Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-20
AN ADIRONDACK DEER HUM.
BY H. &. Dodge

by II. &. 1EOuSc-
1t isn't often that women nayG the
grand privilege Of seeing Il real wild
deer hunt in the Adirondack wilder
hess, but we did and | am going 10
tell about it.
For many days preceding our trip
the men and the expensive guides and
the dogs had been starting off at dawn
and returning at nightfan with no
game and disappointed and tired faces.
We at the Forest Home hotel always
knew when they came back in that
mournful condition, for at the edge of
the clearing they sadly discharged their
fancy and wonderful guns of the loads
which had been placed in them with
joyful anticipations in the morning.
When they silently crept to the sup
per table with discouraged and soul
looks we women, of course, Gid our
best to cheer their dropping spirits by
not asking too pointed question con-
corning the days sport.
In fact we avoided the painful sub
iect entirely after being snapped at
once or twice for venturing some
sympathetic and aconsOling remarks
about the uncertainties of the chase
| Perhaps for that reason, or, more
likely because the poor men found it
too wearing on the mind spending day
after day alone in the dark still
woods, waiting, each one by himself,
o1 runways, for the deer that never
came, they most generously offered to
let us share their pleasure.
OF course such an unusual treat was
bound to he accepted. On the morning
following, my sister and her sister
(Which last was yours truly Joined the
merry huntSmen, and soon we We're
travelling Indian fashion through the
trail towards the happy hunting
grounds.
The guides, with the baying bounds,
led the procession; then came New
York pompouS and dignified doctor
of great renOwn, armed with bowie
knives and daggerS and revOlvers and
Il rifle. He was a walking arsenal,
and lis clothes were made to order for
the occasion.
Belts filed with cartridges and
canvas coat with twenty pockets and
boots big enough to hide in and a
leather hat and other sporting attire,
; made him a picture for Wild West
!. show
He said he was rugged for bear and
intended having tussel with big
one and securing his fur before he
; went home But, alas, the great hunt
er never as much as shot a coon after
| his dreams of prowess and untold eN-
) penses for outfit and guides.
, After him came my brother and his
! chum. more modest in their eXpecta-
. ton.
Then we females followed in good
: marching order, with a guide behind
to see that none of us were lost or
stolen
Through the almost painless forest
5 we went, climbing over huge fallen
trees and going through boys to way
, over our ankles, and, strange to say,
never feeling a bit tired from our un-
, usual eXertions.
The bracing, piney air, somehow,
| gives strength to do wonders and no
: matter how wet one gets they catch
| no colds and scarcely notice it.
: In fact it rains nearly all the time
. in this high region, and, [ suppose,
l does one really good.
Y For miles in the roughtest and most
} toilsome way we journeyed until we
! reached beautiful lake called by the
Q name of Mud Pond
4 Our names were mud also, for we
e were soaked to the skin with the boys
and Il usual downpour. But we never
r minded the moisture, and even enjoy
9 ed its pleasant feeling.
+ Now, at the waters edge, the guides
o placed the hunters in position, one al
! each selected place at equal distances
I around the lake of Mud Pond
h We women were hidden in a thicket
:. in nice wet bog, and there we sat Oh
$ a messy. decayed fallen tree, with oul
O feet in the water and our eyes peekins
Y through the branches at the lake where
o the deer, if any were started, would
Y be sure to plunge in and be shot by
r the bold hunters-provided they could
C aim STRAIGHTFORWARD we doubted.
J., Then the guides after the most sterI
g commands to maintain perfect silence
r not even to whisper and scarcely
n breathe, took the hounds and them
d selves away for the purpose Of putting
: the hounds on deer trails and driving
e the petty creatures to the water.
e 1t had stopped raining and the SUI
a shone and we waited patiently one
e hour and another longer one but nc
s deer came TO relieve our lost tongues
a and cramped bodies. AS success de
e pended entirely on being still AND
o motionless we forced ourselves to en-
% dure the trial. fearing if we didn't tha
1t the gallant huntsmen would blame u:
n if they again crawled to the supper
table emptyhanded.