The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
CHRISTMAS PoT-LUCK IN CAMP.
Dinner at the Last Moment Came as q Sur
prise TO the Hungry Hunters.

Dinner at the Last Moment Came as n Sur
prise TO the Hnngr, Hunters.
"of all Christmas dinners that / have eaten
I enjoyed most the one l ate last year with my
guide in the Maine woods" said John e. Arm
strong over the coffee and cigars at a west side
dinner party last evening. And the best OF it
was that up to the Time 1t was actually In sight
there seemed every prospect that we should
have no dinner at all.
1T was up In tho Allegash region where i
went last December with my old guide, Win.
Hackett, to hunt big game. 1t is q cold time of
year In Maine. but we had q warm camp with
lots of things to eat and drink, and out of doors
we kept ouselves from freezing by tramping
about. Up to Dec. "a we had no antlers to
show. On the noon of that day we started a
buck bout five miles from camp, and set out to
get his antlers and venison for our Christmas
dinner. With a foot OF snow on the ground
We could track him easily, and we got sight
OF him four different times during the
afternoon, but every time he was out of rifle
range from us. In the snow q man can tire a
deer do wn at last. SO we kept on until 1t got too
dark TO track him. Then we cut some evergreen
boughs to lie down on, built a big fire, and
passed the night between mapping and %chopping
hrewood. We had left camp with some hard
tack and slices of salt pork, and a paper of tea
IL ouT pOChcLS. we mAuo teh IN our TIN cups,
and divided the bread and pork Into two por-
tions, for supper and breakfast; then took up
the trail of tho deer with the morning light.
with hungry stomachs, hoping to have venison
for our dinner. The deer had travelled some in
the night. and We did not get sight OF him again.
oh how hungry we werei We were tight
eni"g our belts by the middle Of the forenoon.
and we drew our buckles another hole at noon
day. By that time l was beginning to question
whether this sort OF thing was fun. The sky
thickened and the AR felt like snow. But the
vension ahead was our only hope. for the camp
SO We kept on until. about the middle OF The
afternoon. we came to where our deer's foot
deer. showing that the I three eff had &c gone nsU on G'n to-.
Eether. This settled the business for us, for We
knew that our deer would keep on running with
follow a chase like that.
We took the back track and had gone a mile
to an old logging road which the guide said led
to a deserted camp. and advised that we fol-
."'Therell be nobody at the camp no said;
but I'll shelter US till the snow is over
,,o.WMe struck rug down the r9sd TN we came 70 a
looked lonely enough. but, the door WIS partly
heard some one moving inside it.
~ beiieve there's somebody in tho camp, 1
little behind me. the words were not out OF my
mouth when. as n TO prove the truth OF my sur
| HIST luC Chuln uOOT WAS slammed IN my lace.
That's Il civil performance l said, a little
hot at the ,indignity put on me. m see II
there's anybody in there with a better right
:"Haekett did not answer, but I heard the
Click OF the lever as he threw a cartridge into
his rlfie barrel. l took hold Of the wooden latch
anu lifted it.
",'Helloo, in there!' 1 called. I'm coming in
1t was dark inside. there being no windows
to the camp. and l opened the door wide 10 let
eyes like bullseye lanterns facing me, and that
was All realized of what was going on till /
t fpom The n esoor% Sn my VICE ehcs som m tns sn psss ieR i ItFs
a streak above me. / heard Hackett's rifle
going as l picked myself up and got the snow
out OF my eyes. Then ! saw the guide holding
his smoking rifle in his hand and laughing. and
: hundred yards beyond a big bqck that he had
knocked me through the doorway and jumped
clean over ME.
wonuer you ask I! Well. he came for salt. A
pork barrel that had stood in one corner had
had leIt a deposit Of salt on the floor. A deer
Wil take more risks to get to salt than for any;
brought the buck TO the cabin. He had walked
in at the open door, and in the falling snow had
s sSt,se '9 Them nsaf in or ppr s : n oGE aRRp p S.J n until 1 !
the door shut. He had not hurt mo beyond Civ
Ing me a big Lift and a shaking up, and probably
did not try to. He saw the door open and was
Here was our christmas dinner right at
camp, ana we soon had a fire going In the stone
fireplace for the broiling OF vonison STEAKS.
Tackled against the side OF the camp was an en-.
velope with written directions on IL 10 look on a
cross beam overhead. There we found u tin box
with hour, sugar, tea, salt, and candles in II
that a hunter going out the woods had left there
for the benefit OF The next conner. "a customary
courtesy in tho Maine woods. In less than an
hour after our arrival we were dining sumptu,
ously by, candle light on broiled venison and
liver and bot bread shortened with deer fat,
with tea and sugar to accompany. Wasn't that
good enough And. then, our pipes nfterwardl
With our twelve hours tramp through the
WOO IS, fasting, for an appetizer. do you think
farr3
THE snow cleared away the next morning and
we got back TO our own camp that day. We re
turned 10 the logging camp with a sled and team
for the remainder OF our venison and tho deer's
head. The ~antlers some Of you have seen in the
hallway OF my house. i wish II understood that
i claim lhem as my proper trophy. Though ]
may not have fred the shot, l certainly was In
tho post OF danger when they were taken"