Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-16

l uuu UItWcu Our tea. AL SuuSeL we halted at Tuley pond, looking along its reedy margin. under purple tamaracks, for deer. There was great silence here in the deep of the woods, and Tip Taylors ax, while he peeled the bark for our camp, seemed to fill the wilder ness with echoes. It was after dark when the shanty was covered and we lay on its fragrant now of balsam and hemlock. The great logs that we had rolled in front of our shanty were set aflre and shortly supper was cooking.
 Gerald had stood the Journey well. 1 Uncle Flo and he stayed in, while Tip ] and got our jack ready and went of in quest of a dugout. He said Bill Els worth had one hid in thicket on the l south side of Tuley. We found it after an hours tramp near by. It needed a ] little repairing, but we soon made 1t water worthy and then took our seats, ,, he in the stern, with the paddle and in the bow with the gun. Slowly and silently we clove way through the star sown shadows. It was like the hushed and mystic movement of a dream. We seemed to be above the deep of heaven, the stars below us. The shadow of the forest in the still water looked like the wall of some mighty castle with towers and battlements and myriads of windows lighted for fete. Once the groan of night hawk fell out of the upper air with a sound like that of stone striking in water. I thought little of the deer Tip was after. with gun barrel. I had forgotten all but the beauty of the scene. Suddenly Tip reused me by laying his hand to the gunwale and gently shaking the dug out. In the dark distance ahead of us I could hear the faint tinkle of dripping water. Then I knew deer was feed ing not far away and that the water was falling from his muZzle. When I opened my jack we were close upon him. His eyes gleamed. I shot high above the deer. that went splashing ashore before I had pulled my trigger. After the roar of the gun had got away in the distant timber Tip mentioned place abhorred of all men, turned and padded, for the landing
 Gould "a killed i'm with a club" said he. snickering Guess he must "a look ed purity tall, didn't he?'
 Why" I asked.
 Cos ye aimed into the sky" said he. 'Mebbe ye thought he was bird.''
 "My hand trembled little" said I.
 "'Minds me of Bill Barber" he said in half whisper as he worked his pad de, chuckling with amusement.
 Flows that!" asked.
 "Nothn' safe but the thing he shoots at." said be- "Terrible bad shot. Kills a COW every time he goes huntin'."
 Uncle Eb was stirring the fire when we came whispering into camp, and Gerald lay asleep under the blankets.
 Willie couldn't hit the broadside of a barn." said Tip. He don't take to it nat'ral."
 'Killin' an book learnin' don't often go together" said Uncle Eb.
 turned in by the side of Gerald, and Uncle Flo went off with Tip for another trip in the dugout. The night was chilly. but the fire flooded our shanty with, it's warm. glow. What with the light and the bUughs under us and the strangeness of the black forest we got little sleep. I heard the gun roar late in the night. and when I woke again Uncle ED and Tip Taylor were stand- ing over the fire in the chilly gray of the morning. A dead deer hung on the limb of tree near by. They began dressing it. while Gerald and went to the spring for water. peeled potatoes and got the pots boiling. After hearty breakfast we packed up and were soon on the road again. reaching Blueberry lake before noon. There we hired boat of the lonely keeper of the reservoir. found an abandoned camp with an excellent bark shanty and made ourselves at home.
 That evening In camp was one to be remembered. Alb Thomas, the guide who tended the reservoirs. came over and sat beside our fire until bedtime. He had spent years in the wilderness, going out for nothing less important than an annual spree at circus time. He eyed us over each in turn. as if he thought us all very rare and interest ing.
 Many bears here?" Uncle Eb inquir- ed.
 More plenty n human bein's." he answered, puffing lazily at his pipe with dead calm In his voice and man. ner that have never seen eQualed except in tropic sea.
 'See 'em often?" I asked.
 He emptied his pipe. striking it on his palm until the bowl rang. without answering. Then he blew into the stem with great violence.
 Three or four n a summer mebbe," he said at length
 Ever git sassyT Uncle ED asked.
 He whipped coal out of the ashes then and lifted 1t in his fingers to ths bowl of his pipe.
 "Never real sassy" he said between vigorous puffs. "One stole a ham ofY my pyazz las summer Al Fineld brought t in fer me one day-smelt good too. I kep' savin' uv it. thinkin' 1 AN l.