The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-03-19
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B JaCk-Light and FIaSh.Light
BY FRANK LILLE POLLOCK.
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Just what caused the trouble in
Murray's throat he never satisfactor-
lily ascertained, but he neglected it,
with the result that in the middle of
July it was diagnosed with lengthy
name, and there was a fair probable
lty that he would never again be able
to speak above 4 hoarse whisper.
Murray was a Toronto high school
teacher, and his voice was valuable
to him; so he submitted to a rather
dangerous operation on the vocal
cords.
The operation was a success, but
he had to preserve absolute silence
for the next couple of weeks. After
that he was permitted to speak spar
insly under his breath, and indeed it
was two months before he was able
to raise his voice above a whisper.
To relieve the discomforts of this
semi-silence, he went to the northern
Ontario woods, where there was no
one to talk to. He secured a guide
who was as taciturn as could be de-
sired, and after a week of canoeing
and portaging, they established camp
In the Lake of Bays district, which
is a little beyond the range of the
most summer camping parties.
While the balsam air healed his
throat, Murray amused himself by
fishing and by taking photographs OF
wild scenery, aud when he got q
chance of wild animals
While trolling for maskinonge in
small lake about three miles from
camp, he came upon a much tramped
spot on the shore that was evidently
a favorite drinking place for deer,
and perhaps for moose. These ami
mails came there only at night, Lut it
occurred to Murray that he might lie
In walt beside the runway with his
camera and fash Tight, which could
be fired when he heard the game ap-
proach.
He had half dozen flash light
powders at camp, and he padded
back to secure them. Dusk was al
ready falling when he returned to
the lake and set up the camera upon
Its tripod about IN feet on the lee
ward side of the runway that wound
through tho tangled woods.
The shore was low, and a dense
rec swamp came down almost to
the gravelly beach. A dead spruce
had fallen with it's top among the
water lily pads, and Murray sat down
t0on- its trunk close to his camera.
The twilight deepened; the forest
grew dark, and chill gathered as
The stars grew white in the grecnish
Fly
1t was too late for mosquitoes to
Sc troublesome, but it became Gecid-
edly "old, and the dead silence and
hreariness of the black woods and
water began to Cypress Murray.
Eventually, however, he became
hrowsy, and in spite of his efforts to
keep awake, he dozed a little, with
Intermittent nervous starts.
Finally he shook himself awake.
His limbs were stiff, and he stood up
to stretch them. He was looking
over the dark water, when small,
brilliant point of light appeared at
the other end Of the lake. 1t might.
indeed, have been there for some
time, and Murray put on his eye
glasses, for he was somewhat short
sighted, and gazed at It, He took
u for n campfire at first, but 1t
moved as he watched it, coming slow
ly down the lake
1t could be nothing but a light car
ried in canoe, and he realized at
once what this meant. 1t was some
hunter using a jack-light for deer, in
defiance of the ethics of sportsman
ship and of the Canadian law.
Murray had often heard this mode
of hunting described. The deer
stands fascinated. seeing nothing but
the mysterious gliding light, while
tr hunter sees only the giimmering
reflection of the animals eycballs.
which form his target Murray
watched the light as It crept down
the lake, skirting the shore Every
moment he expected to see the fash
of rife bit evidently the hunt was
not proving successful.
As Murray watched the moving
fame, it occurred to him that Il
would be an excellent joke to fire
the fash-light and photograph the
pot hunter I'm the act, as he passed
him Chuckling at the idea, he
wheeled the camera about to point
over the lake, and set the focus for
Ten yards. He prepared the flash
gun, and stood ready. waiting for the
ganoe to approach
The jack-light crawled nearer.
Hthout even the sound Of a dripping
4addle, fin mysterious silence. When
was some fifty yards away If
aused, and turned inshore and tow
| Ga him It must be that the hunter
vas familiar with this drinking spot.
He stared through his glasses at
the light as n he had been = deer.
while tho canoe stole toward him
| through the darkness lie could see
the HIrkor of the nina Lr0f A., ffe 49,.