Year: 1877

maueu le6LerS nome, DOugnG mOOcaSlni and hunting shoes, bid an affectionate farewell to civilization, and started on the 8. 15 train up the J. l.. & s. R. R.. road which has lately been built one hundred miles up into the heart of the wilderness

 We had not left Bay City three miles behind before we struck an immense pine forest with trees from one to five feet in diameter, and one to two hundred feet in height. The railroad runs as straight as gunbarrel with the timber cut out iust t wide enough to construct the roadbed; and, looking from the rear platform, which with the permission of the conductor we took possession of, 1t seemed like rushing through narrow ravine with solld wall 150 feet in heighth on either side. Occa- sionally our train stopped at what they called station, where we usually found from one to five log houses and sometimes steam saw mill. Some of the log hous- es are occupied by Indians. some by white men. tried to catch some of the names of stations as they were called out. but they are all of Indian derivation. could make out but one and that is sPincon- ming" Here a whole tribe of Indians live. As we reached the next station I ventured to inquire of the brakeman Ia sort of half Indian, half Esquimaux look ing fellow) the name of the place. He answered very promptly, ''dam-f-no." I remarked that it was very singular name but he offeret no ezflanation. and I did not push my inquiries any farther. We travelled on through this unbroken wild erness until afternoon, when West Branch was called out. This was our stopping place and out we filed, bag and baggage.

 Here we found the two barrels of flour,

 which we had ordered sent the week be- fore from Detroit. We also discovered that Old Father Time had been playing quite sleight of hand trick with our watches. On comparison we made out 55 minutes difference between Michigan and

 Connecticut tune. sdt Ta1a

 We sat on the platform few minutes

 and took good look at our surroundings.

 I must say they did not look very inviting.

 Here we were, 1000 miles from home and

 friends, and 72 miles from settlement; but of course we exrected nothing more than this when we left home. So we cast off our momentary homesickness, and

 went to business at once. Simeon, David and John were sent out as scouts to find a camping place for the night. (We sup posed when we started that we knew just where We were going to make headquar- ters; but, on arriving at West Branch, learned that fire had swept through that locality. destroyed the timber. burnt up the old hunters hut. and driven all game away, and, of course, we had to hunt up new quarters). We found an old fellow with a team to take our baggage on be- hind the scouting party, and we brought up the rear. Luckily for us we found a log road tor ''tote"road, they call it here) running from West Branch station to a lumbermen's camp some 20 miles east. It Is not such a road as the selectmen of Washington would beproud of, but bet ter than no road at all We had to help draw the wagon over bad places, but we found it helped tle most to praise up the old fellows rickety looking horses. for got to state that before we left the Branch our young man Philip went out on an ex- ploring expedition and to him we give the credit of finding the first dear. ....-

 We travelled five or six miles to small lake about half the size of Lake Wara. maug Here we came up with our scouts, who reported log hut about two miles ahead; so, after taking little rest, we de- cided to push on and camp for the night at the hut Four of us, Solomon, Philip, Simeon, and myself, remained at the lake to try and catch some fish for supper. Moored at the edge of the lake we found two canoes, and little way up in the bushes, we fepnd a trapper's hut. A knock at the door reused up his old deer hound, and presently the old trapper him. self appeared-the widest of, wild look ing men we ever saw. His hair and beard was in about such sharl as a spool of cotton that has been the plaything of a couple of kittens. When he saw we meant no intrusion or harm he seemed quite so- ciable and human. He lent us his canoes, we caught some live bait, and Simeon threw in his hook, but it had hardly touched the water before bass snapped off bait, hook, and all (the old trapper had just told us our hooks were not strong enough but we didn't believe it). Just then the old fellow sang out. ''There boysi There goes deer swimming the lake! We had left our rifles on shore, what should we do? We looked in the di. rection indicated, and there, sure enough, at nearly the middle of the lake. was an old buck making for the opposite shore

 The old trapper sang out. Boys, make for him, and you can head him off!'' Simeon and Phillip pushed ashore for the rifles, and Solomon and myself rowed for the old buck. We pulled with will, surely and steadily gaining on him. It was an exciting time for us. now I tell you; there. about 100 yards ahead of us, was the old fellow with head and horns out of water and doing his level best. shall never forget the excitement of that moment We had nothing with us but our hunting knives. but we thought we were enough for him, and would surely capture him, when just as victory seemed certain, ,one row-lock gave way. We tried

 padding. but it was no use. from that mo. ment the old fellow steadily increased tl.e distance between us. and we soon had the modification of seeing him disappear. We found that under the excitement we chased him over mile. We now pad dled slowly back. and as it was nearly dark. started on to find the camp. stop