The state herald., 1909-12-17

Is rare among those VINO tOl-
low the hunting trail. had
- been chasing big game on
and off for more than 20
years without any misfortune except
such as were due to accidents in ca
noes or boats. but now | nearly came
to an end through catching a com.
mon cold in Telegraph creek. The
weather had been deplorable for eight
days. constant snow and rain. which
drove the cold down into my chest and
on to my lungs. Before reaching
Dease lake | experienced dull pain
at the base of the right lung and felt
a difficulty in breathing. During the
night | had slight fever; but as 1t
started fine on the morning OF Septem-
ber 3. | resolved to ascend the noun.
tains toward Eagle river, in the hope
that both the weather and my health
might improve. 1t was foolish thing
to do: but then we are all foolish
sometimes.
After overcoming many obstacles
we finally made camp at about 1000
for the horses. and started upward
again the following morning.
My illness not improving any, and
after encountering many other OBJ
stacles. we finally determined to
return to the lower levels at Dease
lake. Here lay for two days. when,
the sun coming out. the fever sudden.
ly left me with only bronchitis to
struggle with. The following day the
glorious sunshine continued, and / re-
solved to return to Telegraph creek.
being quite unfit to hunt, and with
that Intention set of homewards. II
was lovely morning. Just the morn.
ing for hunting. the hills covered with
snow and even the low ground pow
defed with thin coating Just enough
for tracking. The glistening Tanzilla
danced with reflected lights from the
golden cotton-woods and scarlet bluo-
berry bushes. Everything called the
hunter. and yet we were going back.
j had sold part OF my collection Of
birds to do this trip; my wife would
be more distressed than /. Would |
get down the ever.rainy Stikine with
my chest In such mess? Now I
should never have those splendid
moose and caribou horns to put In the
places | had already made for them
In my museum at home-all these mis-.
cradle thoughts crowded the mind as
we sloshed along the trail In the blaz.
Ing sun. Yet how good It felt after
that cold wilderness up above, and
how thankful ought to be that was
alive-nice comfortable reflections
these. more In keeping with "rcspecta.
BILE middle age" And yet we are 10th
20 abandon our youthful ambitions
and defeat is thing few OF us can
bear with equanimity.
Yes. II was nil an utter fnilure-but
what Is the matter7 Albert and the
bell mare have stopped and the hunt.
er is gazing intently at something nj
his feet. Nothing would make him
stop but moose track and that n
fresh one. HE not gone far you
come" he said. laconicaliy, and I wna
on my horse In n minute. whis.
pered TO Jimmy to go on n mile ana
camp. nnd then slipped into the
heavy brush and took TO tho undulnt.
Ing hills. The track was burning
fresh. and the moose. evidently a very
large bull. feeding Mt Intervals MS he
walked. A few hundred yards and W.
saw such unmistakablc signs that our
quarry was close In front Of ua thnt
the utmost caution was necessary, Al.
bert kept glancing TO left and right
as the wood became more open.
Getting bout time to lie down" he
said.
Presently we emerged Into nm open
space OF burnt timber. some standing
and some fallen. great mass of noisy
debris that made "ntili" hunting even
In moccan.nA nm impospibility. We
paused Nc we were about 10 enter A..
when there was great crash to our
left.
"Look-Hhoot 1uick," said tho in.
dian: but know nj once what Il was.
and my rife was already up trying 10
IND mn open space between that world
OF wooden upilikins where my bullet
could 20 10 it's mark. II was n poor
chance. Ms the bull silently moved