The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-26
HCAPTAIN BUTTERwoRTH," said
BY Edward 8. Ellis.

hHAPTAIN BUTTERWORTH," said
one of his friends, at an even
tng's gathering, there are few that have
done more travelling and hunting In
different parts of the world than you.
Tell us, now, which of all the game
you brought down was the most pala-
table?"
"At first that seems an easy question
to answer" replied the bronzed and
SCARED old hunter; "but when con-
slider 1t fully it Is a little more difficult.
You see, in matter of that kind there's
agood deal depending on circumstances.
Hunger's the best sauce, and I've seen
the time when a piece of boiled mule
would taste better than fricasseed tur-
key would this minute. On the whole,
however, I'm inclined to believe that
the most savory meal ever made was
from the African eland, on the borders
of the Kalahari desert"
"What is the eland9"
lope species. The male is six feet high
at the shoulder, and twice as long, and
they frequently weigh 800 pounds"
did you ever shoot any, captain?"
"Never; and yet they are among the
easiest animals in the world to bring
down."
How is it, then, that you profess
to know so much about the animal?"
"If you'll keep quiet long enough
for me to explain" replied our friend,
with wink, perhaps you'll get an idea
or two into your head.
"A party of us, some years ago, pene-
trated pretty we'll into the Kaffirland,
when we went into camp for several
weeks, while we did the country as
well as we could in the way of hunt
ing.
"Maxville and I generally went in
company. He was from Virginia, and
one of the best fellows ever met. He
was a graduate of West Point, where
he stood among the highest in his class;
and in addition to the accomplishment
that are given in that institution, he
was one of the swiftest runners l ever
saw, and could beat any man in throw
ing stone. I've seen him banter
a fellow to toss his hat in the air for
him to throw at, and he would invaria-
bly, throw stone clear through 1t. He
caught me that way and compelled me
to give all my headgear the freest ven-
tilation for some time after. 1t was
nothing for him to stand and pick out
bird after bird from the limbs of tree;
and time and again, when they were
sailing over our heads, and some of us
had missed them CO the wing, I've seen
him bring them down with a piece of
rock as large as your hand.
However, without stopping to go
into his merits in that line, I'll tell you
what happened one sultry day when
he and l were out on hunt, not par
ticularly for Glands, but for anything
else that might come in our way.
"We hadn't seen any of the party,
and didn't care to, for we fattered our
selves that we could get along with
out their help. We were on foot, with
out any dogs, and, according to what
l learned afterward, were about ten
miles from camp. The country was un-
dmlating, crossed here and there by
sluggish streams, while over all hung
an atmosphere like the breath of an
oven. But we were pretty well Injured
to the climate, and we plodded along,
sticking to the shade wherever we
could, and in no hurry to scare any
lions, elephants, rhinoceroses or big
game that is peculiar to Africa,
"'Do you know l feel hungry?' he
Ruddenly asked EtonDinp and looLinp
around at me.
''As he was subject to chronic hun
ger, / told him that the wonder would
be greater if he were not. He then
called attention to the fact that he had
not eaten mouthful since morning.
1t happened that that morning, before
our party of dozen had broken up,
the conversation had been running
upon the eland. Several of the boys had
eaten them and they all agreed that it
was the most delicious food they had
ever known; and as we were now In
the Gland country we were anxious to
test the matter. All that was lacking
was the eland itself.
"Well, we frightened up a little, and
tramped ahead for an hour more, when,
sure enough, just as we reached the top
uf slight elevation, we caught sight
of group of animals about half mile
away that, after a careful scrutiny we
were well satisfied were the very crea-
tures for which we were hunting.
|c.s.The ground was not very favorable