Ellsworth American., 1886-01-21

camp. Looking up into the tree they saw a
lynx snsgly resting among the houghs. hut
he soon came tumbling down With bullet
through his head from Lejok's rife. They
believed the lynx was the first to make
raid on their ,enison. and tha, tie took
refuge in the tree to escape the jaws Of the
wolves. Lejok drew him to the camp. then
said. ''iou scamp, yon have been eating our
venison. nov we mean to ca; you" While
JOY was cutting wood for fire through the
night, Lejok had skinned the cat and had
has carcass hanging before the FIRE roasting.
They soon had everything arranged for the
night; then ate their supper Of roast lsnx
and hard bread, which was eaten with much
relish, for Joy has said. Il never ate rons;
senIson IN my life with better relish"
+ The dogs were first well fed. then men and
dogs all l.y down together and slep, quiet
+ y through the night except occasionally
aSaking 10 repleulsh their FIRE With wood
+ They had no fear of Wild beasts knowing
( the dog, would alarm them should any Az.
pioaoh- In the morning they made their
I breakfast on Whist va, left from thcir sup
per, and then leti To pa, Mr. Bfuin snd her
family another visit. prom>n ng themselves
/ TO Cine On bear steak Il had moved dur
/ ing The night and Nill showed lightly.
I When they arrived at the mountain they
were much surprised, for they could not find
SErFlp nj FA.-Tr -.
day The snow vas blowing down and over
the mountain u binding gusts and our hunt
ers after travelling several miles around ana
near the mouutain. and not finding he least
trace or signs Of bears reluctant, gave up
hunting for them and returned to thel. little
camp both hungry and weary, On their
way back the, shot several par,rdges and
their dogs also found two raccuous in 4 ho!- .
low log which they Killed. after good deal
OF ohopplng. They ,pen, the afternoon in
dressing and cooking their senisou and
game. and resting after their three days cf
hard trampirc. and gave up for the present
time further hunting for bears OF lead On
the following morning they left Tor their old
quarters at the pond. where they arrived
late IN the evening after four days absence.
back. They ien soon arter iur tur -et,,v-
meut where they arrived IL, tir,i OF iprh
and sold their tars 10 JOY and MiiAken,
who kept small store, for $3.50 Al The
present time they would have been worth
more than double that sum The skins con.
sisted of several beaver. large number Of
otter, mink, martin. sable, and several bear
skin, and other animals. Tie Indian, bad
a small house at Indian Point; the settler.
had given them lumber and other materials
and assisted them ia building. The Indians
speut part Of the summer making baskets
aud occasionally would he away a week or
more hunting moose and deer. They sere
venson with the settlers.
In September these two Indians. with Joy
and Jciiison, made arrangements and we're
assisted b, the settlers 10 make a Journey TO
the Lead Mountain. They left early IN
September in two birch canoes with sup
plies for several weeks. They carried With
them small pickaxe and sledse. intending
to make a complete and thorough examina-
tion Of the mountain. They went up the
east branch Of the rNer far as they could
20 with their canoes. and landed at a place
called the Indian camping ground, where the
Indians in former years had camped in large
numbers during the winter. They had cut
and cleared away all the small trees. The
growth at that time was principally large
maple ash and oak These grounds con
sisted Of about one and half acres with
large boiling spring near the center. The
ground was very level except on one SIDE,
where there was knoll of about one fourth
of an acre, which was supposed TO be the
Indian burying ground. as there was every
indication Of graves.
When they landed Lejok Was the first 10
step from his canoe, and in taking out
his rifle ahieh was laid with the muzzle
over The bow, it was accidentally d>t harged.
the charge passing through his vital.
Joccose caught him as he was falling and
The " nite men sprang to his assistance. He
neither spoke nor moved but died Instantly
His death was a sad shock to his comran-
ions, especially to his Indian friend who
nconsolable. His body was wrapt in his
/ blanke, and laid upon bed Of boughs, and
one of the canoes turned over him. They
agreed that one of them by turns would
watch By him through the night. In the
morning the white men proposed to return
10 the settlement with his body. Joccose OBJ
iected saving it was the custom of their faith
ers to bury their dead in the forest, especial
ly when they fell By accident. a place was
selected for grave on the knoll above
mentioned, grave dug and lined with
boughs, and he was carefully laid, with his
rifle and other articles therein. The grave
was then filed. The green turf was his
dying bed, 1.-THE deep blue vault of heaven
above and over him spread" and he was
left to sleep in his last and eternal rest
Our hunters remained till the morning
after the burial. They then concealed their
canoes and part of their supplies and left for
the mountain. where they arrived the third
day about 2 O'Clock 2. NJ, after leaving the
Indian camping ground. Their journey was
very teious. for they had TO pass round
several small ponds; the weather being
warm they we're in the habit of sleeping
in the open air, but their nights were passed
in comfort. The afternoon was spent in pre-
pairing place for camping near the noun
tain. The evening was very calm and pleas
ant, and the sun set in rays of brightness.
The moon rode high in the heavens, and the
stars were brilliant the rustling Of the
leaves in the trees and the singing of the
birds rather intensified than disturbed the
stiffness. They had eaten their supper and
were discussing their best course on the