New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
Literary NeeOs and Criticism

have found still greater pleasure in depicting
his favorite haunts in series Of thirty or more
color studies several Of which-"The Valley of
the Ken for instance. and 'Lcchinvar, Look
ing westward"-are of admirable execution.
Surely no more sportsmanlike sportsmen ever
went forth into the wilderness than the quartet
whose exploits form the theme of Two Dianas
in Alaska" There were two Nimrods. be 1t
understood as well as two Dianas; and now and
again throughout the narrative are found
agreeable hints that one Dan Cupid was also
busy and successful member. But those who
recall the story of Agnes Herberts shooting
trip across Somaliland will not expect the main
business Of this Alaskan expedition to be inter
fered with for a moment by mere romance A
renovated sealing schooner transported the
hunters from point to point along the Alaska n
peninsula far as Bering Sea; and the hunt
ing. which was abundant and thrilling. included
bears, caribou. moose, walrus and mountain
sheep. The utmost breeziness and vivacity
characterize the narrative. No extremity Of
discomfort could damp the ardor of these hot
foot children of the chase. OF their various
ploits. walrus hunting was, perhaps. the most
novel. This is form OF sport which put al
most superhuman tax patience and self-con-
troll. 1t is useless TO shoot at walrus off shore
no matter how alluring a mark he may offer
you. for he is almost certain to sink at once
You must wait till he founders up for nap on
his favorite sun-exposed sandspit- That is not
all The walrus herd has a marvellous team
spirit. Sleep never finds them unguarded;
there is always a sentinel, alertIy watching,
head up. somewhere in the company; and the
sandspit does not afford "a stick or a stone
large enough to hide a mouse it is nice prob
lem to come upon the beasts unawares.
A. intervals the bull raised his head and sazed
in sleepy fashion ell around then would appear, .aI
for few seconds TO sins to sleep t hmseE
and crawl few yards nearer [ shall long re
sandy beach For minutes at q time would lie
there hat on my face in cramped position ton to AVOID
times during the time took TO crawl that distance
up another to undertake this apparently trk-
some task As each fresh sentinel took up his
and went off TO sleep This approach lasted two
eight hundred yards.
Though not precisely to be classified with the
foregoing volumes Mr Bronsons "Reminis
cences Of Ranchman" may be mentioned here
for its spirited realistic pictures of rough life
in the open. II was in 1882 that the author
sold his Wyoming ranch and entered upon
more prosaic career. The 'grangers' were
focking into wyoming. and boundary lines and
fences meant the end Of ranching but during
the ten years that preceded the author appears
TO have had a normal life supply Of adventures.
OF his breaking in a tenderfoot from the
East he writes with enjoyable frankness, and
after he came into possession of his own ranch
the Desdman-and brand of cattle-the Three
Crows-he had busy succession Of encounters
with refractory hands, with cattle thieves, yes,
and with Indians for the finish fight" of the
Cheyennes, in 70. occurred close to the Dead
man. Mr.. Bronson is a specialist in ranchers
lingo, and his liberal of it gives particu-
lar relish 10 his "reminiscences.