lonely in such company and in
such weather. The only drawback was the harassing and vexatious manner
in which lakes, streams, swamps and marshes constantly persisted in
getting across the way, compelling long detours to the north or south,
when the true course was nearly due west. I think there were days on
which ten hours of pretty faithful tramping did not result in more than
three or four miles of direct headway. The headwaters of the Salt and
Chippewa rivers were especially obstructive; and, when more than half
the distance was covered, I ran into a tangle of small lakes, marshes
and swamps, not marked on the map, which cost a hard day's work to
leave behind.

While there were no startling adventures and no danger connected with
the trip, there was a constant succession of incidents, that made the
lonely tramp far from monotonous. Some of these occurrences were
intensely interesting, and a little exciting. Perhaps the brief recital
of a few may not be uninteresting at the present day, when game is so
rapidly disappearing.

My rifle was a neat, hair-triggered Billinghurst, carrying sixty round
balls to the pound, a muzzle-loader, of course, and a nail-driver. I
made just three shots in ten days, and each shot stood for a plump
young deer in the "short blue." It seemed wicked to murder such a
bright, graceful animal, when no more than the loins and a couple of
slices from the ham could be used, leaving the balance to the wolves,
who never failed to take possession before I was out of ear shot. But I
condoned the excess, if excess it were, by the many chances I allowed
to pass, not only on deer but bear, and once on a big brute of a wild
hog, the wickedest and most formidable looking animal I ever met in the
woods. The meeting happened in this wise. I had been bothered and
wearied for half a day by a bad piece of low, marshy ground and had at
length struck a dry, rolling oak opening where I sat down at the foot
of a small oak to rest. I had scarcely been resting ten minutes, when I
caught sight of a large, dirty-white animal, slowly working its way in
my direction through the low bushes, evidently nosing around for
acorns. I was puzzled to say what it was. It looked like a hog, but
stood too high on its legs; and how would such a beast get there
anyhow? Nearer and nearer he came and at last walked out into an open
spot less than twenty yards distant. It was a wild hog of the ugliest
and largest description; tall as a