she whispered.
go, nothing but another loon," 1 an
swered, as calmly as L could, but l
knew very we'll it was not loon.
For a few moments all was still
Again the same unearthly sound broke
the stiffness of the Light. This time it
seemed nearer-a long dismal howl.
The ehildren's aunt rose to sitting
posture. The English nurse asked in
frightened whisper, Indians, eh?"
Panther, eh?"
Nonsense, returned I. "There are
no pan hers here, and as for Indians,
there isn't a red man within thousand
miles" Here I stopped. My hair was
braided down my back in Chinese
pig-tail, and it seemed to rise straight
in the air as a gust of wind brought to
our ears a third howl, followed by "a
chorus of unearthly yelps.
We sprang to our feet. I felt some
one pulling at my dress and heard
Rob's voice-the oldest boy was fast
asleep: "What is it, auntie? is it's it
a wo fl" Then I knew that his eyes
were as big as butter-plates.
"Whatever it is it shall not hurt you,
DEAR" said I, putting one hand on his
shoulder, and feeling with the other for
the rife which one of the gentlemen had
placed in a corner of the tent that very
afternoon.
"Aunt, where is the rifeP"
And aunt, who had a horror Of fire.
arms, confessed that "only few mo-