The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-08-07
A Ray from a Jack-Lantern.
by LAURA VI. SMITH.

""' Ohig " gun nv C'''NSi' my
elderly brother, said couldn't go, it
was too hard a tramp, too far away,
too exposing for woman.
"Why, my stars, Sisl you have to
walk about three miles through cedar
swamp; it's the worst trail in the
ountry, and you couldn't keep awake
all night. You'd be n total wreck on
our hands, just you ask Billy"
Tint last remark cheered me. Billy
was my brothers guide, with the big
heart of the true backwoodsman. We
were staying l won't say where
but game had more attractions for
mo than novels, and | had made up
my mind that ] wouldn't poke around
in camp another day.
SO / waylaid the genial Billy while
the Colonel was at breakfast.
"You bet you can CO." was his
hearty answer. "Ill lend you pair
of my rubber boots and hat, and
that'll be all right" he added, with a
meaning look in his eye.
Billy had been the Colonel's guide
for many seasons, and he had way of
managing him, so 1 jumped to the
conclusion that it was the Colonel
who would he all right.
And it was. "But if you don't get
sick of your bargain, my grille, I'll
eat my hat" was his comment, adding
with sigh: eff Billy eau put up
with it. l can"
That afternoon, about five o'clock,
we left our boat ten miles up the river,
and prepared for the march through
the forest to the pond where the
Colonel was going to hunt that night.
The guide led the way, bearing an
enormous pack. followed him, with
the Colonel bringing up the rear.
Over logs and bogs, through mud
and moss, struggling out of alder
thickets and over-hanging boughs, we
went on until we came to slight
ridge.
sour pond lies just over this hill.
Game may be in at any time now.
Keep mum and get into this" whis-
pered Billy.
As he spoke he showed a canoe out
from its hiding place in the bushes,
and after some wobbling we we're all
in, and Billy padded us over the
silent water.
In few minutes the nose of the
canoe shot alongside log and hit it.
self in a mass of ferns under deep
bank.
"Here's the campl" whispered
Billy.
"Where?" asked.
''There!" said the Colonel, point.
ing maiestically heavenward.
l scrambled up the bank and found
the tiniest, cutest little shelter that I
had ever seen. Slender poles for sup
ports, with birch bark walls and roof.
The bark curled up around the caves
and door in such bewitching, well
coming manner that 1 felt at home at
once aud went in. 1t was built on the
leauto style, and l had to sit down
most of the time. When the pack
and the guns and the blankets and the
Colonel were oil in with me it was all
could do to even sit.
The guide built fire and broiled
some venison and bacon on tho Goals.
The Colonel poked around in the pine
needles and tried to help, but after a
few weak efforts gave it up.
How that venison tasted and l had
always loathed bacon before, but this
melted in my mouth. The canned
peaches were like nectar, and even the
bread and butter was inexpressible.
"If things always taste like this, !
want to go hunting the rest of my
life" / whispered between bites.
I ate 80 much that it made me
sleepy. I toasted my feet by the fire
afterward, and tried to fight off my
drowsiness, for the Colonel had vowed
couldn't keep awake. But the
warmth sent me into languor in
which was conscious only Of the
two men in the dusk making prepare.
tions for the hunt, the fire-hght
shadows in the trees and the lake be.
low.
A touch on tho shoulder aroused
me.
''All's ready" said Billy, aud kneel
ing, he tied some soft stuff around
my feet. Then rising, he motionet