The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-01-28

the living and the dead, are so inter-
locked that one must make a wide de-
tour to pass around it.
In these thick portions one may pass
within few feet of deer and not be
aware Of it, for they are sly, and very,
very wise. There is well. accredited
tradition to the effect that they know,
to day, when the lawful hunting sea-
son begins, and conduct themselves ac-
cordingly. During the summer months
they frequently go out into the farmers
fields to forage during the day, but
never in the months of October and No
vember. One summer COW moose with
her calf at her side used frequently to
wade into the river in front of this camp,
apparently feeling quite sure that the
fishermen there assembled would not
dare to violate the law; nor did they vi
olate it.
Sometimes in my rambles l would coma
out into open forest, largely stocked
with maple and beech, and its freedom
from underground and dead wood lent it
a certain park-like aspect. Here, oc-
casionally startled by my crunching foot
steps, would spring up one of the wood
nymphs, long before could get within
decent rifle range, and dash away in the
distance, defantly holding his "white
flag" aloft. Again l would come to
what is termed "black growth by
which is meant the various kinds of ever
greens. l found these tracts covered
with so thick growth many times that
| could penetrate only their borders. 1t
is in their depths that the deer find secur-
lty and food during the very deep SHOWS
OF winter, for the thick growth protects
them In measure from both cold and
tempests, while the tender twigs on the
low boughs furnish them food
10 the lover of Nature the charm of
the Maine woods is their infinite variety;
a variety that one never tires of; and
fhey have many surprises in store for us,
too. 1t is common impression, | think,
that mans occupancy of habitable areas
has in measure driven out wild Nature,
but 1t has been noted by more than one
observer that, while the larger animals
are driven back from civilization, or are
exterminated, yet such as are not too
tiercely warred upon really seem to love
the proximity of man and his domestic
animals.
No one unfamiliar with the woods is
aware OF how few quadrupeds and birds
are to be found there, and we return
from the primitive forests, which we
had imagined populous with numberless
wild species, into pastures and gardens,
and find that we have stepped from a
region very sparsely inhabited into one
teeming with life. For hunting we go
to the forest only to find those larger
animals which mans destructive warfare
has driven from his immediate vicinity
Another Of their surprises is the be-
w onyot n Icfo
which they constantly bring to the ur-
entirely at variance with what one gets
in the more civilized woodlands that I
have known. | included pocket com
pass in my outfit only because it was on
the list of necessities" which friend
had made out for me, not once dreaming
that should need it, so confindent was |
of my ''wood sense" Yet found that
these strange forests completely upset
my chronological bump of ''locality,"
and when the sun was hidden one day,
but for my compass it is quite possible
that might have spent the night in the
woods. Even for this emergency, how
ever, l was provided, as I carried
waterproof box of matches
| one dav visited lumber camp be-
You'd the river, and was interested in
seeing the crude, but comfortable ap-
pearing, log buildings; the kitchen and
dlnlng-room in one building, and another
fitted with hunks for dormitory, while
third building was log stable for the
teams. During the summer months the
timber trees within working distance of
the camp are felled, the cross-cut saw
being used mostly for this purpose now
They are then sawed into lengths, and
after having the bark stripped off are
drawn together and ranked up into great
piles IN carefully selected places.
This makes them accessible when the
SHOWS fall deep, and with roadways pre-
pared they are then drawn to the river
bank, where they are again carefully
piled up. Here the logs remain until the
spring thaWs fill the river to its brim,
and the feeble brook of the autumn be-
fore IS changed to rushing torrent of
waters. The Watchful lumberman care
fully selects his time, and when the
proper moment arrives the whole gang
spring to the task of rolling the logs in
to the river, and the drive is begun. But
they must be tended and watched the
whole distance, for they are liable to
drift into side places or accumulate a
jam IN some narrow gorge. At last, far
down in still waters, the logs are corral
ed in boom, sorted, measured and
turned over to the purchasing company.
''How much money will they bring
Joe?" | asked.
Between $4,000 and 1O,OOO,'' he re-
piled. At one time during the drouth the
forest fires got very near his lumber
camp and he and all his gang had to
fight the fire night and day to keep it out
They won, but had it entered that area
OF strewn tree tops, brush, logs and
buildings. it would have destroyed the
result of years labor of himself and
his men.
We had been in the woods a week
when then the rain came, and it came
like benediction; alike on the lumber
man, the hunter, and the farmer. After
that we had fairly good success in hunt
the laurel being carried off by the young
est member of our party, who secured
two bucks and fine bull moose. The
long tramps in the wild brought nights
of deep and restful sleep, with an in
creased power to digest and assimilate
food, so that on our return our friends
remarked on how well and ''hearty" we