Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-09


only the track Of an otter" and he
stepped into his canoe again and they
padded away.
Then ne told Levi about the night
visitor, creeping about the tent.
Il do not think it wise TO tell the doc
tor or Jean" he said in conclusion, cor
speak of this queer track. It's the doc
tors first trip into the woods, and
such things will alarm him unduly and
spoil his enjoyment" And so the sin
gular footprint and its possible connec-
ton with the creature who had crept
ND to their tent at midnight was lett
behind.
Usually two sportsmen. in canoeing
upstream especially, will keep along
together but somehow that day it hap
pened that DR.. Sol and Jean were first
TO reach the junction of the North
Branch with tho broad and slow-run-
ming Moosohorn. and the lowering sun
bad left It's valley in shadow ore Jean
pushed his canoe ashore and the doctor
stepped ont. II was as Martin had
stated, a good camping spot, for the on
trance to an old tote-road furnished 4
clear space, an endless procession ot
foam hccks on the Branch emerged
from the shadow of It's overhang and
wheeled into the broader stream, while
the music of a little cascade just back
in the woods suggested trout.
you may jis so well go fish" said
Jean, turning to the canoe and taking
from II a small axe, Ear be one YER
nice hole up ze stream few rod" and
he pointed where bush-ch oked OPEN
ing showed that n tOte-road had once
been cut alongside the Branch.
Or. Sol eyed it suspiciously. NO
hears or panthers up there. Jean?" he
quoricd
IF you scr him, he see you fust, an
you no see him." came the paradox
ical answer as Jean began cutting away
the underground with his hunting
knife. preparatory to the erection OF a
tent
DR.. Sol reached for his rod. iointed
it, still glancins iurtively into the SOM
bro wilderness. and then down the
stream again. 81 wish frisbie would
keen mp" he said, half TO himself. Il
want trout for supper, but I'm not just
anxious TO go into the woods alone
/ after them
Bin The floating foam necks. the call
/ Of the running waters, and the love Of
| sport conquered the fOrhidding forest,
and with one more glance down the
| MooschOrn he started up the almost in
visible path
| From the sound, the little cascade he
could hear must be scarce ten rods in,
/ bur as he followed the old log road,
now close beside The stream. and then
bending away, while he pushed aside
the underground taller than himself.
il seemed ever little beyond. Just as
his courage had nearly ebbed. the faint
path turned down beside the stream
once more, and here its current, merely
fretted by hidden ledge, was making
the music that had lured him in. Like
boy now, in his oagerness, he ad-
juSted his tackle. and with q short cast
lightly threw the CANDY flies into the
pool below. and let them float down In
an instant came q leap and splash as
pound trout took the tempting NOR
sci, and the sport began. one after
another the little doctor recled in, OBJ
livious now 10 bears. panthers or the
solemn stiffness of the wilderness. and
happy as only true sportsman can be.
A dozen had been tossed in rapid sue
cession behind rot,ins stump, when,
| forgetting The trees back of him, he
hoosed one limb hard and fast. To