The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-10-06

Night Hunt in a Canoo-Two Duck
ings and One Boar.

The homes OF tho Duncans and Tay-
Tors were situated near the Little Red,
swift stream that flowed through n
region but little opened rs yet and still
inhabited by the animals Of the vest.
Indeed, bear roamed ~ will through
the dense canebralSes, and not infre-
queutly made rcprisals on the scattered
settlers Wolves. too, nbOundcd Ian the
region, and ia winter their long dismal
bowling mude the cold nights hideous
The Duncan and Taylor boys-Roy
/ and Phil had been companions from
/ childhood. and when their parents set
4 tied IN the new country they were in
/ their element, as they could roam the
woods, or paddle down the Little Red,
every now and thcn picking MP bear
or turkey with their trusty rifles
IL was not long before they became
known as the best young Nimrods in
the whole district, and Whenever they
started ON hunt 10 was taken for
4 granted hat they would return with a
| well-Gllcd bag.
one of their favorite methods Of
bagging wild game was by the fire.
hunt. and these adventures generally
took place on the river They would
set mp their torch la the canoe, aud
while padding up stream, or floating
with the current. would by It's light
sec the eyes OF the bear or deer on
shore. and a shot was pretty sure to
bring down the fascinated targets.
The night before Thanksgiving Phil
Taylor strolled over to the Duncan
homestead with a proposition almost
sure to find favor with his young com
panion. This was nothing less than n
fire hunt on the river for the purpose
OF. as Phil expressed it, "bagging a
Thanksgiving bear"
ave can float past the big brakes
near the bend, said he. as he laid his
, proposition before Roy. Tom Hum
ter. who came through there the other
day. saw lots OF fresh signs, and we
may be able to get big ono for to-
morrows feast"
Taken with the prospect Of some ex
= citing adventure, Roy az once acqui
csced. and the two boys began TO pre-
n pare for the fre-hunt The canoe was
S dragged forth and the pine knots fol
d the torch gathered and made ready
i A torch of Pine knots, IL fashioned
i properly, viii throw fierce glare 10
p many rods over the water, and animals
u will come 10 the shore and gaze nc il
v fascinated, as IL were, until the unerr
4, ing bullet OF tho hunter in the cano
a terminates their careers.
The young hunters Of the Little Rec
Vt waited with some impatiencc for night
,r fall. and whom the hour came the
.e launched their canoe and sprang int
at IL. The torch had been placed IN Tn
y stern OF the boat and Phil, who was
D. have the first shot. took his seat under
D. meath it, in such position that th
lirht. streaming over him and froT
IN behind, would throw It's radiance alon
.n the shore, thus revealing the gleamin
4 eyes Of wolf or bear, bat without tn
ss glare dazzling his own eyes.
Dn In some places the river was DANCE
b Gus on account 3f unseen rocks, Owe
which the water boiled like a eau
dron. while in others canoeing was pc
fcctly sufe: but the boys know u
la etrcam we'll and had padded IL q
.cs many occasions after dark. Tatir
on the paddles Roy, with sharp loolso'
49, along the shore, drove the light hai
into the middle OF the river, viii
" Phil under the torch watched the 20
~ canoes that lined the edge and tri'
y" e. catch the FIRST sight Of game.
he The night was calmly beautiful, AZ
rt- the paddles mado no noiscin the wat
ga as the canoe swept down stream. j
FRS they ncarcd the bend whore they c
he pocted 10 catch sight Of a living targ
,n' PM and Roy increased their waite
IN fitness. an az once the paddles
80 Roy's supple hands seemed to rest, a
WI he glanced nc his companion. Phil
49,. tho Same moment had seen what h
osc caught Roy's eye,
by Ga the right, whore the tall car
seemed 70 seek the solitude Of {
ave stars. cleaned pair 81 Intense ey'
no. very close together, and near I
49, ground
~ uItis old Ephraim whispered III
crv as Die moved his rifle and leaned 4
inc ward for better look We hn
Of found onr Thanksgiving bear a. las
20 The canoe had reached a quie
cor place in the current and Roy i
brought Il toanchor there.
Don't miss him, hc said 70 Pl
"In an my life never saw eyes sh
so. believe ] can make out the O
on lines 81 the bears head,
90 Slowly, with cool hunters DELHI
end alton, Thn lifted the rifle TO his sho
but der, and while ne watched the shinI
now eyes. Roy seemed 20 hold his brea
for The crack OF the weapon awose
rcr, echoes along the shore and as
and smoke lifted both boys leaned forwi
for with oagcrncss and looked toward
. shore.
nv "You missed hlmr' cried Roy.
I, ~ NO Looi, yonderl The old fell
has tumblcd into the water and Is
fore tho death struggle. Qniclsl Row
ward him before tho eddy sucks