The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-12-18

blowing from him TO me, therefore nad
little fear Of being scented or heard by
him. Nolselessly and slowly made my
way towsrd him, closely following his
newly made tracks, oft stopping and
waiting to sec or hear him IL possible.
Then breathlessiy aud cautiously, for my
guide had SO instructed me, cTept at
times on my hands aud knees, fearing l
should alarm him by accidentally break
Ing dead limb or dry twig Again, to
my deep regret, he mad heard me. Soon
heard him ruuning-he on the farther
side OF ravine and | on the opposite.
Motionless and GREATNESS stood rlne In
hand ready to fire should he come In
sight. Not long had to wait, for in a
moment he appeared on my right, and in
an instant, too, the bullet in my rifle sped
over the valley and through the woods,
with the echo's answer. as be miner"
Have missed him2' were my first ex-
clsimations. 1t was but glimpse | had
OF him, and II my aim had erred aud I, in
consequence, had missed him, 1t would
have been no wonder Then, listening,
heard him far beyond. Surely my bullet
had missed Its mark However, | will
follow the trail. On reaching 1t l soon
saw that, although he was away. my bull
let had hit him, for on the clean, white
snow the old fellow lad left behind its
bloody evidence, convincing me that he
could not go much farther. Ane such
proved to be the fact, for in less than one
hundred yards beyond overlook his life
less body. With the assistance of my
guide, who had heard the report of the
rifle and had come to me, We improvised
sled and hauled my trophy to the camp
Though the air was bltingly cold and my
tramp tedious one, felt that my days
work WAS well rewarded.
On returning to camp | found my
companions and was more than gratined
to learn that one of them too had been
successful and exhibited to me In proof
the form of a good sized caribou.
As night approaches though yet cold,
4 there are evidences of severe snow
storm. Surely 1t Is upon US, but what
care we. Whew, how 1t SHOWS and
4 blowsl Let it come, while we are well
/ housed we will make the best of 1t. In
/ this frame OF mind we partake of a sup.
per on broiled caribou steak, hot graham
rolls and coffee, and then to our cabins
to talk over each ones exploits at carl.
/ bou and deer hunting In the wilds of
Maine. Pardon me, but 1t was suggested
that some had forgottenIthe story Of the
| little "hatchet." By midnight one had
shot and scalped an Indian on the plains,
while another. ]. Kim, had been q lion
hunter In the jungles Of Africa.
| Thursday morning and still sno wing
About foot has fallen, which, with
that already on the ground, compels the
amateur Nimrods to stay In camp to- day
and the snow Is too light for Snow shoe
ing. On the morrow we hope to start
up herd VI caribou, for when the storm
ceases, though locomoton may be diff.
cult. the situation will be most favorable
to find them.
Friday the day Is unfavorable for hunt
ing, the snow is too deep to tramp with
out, and too light for shoe. shoeing, so
we stay In camp as yesterday and occupy
our time at whist and reading old maya
zines, and writing up our diary.
Saturday morning, mercury 49, below
The sun comes up bright. Though the
deep snow is yet light all put on snow
shoes and are OFF for the woods. My
guide finds doe and shoots him We
take out his entrails, leave him and go on
for another. We find where two deer
lay during the night. We follow their
path newly made. On, on we go, find
Ing 1t easier without than with snow
shoes, We take them off and wallow knee
|
ing on at last, In the distance, through
the thickets, my guide discovers good
sized buck head towards u.s. He tells
me be sure of my aim for the distance is
long one. | adjust my rifle sight for
long range, take deliberate aim and fire
The buck jumps, attempts to go, but
falls. He is mine. When approaching
him, we discover another. Both attempt
to shoot, but our rifles miss fire. The
snow had got In the chambers and fro
zen pinions. Away goes our deer,
bounding over the snow. We then go
for the one supposed to be slain, when,
10 and behold, he was not there He had
recovered and gone. We track him and
know he cannot go far, for he must be
hit In vital spot. But it is getting too
late to follow and get tn camp het.-.
darK,sso we conclude to return to camp
without him, and in the morning take
an early start and find him.
Sunday morning, cold and blowing.
During the night several inches Of snow
had fallen, but my guide goes In search
of my wounded buck, and when within
one or two gun shots from where he fell
last night the deer is found aud brought
to camp.
At noon we break camp, team comes
IN from the Canada road after our bag
gage and game. We make the distance
to the road on snowshoes, and then
through binding drifting snow, We
slowly Journey on to Jackmantown. In
the morning (Monday) at four O'Clock
we got aboard the cars and proceed to
Greenville where we buy "lumberman' 5
ticket via Oldtown and Bangor, reaching
home at $40 p. M.
My worldly friends at the Hub will ask
me this question:. Does such trip pay2
shall certainly reply, yes" and shall
prove 1t thus:
On scale of 100 shall make the fol.
lowing itemsized statement:
Two nice deer, 10
Heaps of fun, 10
Sharpened appetites, .l5
Recuperation, 40
Total, 10
Substract time and expense 20
Much WEAKNESS. .05
Total, 20
Balance in favor Of trip, 80