The Press., 1890-12-11
Cor The Press, ECHOES FROM MAINE.


 tFor The Press,
 ECHOES FROM MAINE.
 BY REV. EDGAR F. CLARK III.
 A s.tote.road" of three hundred paces, through balmgand spruce, leads from the shore to our cabin home. As you approach, little to the right, is one of the finest springs in Maine. Begirt by moss and | fern ]; overshadowed by the black growth, I it's limpid waters rest like a silver buttonFI on an emerald mantle. Drink of it's cool ing waters to your hearts content. It is the nectar of mortals. No typhoid fever rests upon it's sparkling bosom. Here, in mid winter, the deer will quench their thirst. The crater of this boiling spring, is perhaps ten feet long, by four feet wide. In front of you stands the log. cabin, about twenty feet square. The door is low, so bend as you enter. Look around you. Wooden benches are the usual seats. Nearly half the space IS occupied by the dormitory. One continuous stoob made of poles, placed side by side, about three feet from thh ground, constitutes the sleeping couch of the men. On these poles small balsam boughs are deftly laid, whose aroma fills the ar, and quiets the faded nerves. Separated by N passage, and protected by heavy covering, is the dormitory of the ladies. Unequal rights are accorded them, and two feather beds evidence the gallantry of the men. The pillows are filled with balsam. and clothing lines the sides of ihe cabin. In the center stand two stoves, one for cooking, the oth- or for warming in very cold weather. Over the stoves long poles are nailed to hang wet clothing. On the side opposite the
 beds stretches the table, neatly covered
 with oil-cloth. In front of the table, next ! the door, is the working space of the cook, whose dishes are chiefly tin. Kerosene lamps are pendent from the center, while rods and rifles rest along the rafters. Do
 you ask the bill of fare :? You will find / flour, meals, pork, butter, sugar, tea, cof- , fee, cocoa, apples, bacon, beans, potatoes, canned milk, and other commodities Ma r ture and the chase furnish the appetite.
 Our cook was genius in camp life. The
 table was marked by endless variety. Rab-
 bit, duck, fish, grouse, and deer, prepared : and served in many ways destroy all samt 7 ness, and make each wish his throat were l mile long to enjoy the tempting dishes. ; Step out the door. Look around. We g are at the base of steep hull, whose sides
 are covered by the forest. Through there ,r wilds run uucounted paths The chiet '' roads, over which, in the past, provisions l. have been transported, are called ''tote roads, Branching of from them, are f shorter and more imperfect roads, called ' "twitch-roads," along which formerly log. ]. were felled and drawn to the edge of th. lake. This network of roads will aid us il
 taking long tramps in pursuit of game ano 5 pleasure.
 | The morning is fine, let us bend on ou
 fishing tackle, and test the nnexplored j. waters. We row up the lake two miles r and more, and now we near the home O. a the water-lilly, and the eager tinny tribe Slacken your speed and let the boat drif Y 6 minute towards that patch of waving leaves. Lengthen your hne and make z "cast." Nothing moves. Try again. The i result is the same. Ltngthen your line n and drop the tempting lure between those
 two long rows of leaves. "Donner anc
 blitzen," the pole will surely be broken
 See the saucy monster. lie Is nearly two
 feet in length. and he moves like chain lightning. Give him more reel. There h.
 stops, and sulks. Dare you reel him in lIlttle? He has turned anon, and you
 hopes listen to the dirge of the reel. Tire y him out. He cannot hold out forever. A
 last, he lifts up the white. The well P fought battle is over, and he lies at you e feet, the trophy of your skill and strength A few of these fnny giants suffice even fol Il the most. hungry company, as they hang h upon the lips of the excited angler.
 f'Tis afternoon, and rifles take the plact 's of rods. Better go one by one-be sur.
 kind of animal your ambition seeks--he il u almost wholly composed of ears, nostrll
 and legs. Study the nature and habits O
 your game, else you may hunt a whole Va
 cation, and the deer will hold a laughing
 jubilee when you go home. Steady youl
 nerves, for any moment one may heave il
 sight. Start at the peep of day, but i
 you are too lazy for that, make up by lin |gering into the nightfall. The deer art ' never asleep at sunrise and sunset. Dc
 your sleeping in the middle of the night
 and If necessary, in the middle of the day
 bat take to your rifle at dawn and dusk
 One of the first things to be learned is te
 step without breaking twlgs or rustline
 leaves. Remember, no dogs are allowed
 under heavy penalty-if dog is seen or 1T track of deer any one may shoot him you must 'still hunt" In nine cases out '' of ten the deer will see you first. But joy e to that tenth time. Go slowly, and satisfy [. yourself on every noise you hear. The
 breaking of twlg in the adjoining thicket
 should arrest progress at once-stand
 motionless as a statue. Very likely you
 will be saluted with snort at last, and g
 "white flag" be lifted from what seemed g
 cluster of leaves. Fire if you like, but you
 won't hit him, nor will you see him again. He has satisfied himself what you are,
 perhaps has caught your scent, and you
 may as well seek fresh spells Next time
 be more careful-you moved while he was
 looking, had you kept perfectly still he
 would have gone on eating. Let us seek
 the junction of several roads, and making
 a note of the direction of the wind, let us
 sit down for an hour. Cock the rifle aud
 do not move again till you have tested
 your patience aud finished your hunting at
 this place. There IS mosquitoe on your
 forehead-never mind, let llm feast. 'Sev-