The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-08-05

a town of four buildings and an OK
team. We found that we were with
in three miles of Mud Lake This is
| not the real name of the lake; the
real name begins with K and ends
in the next township. One has to
go into large field on a clear day
and take stimulants to pronounce it
correctly. At sundown, we arrived at
the hunting grounds.
We arrived at Thief river just as
the sun was registering for supper,
and were welcomed by a 16-year-old
boy, wearing a 9-year-old pair of
pants. He welcomed us gladly by
splitting into the river, and throw
ing club at a passing muskrat. He
told us that his mother lived across
the river, and his father lived in
Canada. We crossed the river, and
met his mother, who, after the regu-
la1 grass widow hesitation, advised
Us to come in. The house was built
of logs, also the fire, which we used,
instead of conversation, in getting
warm. After being shown to our
room, which was separated from the
other room by high board fence, We
unpacked our baggage and waited
around for an hour for the glad cry
OF supper. At last it came, accom-
anied by Louie, who had fallen into
the river in an endeavor to get a
all of clean water for the glass
pitcher. We had fine supper and
hastily ate everything set before u.s.
The next morning, we started up the
river for the lake, taking Louie along
to show us the way; this might seem
unnecessary, but Thief river is very
uncertain stream. 1t doesn't seem to
have any definite idea where it is
going, but loafs around through the
country like a stray horse. Some
times it runs into a marsh for half
mile and a stranger might very
easily mistake the branch for the
real Thief.
Louie joined us gladly, bringing
from the barn, shot gun, which
was easily a wonder. 1t was a tall,
ambitious looking old gun, made at
the Ringbo blacksmith shop on rainy
days. The hammers were tied on
| with binding twine, and when the
gun was discharged, they got out ot
the way and hung down in peace
ful we-are-not-goins-far sort OF man
ner. When Louie hunted alone, he
| carried the gun in wheelbarrow
We took turns rowing the boat and
walking along the bank. Occasion
ally we would happen on to few
ducks, which were loafing around,
not looking for company. They got
up when we approached, and hastily
withdrew. Everybody blazed away
sometimes surprising a duck, also
ourselves. 1t took us some time tt
reach the lake, which we expected
| tc find covered with geese and ducks
but we were unanimously disappoint
ed; instead, the lake was covered witt
mean looking waves, which climbed
into our boat and drove us into shore
and we put in the time wallowing
around through the sloughs, occas-
| ionally getting a duck, but more Of
ten getting our boots full of tiret
looking water.
One day, we shot goose. | say
We, because we both shot into a
| flock as many times as We could
with double barrel guns, and one
lone goose reluctantly joined the
earth. We put in several hours try
ing to find it, but up to the present
time, the goose is still hiding.
One day while wandering around
in the tall grass, it was noticed that
a large and lively prairie fire was
about to join us; the grass was thick
and dry and seemed willing to be
burned, but we were not The ex-
perience would have been new, but
we had promised to be home early
for supper that night. and rather than
disappoint anyone, we jumped into a
pot hole, which was full of dirty
slough water, which fitted around us
fairly well, and kept us out of reach
of the angry flames, which after