Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-07-11
chapter D.


yet remain, in over-crOwded England,
some spots. few and far between
though they mag be, still untouched
by the greedy fingers OF the de-
stroyers. whom men call Progress ana
Civilization. a
To this grand old forest for in
stance. whose dim shades echo the
soft pit-pat OF the deer and the COO
II the woOd-pigeOn, comes not The
tourist with hideOus knapsack and
suit OF startling check; no painting
locomotive bslChes out its cloud or
eIms and oaks which reared their
stately heads before their fell enemy,
the steam engine. was dreamt Of.
So remote and unfrequented is the
forest that there is scarcely a road
from end TO end OF its outrageous
length. for the trail made by the
rough carts OF the wOOdmen and char
coal burners could scarcely be dignifed
BY the title Of thorOughfare, and a
few footpaths that wind about the
gIades are so faint and seldom used
as to be scarcely distinguished from
the underground OF ferny moss
around.
Along one Of the fOotpaths the
young man tramped, occasionally stop
ping for a moment TO look up at thu
sky which shone redly through the
openings OF the trees or 10 watch
some frightened hare scamper across
the glade.
Every now and then a herd OF deer
would fit through the underground.
turning toward him distended eyes Ol
alarm and curiosity, for OF the two
kinds II men with whom they were
acquainted-charcOal burners and
woOdmen-he was neither; nor did he
belong 10 the tribe OF tourists, for he
carried no knapsack. and instead Of
the inevitable check and knicker-
b0Ckers. was clad I'm a loose Cheviot
suit, which. though well worn, bore
about il the unmisJakable stamp Oh
SavlIIe Row. =.
That he was young and light
hearted was evident from the fact that
he broke out into an occasional snatch
az an air from the last new popular
opera buffe. Notwithstanding that the
evening was closing in and he had
most completely and emphatically lost
his way.
Now. 20 lose your way In a forest
reads rather romantic and entertain
ing than otherwise. but like ship
wrec,-. or falling into the hands. Of
Greek banditti. il is a much pleasanter
thing on paper than in reality.
4 bed Of moss, though very charm
ing I'm the daytime. Is not nearly so
comfortable as a spring mattress, and
IS sure to be damp. and primeval oaks.
majestic and beautiful as they are. do
not keep out the draught. The worst
.1om in the worst inn is preferable TO
a nights lodging in the graniest OF
forests.
But. though he had never been in
the Warden Forest before. the young
man knew il would be midsummer
madness 70 hope for an inn and was
wandering along On the chance Of com
f-g across some woodlands hut. or by
meeting a stray human being Of whom
re could inquire his way.
He was tired-he had been walking
since morning, and he was hungry and
1th.rst. but ne tTgmped on, and
smoked and sang as carelessly as il he
were stroIIing down The shade side of
Pall Mall. SD
Slowly the sun set, and the glades,
which had been dusky an hour ago,
grew dark. The faint foOtpath grew
SIN more indistinct, the underground
5snser and more difficult for persons
walking.
The pedestrian fought on for some
time. but at last, as he stumbled oven
one az the gnarled roots which
ErGnl chestnut had thrust up through
the ground. he stopped and, looking
round, shook his head.
"A regular babe in the wood, by
JOve," he exclaimed. Il shall have TO
make a night OF il, expect. Wonder
whether the robins will be good
enough 10 cover me over in the proper
nursery-bOok style? Is Il any good
hall0inE. I wonder? I tried that an
huur ago. much 10 the disgust OF the
i've animals; and don't think can
kick up q row az this time OF night
Let's see how the 'bacCa goes. Hem.
about thres-peThaps four pipes. Z
wish had something TO eat and
drink: what a fool / was 20 leave that
piece Of steak az breakfast. Steak!
] mustn't think Of it-that way mad
ness lies Wei. this looks about as
sheltered a srot as I could ind-Tu
turn in. wonder II anybody has,
since the world began. hit upon a
short Cut2 never have, and hang me
II I'll try 20 again. BY George, the
--ass is wet already. Such a likely
place for snakes-fnd my pocket fun
VIXEN I wake. no doubt"
Then. with a laugh. he dropped
Town amongst the long brake: hut the
'fga a. going 90 bed in forest. a
nrwrr- hnrr- 80 -s-.e 60 v-wrN