Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-02-27
CAMPING IN ARIZONA.

We rose before day and after hasty
breakfast, with a small lunch in our
pocket and a supply of cartridges in our
belts and our guns on our shoulders, we
sailed out, Verde and myself going in
south west direction to place known
to stockmen as the Pocket where the
hunter is most sure to find deer, Mr.. L.
and C. p, II. going in the opposite direc-
ton. Climbing to the top OF the near
est mountain we mapped out our course
for the day. We had not journeyed far
before we saw the tracks Of several deer
and of course we were little nervous
for fear one would jump up and our
guns would have the ziz-Zags. As rule
when any one misses the object the
fault is in the gun. 1t would not have
been our fault II we had missed as we
had killed many tin cans and other OBJ
jects. We went on tip toe from rock to
rock lest we should make too much
noise. Down the mountain side With
slow progress we crept, looking eagerly
for the noble stag that might loom up
in our sight.
Going down off the highest part OF the
mountain we struck what is called by
western people mesa leading toward
the south, which by all indications look
cd like it was fine place for game OF
all kinds, with plenty OF grass and low
underground, which would afford them
refuge. With light step and ready gun
we marched side by side for several
miles eager for the first shot
The sun shining down upon US with
the heat of midsummer we soon found
it necessary to hunt for water in some
of the deep canyons, so turning to the
right we soon reached the brink of a
great canyon, in the bottom of which
we could see green trees, generally a
sure sign of water in Arizona. We
thought it best not to try to go down
as the sides were lined with loose rub
BILE, not very safe footing To our left
we found more suitable place for our
descent, several thousand feet. Down
we went clinging to small shrubs, and
lunches of grass, or anything else that
would check our descent. Often we
would come in contact with the cactus
that grows in rough places and made US
wish we had not touched it, Each step
brought us nearer TO the trees where
we thought we would find sparkling
clear water to quench our thirst, but
it proved to be as the Arkansas traveller
said creek without water.
1t would be too difficult to climb up
again, so we determined to go down the
canyon. Hark, what is that noise?
Gun in hand we stood ready to defend
ourselves from the attack of a hungry
bear or other wild beast. Crash, crash,
we could hear the tread of something
that seemed to come nearer and nearer
Summing up our courage we stood oul
ground, gun in hand, but it was almos
gone when to our astonishment and re
lief nothing but a wild steer appeared
which was a much excited on seeing
US in this lonely place as We we're snC
bounded away in an instant We fell
relieved. Our thirst, now, was growing
intolerable, but few more steps leaC
US to a small rise into lesser canyon
when to our delight we found water
We felt weary and sitting down we att
our lunch. 1t was now getting late il
the afternoon, and as it was impossible
for US to go back the way we had come
we decided to follow the canyon o
on down, which we knew would lead u
into the Pocket. Reaching it we too
the nearest route to the camp.
We had to climb steep mountain an
reaching the top were still ten mile
from the camp, and with hasty steI
: we're going home when suddenly Verdi
saw deer, fine sight, but only for a
instant.
We reached camp after dark. Mr..
and c. p. II. had come back soon afte
noon with not as much luck as we ha
we had and not half as long a wall
With ravenous hunger We ate suppe
and with the adventures of the day tol
all retired to dreams Of the morrow
hunt. CACTUS.