The Adventures of NED MINTON A Story of Fact and Friction BY KDWIN J. MILLER, WHITNEYVILLE, MAINE. .MACHIAS: A. R. FURBUSH, 1904. " ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THK YEAR 1OO4, BY EDWIN J. MILLER, IN THE OFFICE OF THK LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON, I>. C. TO THE YOUNG MEN AND MAIDENS OF THE PRESENT GENERATION, TO THE COMPANIONS OF MY YOUTHFUL DAYS GROWN OLD WITH THE FLEETING YEARS, AND TO MY SOLDIER COMRADES OF THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, THIS WORK is MOST CORDIALLY DEDICATED BY THEIR SINCERE FRIEND AND FELLOW-CITIZEN. THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. The history of the people resident in t he Ma<-hia> Valley, half a century ago, in a social, industrial, sportive and loyal sense, is full of interest and abounds in thrilling adventures. The object of this little volume is to give a plain and correct account of some of the more important facts, wit h just enough fiction interwoven to make the story interesting. A glance at the table of contents will show the nature and variety of the subjects. Wr have indulged in only a few moral reflections but have furnished material for many. E. J. M. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Playing; Truant. Loss of Clothing. Snaring Rabbits. Hornets Attack Political Dele gation ...................................................... i) CHAPTER II. M Xed Minton and Hiram Qnagley Netting fc Pigeons ........................................ .* ............ 1G CHAPTER III. The Loin Woods. Barkin Los. Snar . ing Squirrels. Shooting Deer .................. 22 CHAPTER IV. M ^ A Snow Storm. Attacked by Wolves. Safe at Camp ................................................... 35 CHAPTER V. Sudden Change in the Weather. A Gumming' Cruise. Victorious Encounter with Bears. g Xed Visits Home .......................................... 42 CHAPTER VI. Xcd Returns to Camp. Relates Amusing In- ! cident. Presents the Crew with Pies. Booming the Logs. Preparations to Return Home ............................................ ~>'2 CHAPTER VII. Team Returning Home is Met by Children. A Dance at Marshfield. The .Jealous Lover Loses His Girl. Calf Falls into Curbless Well. Courtship Suddenly End ed. Amusing Story of a Horse Trade ...... ">'> CHAPTER VIII. Ike I'ine the Jockey. Tin- Ka\\ I'.oned Horse and tht- Dutchman. A Surprising Race. Hauling a Maet. Congratulations 71 CIIAITFR IX. A liar*- Between the Flying Fagle and Ned Miuton on Skates. Visits the Fair. Canine Sagacity 71> CHAITFR X. A River-Driving Cruise. Interest ing Descrip tive Scene-.. The Lo:- Race. Shaving t he "Tenderfoot" 87 CHAPTER XI. float and Deer Race in the Lake. Calling and Shooting Moose. A Surprised and Dis- < oncerted Animal. Ijettersfrom Home. Love Match. Drive all in Boom. Insect Torments. Homeward Bound ( .'l CHAPTER XII. The Flection. Secession. The Civil War. Patriotic Uprising. Incidents at the State Capitol. Governor Washburn's Order 108 CHAPTER XIII. Off for Washington. Through Portland. Inspiration of the Regimental Bard. Arrival. Killing Time. Peter Feezer Re lates Story of His Life 1 1" CHAPTFR XIV. Council of War. Regiment Embarks at Alex andria. Scenes at Hampton Rhodes. PAGK Under Fire. The First to Fall. A Dreary Night on Camp Guard 121 CHAPTER XV. The Evacuation. On to Richmond. Scenes on the Route. Borrowing a Bed. Battle of \Villiamsburg. Horrors of War. How Ned Got the Bacon 127 CHAPTER XVI. The Advance. Promotions. Battle of Fair Oaks. Losses. Exciting Scenes. Rail road Train Plunges into Chickahominy. Retreat. Battle. Ned's P r o m o t i o n. Leader of Scouts. Females Under Fire. Taken Prisoner. Escapes. McLellau's Address 133 CHAPTER XVII. Scenes at Harrison's Landing. Scouting and Foraging. Laughable Incidents. Re treat to Yorktown. Raids in the Inte rior. Ned's Purchase. On Southern Coast. Loss of Monitor. Incidents at Fernandina 141) CHAPTER XVIII. Morris Island. Swamp Angel Battery. An April Fool. Sad incidents 156 CHAPTER XIX. Spy and Scout. A Bold Theft. Hauling Big Team. Destruction of Blockade Runner. Intelligent Horses 166 rim-mi xx. Return to Virginia. Fijrhting and Scout - ing. -Confederates Evacuate the Ber muda Hundred Front. Landing ;it lWj> Bottom. Finding ;i Pot of (iold ;:ii(l Silver Coin 1 7.~> CHAPTER XXI. Neil Minton Visits the L;nit;iler Mansion nnd Becomes Interested in itsCaptivat ingMis- tivss. Fi^htiiio; at Strawberry Plains. ( 1 a])lni t es an Obnoxious Guerrilla 1 v l CHAPTER XXII. Boxes From Home. Miss Angelia Seeley En^-aires as Armv Nurse. P>at tie of Deep Run.: 198 CHAPTER XXIII. Sergeant Holmes Wounded and Taken to the Lantaler Hospital. Love and Marriage... :2 1 1 CHAPTER XXIV. Ned Proposes to Miss Seeley.Capturing Confederate Vedettes 219 CHAPTER XXV. Darkv Music. The Effects of War. Xed and Miss SwleyMeet and Plight their Troth... :.>:><; CHAPTER XXVI. Xed Rides Into a Squad of Undeplov>d Pickets. Wild Xaney. Other Incidents of the Last Days of the War. The Sur render. Resi^nat ion ami Reunion. Marriage. A Settlement in the South. A Happy Home 231 The Adventures of Ned Minton, CHAPTER I. Playing Truant. Loss of Clothing. Snaring Rab bits. Hornets Attack Political Delegation. years ago, in a small country town in Washington County, Maine, Ned Minton first saw the light. His birth was heralded with de light by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Minton, whose numerous children, previous to his coming, had all been girls. When Mr. Minton was informed he had a son, he announced that he intended to educate him in view of his becoming a great man in the councils of the State and Nation and an honor to the Minton family, but he had reckoned without consulting Ned, hence his plans did not fully materialize. 9 10 THE AKVICNTI in:s OF When the boy became about ten years of age, Mr. Mint on removed, temporarily, to the sea shore, where Ned would have better school ad vantages, but, ere many weeks had passed, in the institution of learning, school life became irksome to the lad of adventurous nature; accordingly, one fine morning, instead of taking the path along the ridge to the school house Ned, with his cousin Lew, about the same age, went to the beach to watch and play in the rippling waves as they broke into spray on the glistening sands of the sea shore Ned thought this was much pleasanter than being pent up in the little red school house; yet he was not entirely satisfied and intimated to Lew that the conditions would be far better were they divested of their clothing which hindered them from wading in deep water and splashing freely in that element, while en gaged in a game of drive. Lew, acquiescing in this suggestion, they repaired to a flat ledge a few rods distant, and, after removing their school suits returned to the water and flounced and bounced, in the flowing waves, to their heart's content, totally unmindful that each one came a little farther up the shore, until they noted it was Hearing the hour forthe closingof school, then they concluded they had better dress and return home. NED MIXTOX. 11 They then noticed for the first time that the ledge on which they had left their clothing was covered with water and that their best suits had gone seaward, driven by the strong breeze blow ing from the land. The boys were dismayed at this unexpected event; yet Ned tried to hide his real feeling and, to encourage Lew, remarked that he heard his father read in the Bible, the other day, of a woman who covered herself with fig leaves, when she discovered that she was without cloth ing, and that he believed that the long, wide kelp on the shore would do as well, and even better, for an outing suit. So saying he wrapped one of them around his body, securing it by a turn of the stem about his neck, and then selected another for his cousin, who gladly availed himself of it, for he was much troubled when he contemplated his condition, and felt anxious regarding the method to pursue in order to reach his home unobserved, for he lived half a mile farther off, than Ned, and on the same road where many of the children were then heard laughing and shouting, on their way home from school. These boys had played truant at a price which they now fully realized, but they decided there was no better way than to go home and make an honest acknowledgment of their truancy and sub- 12 THE AD\ KNTI HKS OF mit to such punishment as tlu-ir parents chose to inflict. When Mrs. Minton saw the two boys approach ing robed in kelp, she felt provoked and started to chastise them ; but when she heard the story of adventure and loss as related by the penitent lads, she could but smile, and after due admo nition was disposed to forgive her \\ay\v, ml hoy. Lew begged so hard for something better than kelp to wear home, that Mrs. Minton gave him an old skirt discarded by one of her girls; then he started on the run, avoiding the school children as much as possible, some of whom got a view of him as he dodged along the stone walls and hedges, as he made his way partially arrayed in this unique apparel. No one recognized the boy, his body being nude from the waist up and his head without a hat or cap ; hence he was regarded as a spright or wood-nymph whose presence was pronounced by the wise ones, an omen of evil. Ned was not a bad boy at heart as was evidenced from the fact that he did his best to please his mother, never for once disobeying her orders from the date of his truancy to the close of the school term. He was so studious that he reached a rank which met the approbation of his teacher, the commendation of the school board. N NED MINTON. 13 and was exceedingly graining to his parents. During vacation, however, his mind was active in devising means and ways for the gratification of his propensity for sport; hence when Hiram Quagley, one of his boon companions, requested him to become associated with him, in snaring rabbits, he readily complied. After getting per mission from their parents, the two boys went to the woods, a mile distant, and selected a spot near the highway where they prepared several snares with slipknots on twine attached to spring poles; then they cut yellow birch limbs and scattered about to serve as bait to lure these little animals to their doom. There was that day, so it happened, a political meeting held in a town twenty miles distant, and a large number of ardent politicians had gone over with teams, of various descriptions, to listen to the speeches and participate in the jollification. Among these teams were four animated steeds attached to a coach crowded full inside, and an improvised drum corps mounted on the top. Just at the time Ned and Hirarn had completed their snares, they heard the coach rattling down a hill, about a mile distant, bearing the part}* homeward. The team was identified by the sound of the drum and fife, which were plainly heard, as 14 THE AI>\ i:\Tl KKS uF tlu corps executed the familiar tune of "Old Zeb Coon." Hiram was not a whit less ardent than Ned in his desire for mischief, and the sound of the fife and drum suggested to his mind a way to pro duce a lively exhibition at small expense. Hite caught Ned by the collar, gave him a lively yank and then exclaimed, "I say. Ned! there is a l>i^ nest of yellow wasps under a causeway out there, which that coach must pass over." Ned saw the point at once, and with his companion hurried out to the place indicated. After providing them selves each with a pole, they waited until the top of the coach came into view, on the hill, when they punched the nest vigorously, several times, then ran into the thick bushes, where they could peep out and witness the result of their work un observed. Just as the music was being rendered both rattling and screechy, in accordance with the style of country offerings, in those days, and the members of the party, nearing home, were en joying themselves hugely, the team reached the animated spot where about a thousand angry and belligerent wasps were scooping through the air. in various directions, seeking the miscreants who had dared to despoil their home. Those four spirited horses that, ordinarily, re- NED MINTON. 15 quired the full attention of the reinsman to hold them in subjection, were the first to receive the charge of the winged warriors. They snorted and shied, then away they went in a wild and incon- trollable run. The next instant those on the top of the coach came into the troubled zone; then the music ceased as suddenly as the lull in a cyclone, and the drums came rolling from the coach to the ditch, released from hands that wildly thrashed and smashed the air, and per chance a little, innocent wasp, engaged in defend ing his home, an act, regarded by all patriotic people, as the first duty of loyal citizens. The coach soon became lost to view in a cloud of dust, and then the boys, who had been dancing around in forced silence, gave vent to their pent up feelings by breaking forth in shouts of laughter, and performing wild antics indicative that they were more than satisfied with the success of their scheme to participate in the enjoyment incident to the first great political meeting of the campaign. CHAPTER II. Ned Mlnton and Hiram Quagley Netting Pigeons. ^/"HILK they were engaged in building snares, on the day of the wasp adventure, Hiram Quagley informed his companion, Ned Minton, that he had been to Machias a few days previous and had visited a pigeon bed owned by an old friend of his father, a Mr. Staples, and had seen him take more than a hundred pigeons at a single spring of the net. He said that he had no doubt they could do as well, if they only had a net ; for he had witnessed the operation and knew he could make the bed and string the net as well as Mr. Staples, or anybody in the land. "Well, said Ned, "my mother can knit a fish net, and can you tell me what the difference is between a fish net and a pigeon net?" "Oh!" said Hite, "there is no difference at all, except in the size and shape. I know the mesh is just the same, for Mr. Staples told me so." "Then we can have a net," said Ned. "If you can get your father to buy the twine, I can get my mother to knit the net, and we will pay them in pigeons. I know my mother 16 NED MIXTO.V. 17 will do the knitting, if we promise her some birds, because I heard her say that wild pigeons made lovely stews, and then she coaxed father to go out and shoot some." In due time arrangements were made with Mr. Quagley to buy the twine and with Mrs. Mintou to knit the net ; then the boys were in high glee. In those days thousands of pigeons flocked over the county, and feasted on blueberries, when they were plentiful, but later in the season, when this plum became scarce, these pretty birds, with glis tening plumage, were easily induced to alight on pigeon beds baited with a liberal sprinkling of soaked corn scented with an ice. While the net was being made, Ned and Hiram worked diligently clearing away the hardbacks and heaving up a bed, about sixteen feet square, in a secluded spot, surrounded by scrub spruce and pine crags. They afterwards erected a pigeon stand, near the bed, and a short distance a way, they built a brush camp just large enough to crawl into and keep from sight, when watching the birds and awaiting an opportune moment to jerk the line and loose the spring pole attached to the net. The stand was made by boring holes at different angles through a pole and inserting pins, for rests, in numbers and lengths sufficent to 18 TMI-: AiivK.vn KI.S or accoiiiiiuxlate about two hundred birds. When t In- pole Avas erected and set in the cavity due; to receive the butt, it stood about fifteen feet above ground. ;tnd somewhat rt-senibled the niaM and yards of a ship. White awaiting the finishing of the net, Ned and Hiram carried soaked corn each day and ttered it over the bed, making the trips at day break, before pigeons were on the wing. They liad the satisfaction ere .long of knowing that hundreds of pigeons were daily visitors to their bed, and that the bait carried out was greedily eaten in the early morning, while those birds which came later were observed to fly from perch to bed and from bed back to perch, evidently attracted by the scent of anice which remained, though the last kernel of corn had been eaten. The work on the net was urged on by the boys who were anxious to get as many hauls as possible, before the departure of the birds to a warmer clime, hence the evening of the day on which Mrs. Minton completed the net was spent in at tachiiifi -weights along the edge, to hold it down, in view of preventing the birds from making their escape, when it was thrown over them. The following morning the net was carried out. and after at t aching one side to the bed the remaining NED MI.NTON. 19 part was folded over and the outer edge connected with the spring pole. A line was then run from the pole to the little brush camp. When the work was nearing completion, one of the boys assumed a position inside to pull the line and spring the net. The operation was repeated several tiroes, making such changes in the arrangement as seemed necessary, until the working was pronounced perfect; the net landing instantly across the bed in a way calculated to trap and hold the birds securely. The boys then set the net, covered the bed with corn and secreted themselves in the camp where they could view the ground while awaiting results. In about an hour a small flock of pigeons alighted on the stand, and while they were apparently viewing the net, flock after flock flew over, many of them returning to join those which first came, talking, fluttering and struggling for a foothold upon the stand. When they began to descend upon the bed, the boys became so excited that they were tempted to pull the line and spring the net before the conditions were at the best. The} 7 could contain themselves no longer, when about two hundred pigeons were vieing with each other in their efforts to get the most corn. Ned then jerked the line and out sprang the net, 20 THK Ai>\KNTrin> or landing squarely over the flock, and such flutter ing and struggling for liberty was never before witnessed, it is safe to say. by lads so young. The bo JB lUShed from the camp and ran with all their might, but before they reached the net many of the birds had escaped, the weights not being .sufficiently heavy to hold it down against i In fill! tering of so many wings. The boys hearts almost failed them, when it came to wringing the necks of so many pretty pigeons, but there seemed to be no way to accomplish the disagreeable task of killing them so speedily. When it was done, however, they felt relieved of a great burden, for it seemed to be a cruel act however they tried to look upon it. When the net was folded back. Hiram and Ned viewed the pile of birds with satisfaction a IK] and pride and congratulated one another on the glowing prospects of earning money to open a bank account ; for they figured that the pigeons secured at the first haul would net them money enough to pay the expenses of their outfit, and leave a balance sufficiently large to purchase corn to bait the bed for several days to come. While Hiram was engaged in carrying the birds to a near by woods road, Ned ran home and returned with Old Mike, the family horse, to haul their NED AIIXTOX. 21 catch to town. As they drove down the main street, men, women and children came out of their houses and places of business to look at the pigeons. Their success was envied by all the boys and caused comments far and near among the people. Even Pat Murphy in summing up the the matter said, "These bies are ividintly distined to become Prisidints or jail birrids, whichsomever it is harid to til." During the 'next two weeks the boys made several successful hauls; but after that, the pigeons having taken their flight southward, the net was put aside until the following season. ni.MTKK III. The LoRning Wood*. Barking Log. Squirrel*. Shooting Deer. Minton applied himself diligently to his books, during school terms, until he readied liis sixteenth year: then he became restless and determined to engage in some kind of manual labor for a diversion. Hence when Mi-. Minton sent his six ox team to the Cranberry Lakes, on township, number thirty, to engage in logging, he gratified Ned in his desire to go and do the barking. Snow did not fall that year in depth. adequate for logging purposes, until the middle of December, consequently the team was not sent to the woods until the sixteenth of that month. No yarding was done, in those days, and the only timber cut was pine, taken at the stump and dragged to the lake or stream in tree lengths, from forty to eighty feet. After being landed the trees were cut with cross-cut saws into logs ranging from sixteen to twenty-six feet in length, save those suitable for masts, some of which were nearly one hundred feet in length and brought, in the home market, about one dollar per foot, 22 NED MIXTOX. 23 running measure. The trees were hauled with one end resting on a bob-sled, the hardwood bunk or bar, which supported them, being seven feet in length, (M\ i:vn KKS OF' for the bark was usually frozen hard, and it required energy and vim to prepare iKnn three to five trees, for each turn, and from eight to t -n turns each day. In addition to removing the bark the barker was required to hew a Hat Miri'a in forming a face a foot wide and about three feet in length, on each stick, to rest on the bunk. Then the trees were securely bound with chains to pre vent them from turning barked side up, or from slipping from the bunk. The next spring. when discussing the merits of his work to his school companions, Ned said "This sort of work which blistered my hands and made my back ache was not entirely to my liking ; yet I was forced to keep at it to get my turns ready by the time the team came back, bark off and every knot hewn smoothly, just to the teamsters liking, or I would always be measured by his tongue and also by his goad, unless I ran beyond its reach." The camp, occupied by Mr. Minton ami crew, was an old one, which had been used by lowers several winters, consequently all the timber, handy by, had been cut and hauled previous to the operations that year; thus making it necessary for his crew to travel about two miles, to and from' their work, in which distance was included the lake, half a mile in width, upon which the XED MIXTON. 25 were landed from the forest on the farther side. In those days the cook, in addition to his work of preparing the food, was expected to saw all the trees into log- lengths, on the landing, clean out the hovel, pick fresh boughs for the bunks, whenever the bushes chanced to be free from snow and ice, and carry the dinners from the camp to the crew in the woods, where he usually built a fire to boil the tea and heat the hash. The fuel for those fires was always dry cedar, small dead trees being cut down to serve the purpose. This wood is more snappy than any other kind found in the forests of Maine, hence when the hash was served it was not an uncommon occurence to find it contained fully as large a proportion of cedar coals as any other single article which entered into its composition. When the hash and tea were ready to serve, the cook was accustomed to mount a stump or log and cry out dinner! dinner! dinner! at the top of his stentorian voice, until he got a response from the swampers or choppers, handy by, who, in turn, repeated the call to those more distant, until all had been duly notified. The cook always timed his call to correspond with the return of the teamster with his team after dumping a turn of logs on the lake. When all were seated 26 THE ADVKNTI KKS OF around the fire, it was the cook who acted .-is master of (-eivmoim's by dipping the tea from the open kettle, a pint at a time, for each man. serving the hash and occasionally casting a fresh stick upon the fire. When all were duly served, he usually seated himself upon a stump and eyed the men suspiciously to note if they manifested disapproval of his methods of heating the "snapper hash," as they sometimes termed it. Ordinarily not more than twenty minutes were taken by the crew to eat the mid-day meal. After dinner each man filled his pipe and with a. brand, snatched from the fire, lighted it by draw ing vigorously while slowly returning to his work. The oxen, however, were allowed an hour in which to eat their hay and rest; and when hooked to the sled again, were each, invariably, sleepily chewing his cud. The time allowed the leaders to ruminate, however, was of short duration, for they were required to assist in loading the trees, by parbuckling or pulling crosswise on a warp, into a cross-haul or short road, at right angles with the main road, which had been cleared to give t hem space to make the movement. Preparation for the pull was made by placing a peeled skid beneath the log, one end resting on the ground and the other on the chock behind the bunk ; then NED MIXTON. 27 the several men, in position, with big cant hooks, teamster ceased these flourishes and stopped his t.-am with the one command, "Wohush!" to give them time to regain their wind. The camps, in those days, were not especially noted for places of comfort, yet there was a certain charm about them, especially for boys. It was a pleasant sight to watch the glowing fire produced by the burning of hard wood logs, a foot through and six in length, lifted slighily from the hearth by stones placed at either end of the huge fire place in the centre of the camp. With the blaze mounting toward the open smoke hole, on a clear, cold night, it seemed decidedly comfortable to sit in the glow, within the walls, and watch the sparks fly upward and scatter among the tree tops, dimly seen through the smoke, nodding and swaying in the evening breeze. If the dinners were unsatisfactory, the suppers, which awaited the crew returning to camp, tired and hungry, more than compensated for the lack of appetising morsels in the mid-day meal At no first-class hotel on Fifth Avenue, New York, was ever furnished an articleof food moredelicious than beans, taken hot from the bean hole, where they had been buried in glowing coals deep enough to NED MINTON. 29 confine the steam, and had remained long enough for the excessive heat to completely dissolve every particle of the three layers of fat pork in the bottom, center and top of the bean pot, which process imparted to them a rich flavor unattainable by any other method known. Those beans, with the hot biscuit from the baker just removed from before the open fire were relished with great zest by the hardy lumbermen, whose stomachs never were known to give a dyspeptic twinge, whatever labor was exacted of them. After supper the grindstone was usually lifted from the "dingle" and placed near the door of the camp, facing the firelight, where all the axes were ground to a keener edge to lighten the labors of the coming morrow. While this was being done, two at a time, the other members of the crew used their best talent to entertain with story and song. Jack Strong, head chopper, was a big fisted, jolly fellow, who could eat a quart, or more, of baked beans, at his evening meal, with impunity. This was evidenced by the fact that, following such a supper, he would recline on the boughs of the ground bunk and be lost in slumber, his respirations being nearly as thunderous as a cataract. Ned and Jack were good friends from 30 THE ADVENTURES <) the start, and main tims when Ned \vas hard pressed, to get his turns in readiness, Jack came to his assistance and made the bark fly with his keen ax; but he always left the knots for Ned, whose ax was kept in condition to stand in seasons of thaw or frost. NVil was a little lonesome when Sundays came, for there was nothing in the camp to read but scraps of news papers, a year old, and some advertising bills which had served as wrappers about goods which came from the supply store. After breakfast he looked those over, for a while, and then he went to the hay-shed to amuse himself snaring squirrels with a twine string slipknot hung from a pole. He noticed that these little fellows jumped down to the bottom of the grain barrel, and after filling their mouths with meal, returned to the chime and leisurely stowed it away in their jaws to safely carry to their hole in some far away stub. While they were in the barrel, he assumed a position, at the proper distance, and when they came to the chime he cast the noose, drew it taut, and then gave them a quick surprise by hustling them into a cage prepared for their reception. By the time he had secured liis third Jack Strong came from the camp with two NED MINTON. 31 loading rifles and two pairs of snow shoes, and told Ned that he was going out to try to shoot a deer, that the crew might have some fresh meat, in place of the "Snapper hash," and asked Ned if he would like to go with him. Ned gladly assented, but doubted his ability to make satis factory progress, on the snow shoes, for he had not yet tried them. Jack was a deer hunter of long experience and was familiar with all their habits. If a herd of deer was started, he could predict with almost absolute certainty the course they would take, ho AV far they would run and whether they would return or not, calculating all these things from the formation of the land, its growth, the amount of humidity and course of the air. Jack assisted Ned in adjusting his snow shoes and gave him a practical lesson in walking and running on them. In relating his first experiences in hunting, to his chums, after his return home, Ned said "The course which Jack took led us straight to a thick cedar swamp, where I took many a header in the snow, while trying to bound over the brush, in imitation of my leader. After we had traveled half a mile or so in the swamp, we came upon a hard beaten trail, evidently made by numerous deer. This trail Jack called a yard, and said it *ll* THF \I>\ CNTI Ci> OF \v; is circular, and instructed me to travel in one direction while he traveled the opposite way. He informed me that deer would be sure to circle toward me, if I kept on the trail. After advising me to go slowly and keep my eye peeled, he removed his snow shoes and departed as silently as a cat, leaving me to my own meditations, which were not over assuring, for I had heard the wolves howling on the lake, a few nights previous, and had witnessed the signs of their pranks, the next morning, around the bob-sled, as well as the power in their jaws on a cant dog stock, which they had chewed into bits in their efforts to extract what nutriment it may have contained. I plodded along, however, with as brave a heart as I could muster, and shortly my ear caught the sound of deer rushing along the beaten trail. I cocked my gun, scarcely being able to keep it steady, in my great excitement, and as the foremost came into view, aimed, and pulled the trigger. The deer gave a bound to one side of the trail and fell. I threw down my gun, drew my knife and ran to I!M' spot where he lay. I had put my hand on his head and was about to use my knife, when he gave a struggle, reached forward with his long hind legs, and gave me a punch, with his sharp NK!) MIXTOX. 33 hoofs which bruised my ribs and left an im pression on my mind of a prowess and vigor, possessed by deer, far greater than I had ever before ascribed to them. When I had gotten the snow from my eyes, I found my animal had gone, and I was unable to find a drop of blood near the spot where he fell. As I stood gazing reflectively into space, a shot from Jack's rifle brought me to my senses, and I ran for my gun. I tried to reload, in season for another shot, but before the task was half ac complished a number of deer came bounding along the trail and, seeing me, ran away into the untrodden swamp. Directly Jack hallooed; then I started down the trail and wh^n I reached him I found that he had just removed the entrails from a fine buck which he had brought down by his shot. While I was relating my mishap, he was twisting a couple of withes, with which he afterwards tied together the legs of the deer ; then he indulged in a laugh, at my expense, and remarked that I had fired too high, as all kids were apt to do, and that doubtless my bullet struck an antler, the only effect of which was to stun the animal. He then cut a small pole and ran it lengthwise of the body and between the bound legs of the :{ I Tin: AIIVKNTI'KKH OF d'.-r. We raised the pole to our shoulders ;unl ,-is \\t> laboriously plodded alonjr with tin- carcass s\vayin<: back and forth. 1 had ainjiK- tijijiort unity. before we reached the camp, to < onic to a correct conclusion why 1 did not succeed in iM-ninjr a deer on my first hunt. CHAPTER IV. A. Snow Storm. A-ttaeKed. by "Wolves. Safe at Camp. J\ the logging woods both man and beast are supposed to work through storm and shine, unless it be a pouring rain, and even then it is seldom that the men are allowed to go to the camp, until forced to suspend labor by reason of gathering darkness. Mr. Minton's team had been in the woods about four weeks, when there came on a very severe snow storm, nearly three feet, piling down and blocking the roads. In woods parlance, "a bob sled full;" meaning enough to form a smooth surface over the bob-sled in the camp yard, where it was usually left over night. This storm came on unexpectedly, and at a time when the cattle were nearly out of hay. Mr. Minton doubted if his truck team would be able to get in with hay from \Vesley, the nearest town, for a week or more, hence he was under the necessity of getting a supply elsewhere to last until the roads became passable. He had a few stacks of meadow liny on Crooked River, five or six miles distant, which he 35 '{<> TIIK AltVKNTrUKS OF thought mi^lit IK- reached. ;uid after due con sideration, he ordered .lack Strong, his head chopper, and his son Ned. to i;iki> < )ld Mike" and break a track to the stream, and if possible, haul in a small load. Ned was delighted with this opportunity to get a n-spite from barking logs from day-break until dark, for the job had now become somewhat irksome to him, as well as laborious. As soon as he received the order to go, he began shoveling the snow from the horse-sled, while .lack put up then-rain for the horse and food for himself and Ned. Then he got two hay-forks, a shovel and an ax. and after lashing everything securely to the sled, Ned led old Mike from the hovel, and in a few moments he was harnessed and on the road to the stream, which lay in the direction of t In set t lenient. The snow was deep, and the horse floundered along laboriously, stopping frequently to regain his wind, so that when they arrived where tin- stacks were, it was nearly sunset. Xed loosed the horse from the sled and led him around to the lea side of a stack: then he removed the harness, and buckled on the blanket, for he was perspiring freely. Next liesecured him to the foundation stake of the stack, and gave him a liberal feed of NED MIXTOX. 37 "rain, and free access to the hay. Jack then mounted the .stack and pitched down about two hundred pounds to Ned, who stowed it on the sled; then Ned brought up the pail of food, and they too ate their lunch, while the horse was eating. They had scarcely finished, however, when a wolf down the stream, but a short distance away, commenced to howl dismally. In a few moments an answering howl came from the opposite direction, then there began a sound most doleful and terrifying, evidently from the throats of a large and hungry pack. A streak of pallor over spread Ned's face, and as he looked at Jack inquiringly, he uttered the one word, "Jimminy !" Jack spoke assuringly to Ned, telling him that they need not fear, for they would remain where they were until morning, and with a position on the top of the stack, and armed with their forks, they could successfully defend themselves against a score of wolves even though they were raven ously hungry. It was an easy matter to get fuel, to build a fire, there being plenty of small, dry hackmatack trees, near by, which had been killed several years previous by the flowage of the stream. Jack knew that wolves were usually cowardly, in daylight, hence he began chopping 2 t* THK AUVKNTCUKS or (l()\Vll tin- trees. ;is fast ;is In- was able. \\ hile it \\ ; I > vet light. He told Ne THE ADVKNTI i;i> OF near the point where they came upon it the night before, and after following it for a mile or more, Jack remarked that his prediction lh.it the bears were going to a den which they had occupied before was evidently correct. The bears were manifesting unusual cunning in their method of advancement, thus requiring experience and judgment to follow the trail which at certain points was inperceptible for many rods. At times it was lost in open water, where there wen- ripples ; then, again, faint signs were seen on hard ice. Farther on the bears left the stream and crossed an intervale to the woods, and returned to the stream again, on the same trail, usin^ intelligent methods, apparently, to baffle pursuit. On they traveled, until they came to another intervale, covered with alders flattened down and frozen to the ice, forming a smooth bridge. Here they turned toward the woods, walking carefully on the alders and leaving no mark, save here and there a bit of bark torn slightly by a nail. Jack felt sure this was their last grand move, and predicted that they would find the trail, in the forest, leading straight to the den. "There is no doubt," said Jack, "but that \\t> will have a lively time when we reach them ; but we have this advantage; bears which have been NED MIXTON. 47 lying- for weeks inactive in a den lose much of their activity and are not so dangerous to con tend with." Now you just keep cool, Neddy, and when you shoot, aim straight for the eye, and if they rush for you, retreat lively while loading. If we do this, you need have no fear that the bears will get at us, nor will they get away from us." Xed answered that he would do just as he was told. He was putting on as bold a front as possible, yet it was plain to see that he was somewhat nervous; yet he undoubtedly felt there were more chances in his favor than when the wolves were circling about him in the darkness a few nights previous, when his only weapon was a pitch fork. Also the experiences of that night had created a desire in him, never before felt, to par ticipate in such exciting events. After traveling in silence, about half a mile further, they halted under the top of a large spruce tree, blown over and lodged about twenty feet from the ground. The top of an enormous, upturned root was plainly visible from the position which they occupied. Jack lifted his finger, as an indication to be cautious, and then pointed toward the root. Ned understood as plainly as though Jack had said in words "They are there." 48 THE ADVKNTIKKS OF After cocking their guns, the3 T crept around to the front of the root, where partially in viw, lay a large bear, apparently enjoying his morning nap. Jack took aim and sent a bullet straight through his brain. While he was in his death struggle, another bear arose and put her paws upon the body of the dead one, and as she looked about, to learn the cause of the noise and disturbance, Ned took aim and fired a deadly shot. Jack had by this time reloaded and stood in readiness. Then two more bears came rushing from beneath the root, snarling savagely and showing their teeth. They rushed straight at the boys ; but before they reached them Jack shot the larger one. The other turned and ran away. Ned Followed, reloading as he went. Jack's statement that bears, long in the den, lose much of their quickness, was correct, for Ned, who was closely followed by Jack, had no difficulty in keeping pace, although the bear was fleeing for her life. As soon as he had finished loading, he fired, the bullet passing the length of the body without touching a vital spot. This caused Bruin to moan with pain ; then she turned angrily to show fight. When she got within a few feet of them, she stood straight, and snarling savagely, beat NED MINTON. 49 the air defiantly with her fore paws. Jack's unerring rifle again spoke, then the fourth and last bear, in the lot, fell to rise no more. Ned's lips were tightly set until the last shot was fired ; then he laughed, shouted, and danced with excitement and joy, until he had given full vent to his feelings. Happy and proud, he turned back toward the camp to report to his father, who became nearly as excited as his son, when he heard what had happened. He assisted Ned in harnessing Mike to the moose runner sled; then they started out, clearing the road as they went. It was late in the afternoon, when they reached the spot, where they found Jack had been busily at work removing the entrails, and "blazing" a road from the thick swamp to the open growth. When the team returned with the bears, the crew were much interested in the success of the hunting trip, and declared that the boys stood on a par with Fremont and Carson as successful hunters. The next day Ned got permission, of his father, to take the game to Machias, where he disposed of the hides and meat for seventy-fiive dollars. He also received a state bounty of twenty dollars additional. After disposing of his game, Ned went home to 50 THE AIVI:NTI KI:S OF see his mother and sisters and tell them the experiences of his short trip to the lumber woods. Also his old friend, Hiram Quagley, to whom he gave a most graphic description of all th; it had happened, and impressed him deeply with the importance of being one of a logging crew, so far away from home. To emphasize this, he showed Hite his money, nearly a hundred dollars, which he informed him was to be equally divided between himself and Jack. During this interview they also talked with a great deal of enthusiasm of their plans for netting pigeons the coming season. Ned expected to start back for the woods, in a day or two, and had resolved to carry the crew something for a treat ; but, as yet, he had been unable to decide what it should be, for he wished it to be something which would be equally acceptable to all. He had thought of buying a box of cigars, every man in the crew being addicted to the habit of smoking, but, upon con sulting his mother, she advised him to take pies instead. She told him that she would make up a dozen each of, mince and pumpkin pies, for him to take back and he could surprise the crew the next Sunday with his spread. She thought pies would do them more good than cigars, and Ned thought NED MINTOX. 51 so too, after he had heard all his mother had to say in relation to the poisonous weed. That nearly every man who worked in the lumbering woods, in those days, used tobacco in some form, was not, at all, convincing to her mind that it was not an evil, even if those who smoked it did claim that it was soothing to the nerves and a comfort, when lonely and depressed, and away from home. CHAPTER VI. Ned Returns to Camp. Relates A mussing Incident. Freaenta tlae Crew wltn Plea. Booming the Loga. Preparation* to I-ieti irt i Home. Minton was a favorite, in his father's camp, and while at hom<> was greatly missed by the crew. He was of a numerous turn, and often kept the men in good spirits by relating lau^lial tit- stories of himself and his boy companions. When in school, his best work was performed on the daj'8 when the other studies were set aside, and the time devoted to writing and reading essays or compo sitions. Nearly all the parents visited the school at that time to witness the work of their children. Ned always had something decidedly original and numerous. When he arose to read his com position there was perfect silence, but before he had proceeded far, he was nearly always forced to suspend the reading until quiet was restored ; for teacher, pupils and visitors would, by this time, be indulging in incontrollable laughter. When he returned to the woods, his juvscnrf was like a burst of sunshine to the crew. When NED MIXTON. 53 they had finished their evening meal, Bill Sabery, one of the swampers, said, "Well, Neddy, its lonely we've been widout ye; and hadn't Si Wagley, who was thrucking beyant us lift us a coge of gin from his keg, we would a had the blues all-togither. Now, me honey, can't ye relate a bit av a yarn for our intertainment? Till us something that befell ye, while ye was down amongst the gintry, and till it in yer most illigint way." "Well, to please you, I will try," said Ned. "Have you fellows ever had the experimental knowledge necessary to impress upon your minds the fact that there are days in one's life, when everything seems to go wrong, from the rising to the setting of the sun? If you have never had such an experience, I can tell you I had, one cold day, when at home. To commence with, I will say I arose and went to the barn to feed and milk the cows, for mother, who has none too easy a time, with no boy, about the house, to do the outside chores, when I am gone. It was a cold morning, and I wore my mitts, to feed in, but took them off and placed them upon the sawdust bin preparatory to milking. When my milking \vas done I looked for my mitts, but they had departed forever. I noticed the calf rolling some- ."4 THK AI\ r.NTi KI> OF thing; on his tongue, which he seemed to treat as a Mvt-rt and savory morsel, and, upon investi gation, I found that my striped mitts, with the fancy wrist ers. had been converted into a cud, for that calf to take his first ruminating practice upon. I felt the loss keenly, for my mother had sold a beef cow, to a man who lived in an adjoining town, and I had promised her I would make the delivery that day, and I needed the mitts, for the weather was unusually cold. Before I started, however, I found an old pair which served me as a substitute. The cow had iit-ver been broken to the halter and I had no idea what a dexterous time I was to have. I was bounced around, in my big overcoat, until the beady drops chased each other in quick succession from the peak of my nose. I was stuffy and held on with varied experiences. Sometimes I was snaked along with ever increasing speed, the air producing a ringing in my ears, like the sound of many waters. This was followed by a reversed action which nearly unjoin ted my neck. Then came the sulks, requiring gentle or forceful per suasion to induce the fiitful beast to proceed, and, when she did move, there was no manifest abate ment in power or speed. As the sun neared the zenith I consoled myself with the apparent fact XED MIXTOX. 55 that I was approaching my journey's end, and felt that my troubles would soon be o'er. Imagine my surprise and disappointment, on coming in sight of the house, where I expected to leave my flighty animal, and take my cash, to see the windows and doors securely boarded up, and no one in sight with whom I could pass an inquiring word. The next house was half a mile further on, but the only reasonable course left me was to proceed. By flighty jumps the distance was accomplished, and I tied my cow to the cedar fence in front of the house, while I gained admittance at the back door, to learn from the inmates that my cus tomer had moved to a place three miles back on the road just traversed. When I returned to my cow, I found that a serious mishap had befallen her, for she had got ten her head under the fence with a turn of the rope around her neck, at a tension of F sharp, and a sound was issuing from her throat which left no doubt that if relief came not, speedily, she would bid adieu to earthly ties, and her immortal part wing its way to a sphere unknown. I felt in my pocket for my knife, but again I was balked by fate, for it was not there. I tried to remove the rails, but they were frozen fast. In 56 THE ADVENTURES OF my desperation, I seized her by the appendage called a tail, and with one mighty heave ho lads! as the sailors say, I gained enough slack to untie the rope. The speed made by the cow over that three miles of home stretch, to the place where I made the delivery, could not be duplicated by the swift est ostrich. After I returned home I subsided into perfect rest until my flesh became easy and my bones had resumed their normal condition. "Is that the whole of it," asked Bill Sabery, trying to draw him out further, if possible. "Yes," said Ned, "That is the whole of it, I guess, except that to reward me my mother made two dozen pies and sent them up to you fellows by me, because she knew that would please me far more than any other deed she could do. The pies are yours, and to know that my mother made them, is to know that you never ate better ones in your life. "Well, me bie," said Bill, "howsomiver good the pies bees, I'll hould you for a sixpence that there's divil a wan here but will say the story is bether nor the pies. But your moother is as foin as any Irish leddy in ould Ireland, and the next time Si Wagley laves me a drap of gin, I'll drink her health and so I will. NED MIXTOX. 57 "You had better not," said Ned, laughingly, 'for she doesn't like gin, or tobacco either." The average conditions for logging, during that winter, were good, and on the morning, of the tenth of March, Mr. Minton announced that he would suspend logging, that night, and com mence building his boom preparatory to return ing home. The crew hailed this with delight, and early on the following morning began this work with a will. It matters little how late in the season a crew is kept, every man works on contentedly and uncomplainingly, until the word is given to build the boom. That order means home, and no class of men possess a stronger love for home than the sturdy lumbermen, there fore let none be surprised that they sometimes play boj'ish pranks, in those last days, in which they work with lighter hearts than at any time since beginning labor, in the depth of the forest, the better to provide for the needs of the dear ones dependent upon them. A part of the crew was set at work cutting long spruce trees, which grew handy to the lake, and as fast as they were twitched into a circle around the logs, by the oxen, others labored on them, scoring, hewing, boring and making thorough- shots and pins, to connect them, and when they 58 THE ADVK.vnUES OP were securely coupled together, a shout of "Home, Sweet Home," rang out on the evening air, followed by a rush to store away the logging sleds .-iiid tools, in the hay shed, where they were kept until the following season. Throughout the evening the woodsmen were busily engaged, in overhauling their packs, sorting out, and casting upon the fire worn out clothing, and useless shoes and boots. The cook also was diligently boiling beef, kneading dough and twisting and frying doughnuts, that the men might have ample supply of food to sustain them while on the two days tramp required to reach their homes. The teamster, too, spent an unusual length of time in the hovel, carding and brushing his cattle, the good appearance of which, on returning from the woods, did much toward establishing his reputation as a trusty and capable man with the goad stick. CHAPTER VII. Team Returning Home is Jvlet by Children. A. Dance at Marshfield. The Jealous Lover Loses His Girl. Calf Kails Into Curb- lf so Well. Courtship Suddenly Ended. Amusing Story of a Horse Trade. JX the fifties, the arrival of the logging teams, from the woods, bordering Machias River, at the close of the winter's operations, was an exceedingly pleasant event in the lives of the children. A custom, instituted in the distant past, prevailed, for the children, on learning that a team was enroute for home, to hasten out and meet it, a mile or more distant from the town, and ride in on the load, shouting and laughing, and regaling themselves on twisted molasses doughnuts. Cooks thought themselves ill pre pared to meet the wants of the little ones with less than a barrel of those "forrest crullers," cut in artistic shapes, which represented birds, reptiles and animals of various kinds, to the children's imagination. Spruce gum was also in high favor, and it was always a pleasure for those hardy woodsmen to divide, with them, the contents of 59 60 THI: A i v I:\TI i:i> OF their stocking, which was always the recepticle for the gatherings of the winter. Even the parents enjoyed the event, incident to the home coining, and were pleased to sample the doughnuts and share in the merriment . U'lirn Mr. Minton's team neared home, it was met by an unusually large number of child ivn, for Ned was a great favorite with them, notwith standing the fact that he loved to tease them, sometimes, before allowing them to mount and search the load. On the arrival of the last team it was the custom, also, to institute a series of dances, the young people of three or four towns joining and holding them alternately. The first dance of the season, in question, was held in Marshfield, in Ti-'er hall. The building was but a story and a half in height, and the floor space limited, for so many dancers, hence, when all wore assembled, the aperture, at the stair entrance, was closed with a trap door. The music did not begin until the last person, expected, had arrived, and once the dancers had assembled, on the floor, none could enter or retire, until the close, which took place at such a time as the manager chose to appoint. The closing dance was usually a fore- XKD MIXTOX. 61 and-after, in which the fiddler invariably accel erated the speed of the time, the participants shuffling and swinging with all their might, the beady sweat standing conspicuously on their foreheads, and not until ready to collapse did they signal for the music to cease. Ned Minton and Hiram Quagley were both present and took part in this dance. Among the young men and maidens who came early was Miss Angelia Seeley, a bright and vivacious young girl of Marshfield, who, it was said, loved to flirt with the young men who chanced to become her admirers. Miss Seeley was escorted to the hall by Herbert Holmes, also a resident of this settlement, who seemed deeply in love with her, and jealous of any on whom she designed to bestow a smile or give undue attention. Hiram Quagley, as ever in search of mischief, noticing that Miss Seeley was bestowing as much attention upon Ned as she was giving her admirer, suggested to Xed that he offer to "see her home." As usual, Ned was ready for any fun that Hiram suggested, and to settle the question in advance of others, he tripped across the hall to where the young lady was entertaining some of her most ardent admirers, in earnest con versation, and whispered in her ear, receiving a gracious nod in response. 62 THE Ai>vi:vni(i:s VI:NTI in:s OF "Then I ran to the barn to loose my steed ;ml hie me home, for day was breaking in the east. In the darkness, however, I could not seem to tin* 1 him, and my mind bring pre-occupied with halcyon thoughts, when my hand came in contact with a rope, to which was attached a valuable calf, rnviu'd by my prospective father-in-law, I committed the fatal error of casting it loose. "But my mind came down with a hump t<> tlif common affairs of life, when 1 heard the quick pat tering of cloven feet upon the hard floor ; I then tried to regain control, of the timid beast, but before I could do so, he bounded through the opt-n door and headlong into a curbless well, in the yard, from which no amount of help could rescue him from an untimely death. "You never can guess how badly I felt, for I saw the result of that act as plainly as I see it now, since receiving the little note, from Miss Seeley, dictated by her angry father. I have since learned that Herbert Holmes, who has long been a favorite in the Seeley household, is now rein- stat-d in the affections of her whom I thought I loved, while I am a forlorn outcast before reaching the age of seventeen. Well." said Hiram, '! suppose I was the means of getting you into that scrape, for which I am NED MINTOX. 65 deeply sorry; but my sorrow will be lessened, if you assure me that you are feeling no worse than you look." "Oh no !" said Ned, "I assure you I am not feel ing any worse than I appear, for I think that I can now see that Miss Seeley was insincere; yet the affair, while it lasted, was duced pleasant. But I guess that is all right. I shall try to forget her, and some day I may find some one else who will appear as sweet to me as she did on that eventful night." "But, to change the subject, I am thinking of getting Ike Pine to trade off old Mike for a faster horse. Father says that I may, if I will pay Ike, and the necessary boot, out of my bear money. You know I want to go to the Jonesboro Fair this Fall, and I want a horse that can get up and get, as the jockeys say. You know Ike is a great trader, and knows all about horses. Father says these horse jockeys are a necessary factor in the country, to keep in trim a grade of horses which otherwise would become practically worthless, to their owners, and, as a result, would be neglected and nearly starved, thereby increasing their sufferings, in their old age. "Ike says he can fix Old Mike up and make him look as young as a colt." "I heard a jockey, who knows Ike, say the <)) THK ADVKNTI HKS OF other day, tliat when he comes into possession of ;i horse, worth from ten to twenty dollars, that no surgeon ever examined an applicant for pen sion, to ascertain his every ailment, with ejvater care than he does. If there are symptoms of heaves, powders are administered, and his food is prepared on scientific principles to obviate the ditliculty. If he has swollen or stiff joints, they are bathed in liniment, and subjected to a course of rubbing, 1 hat will reduce the swelling and make them limber. If he is unlmle to masticate his food, by reason of the length of his teeth, they are filed until his grinders fit together as closely as those of a young colt. He is groomed and brushed, with the greatest care, and, in short, the horse which, a few weeks before, was hideous to behold, is transformed, and its original value, apparently, very much increased. It is then in condition to successfully exchange for an undoctored animal, of much greater real value, and a good sum to- boot." Notwithstanding the knowledge and craft which he possesses, Ike sometimes gets the worst of the bargain, or can make no bargain at all, as happened recently, \\hen he went to Jonesboro, to trade with old Simon Smidt. Simon was as good NED MINTOX. 67 a jockey as Ike, and had had many more years experience, in the business, consequently he knew every trading horse in the land. But Ike, who is not over scrupulous, in the business, counted on Simon's great thirst for the ' 'ardent," whereby he hoped to be able, to obviate much of his shrewdness, and blind him to the defects and great age of the horse which he desired to trade. Ike accordingly got a quart of alcohol, at Coil's. in Machias, which, by watering, he increased to half a gallon, of "split," (as it was called by the topers,) then, one bright morning, he invited Dennis Rolling, the village wag, to ride over with him to give the visit the appearance of chance. Ike and Den. felt so happy, by the time they arrived, that "Old Simon," as he was called, was able to see pretty clearly that he was to be worked for a trade. He said nothing but sort of cleared his deck for action, as it were, and when Ike began to talk horse, Simon nodded approv ingly, in view of being made happy also. After- talking awhile, to allay suspicion, the bottle was "fished" from under the seat and was passed around. When it came to Simon, he accepted with apparent pleasure, and, after drawing the cork, and sniffing at the contents, to determine the age and denomination, he took a hearty <;^ THI: AI>VI:NTIKI:S OF draught. The fluid began to work on his brain, then he began to talk, also, and with an object i]>]Mivnt as that possessed by the jockeys. From now on, the bottle was repeatedly offered and as often accepted; "Old Simon" apparently coming nearer and nearer to the point of trade, and, as the day waned, and twilight began to gatluT, the alcohol bring low, the importunities of Ike and Den. became more impressive. When the bottle was presented for the last time, there being but one drink left in it, "Old Simon grasped it eagerly and, with glazed eyes, gazed at the old horse, for a few moments, then raised it slowly to his lips and drained it to the dregs. The drink was large and made him choke and swallow, but as soon as he could regain his breath, sufficiently to speak x he exclaimed : "Look-a-here Pine you needn't spend your time to tell me any more good pints in that hoss for I knowed him twenty-five years ago, when Crandon, who used to live on the hill, owned him, and I know he was counted a dinged good old hoss then, and if I had a leetle poorer hoss and yourn was a pound or two heavier, and if you and Holling, who seems to be sort of interested in the case, had another bottle of Split, so'st I'd git my jints kind of limbered up, and my trading bump agitated, dinged if I don't NED MIXTON. 69 believe I'd be tempted to trade with you." "As the conditions aint hardly right now, I'll just say to you, there's no harm done by talkin', neither is there anything lost, but my time and your spirits, so we'll part good friends." After delivering his speech, Old Simon, who had been supporting himself by a grip on the tail of Ike's horse, let go to give him a slap with his hand, as a token of recognition, then he lost his balance and fell prostrate on a pile of straw on the barn floor from which he was unable to arise; then, greatly chagrined, the jockeys took their departure for home. "That's a pretty good yarn," says Hite, "but do you want Ike to use that kind of means to trade for you? O, no, "says Ned, "I simply employ him to get for me just the kind of horse I want, and I am to pay him a fair price for his trouble, and pay boot to make the trade even." "It is not a matter of money, with me, but I want to know, for sure, that I will have a better horse, and one that can 'wax' that 'Flying Eagle,' owned by that Irishman, Humphry Des- mont." Desmont says 'me mare can bate anything with four fate that stips the woruld between Maine and Quabic;' and it would give me more pleasure to set him back than to be rein stated, or rather instated, in the affections of that 70 Till-: Al VK NITRES THE ADVEXTTHES OF and was about to order the team removed, when some man in the crowd pointed to Ned and said, "That lad there will put that stick on the road for you if you will give him a V." The carpenter looked toward Ned with a doubtful expression, seeing which, the man who had spoken before said, "I mean it! If any man can do it, he can." It is well known that certain men hold a mysterious power over dumb animals, and Ned had manifested this power, on occasions, although he was not a professional teamster. The carpenter, after being thus reassured, walked toward Ned and offered him a five dollar bill, which he declined to take, saying, "If your teamster, who is acquainted with the cattle, can't make them haul that stick, it will be entirely useless for me to try, especially after they have been hauling at it for half a day. However, if you want me to, I will give them a pull ; but, to begin with, if the cattle pull well, I don't need but a six ox team. Unhook those four leaders from the string! There now, take those cedar pries from under the wheels." When the leaders had been removed, and the pries withdrawn, Ned picked up the goad, and spoke gently to each of the three nigh cattle ; then he tapped them lightly with the goad, and NED MINTON. 77 straightened the line, bringing the four leaders to a taut chain. Then he walked to the off side and touched each ox gently with his open hand, speaking to each in a low tone. Again he went quickly to the near side and, by the time he had reached the pole cattle, his team was treading nervously, every ox apparently ready to pull. Ned then swung his goad and g&ve them the word to go. There was not the least hesitancy, every ox came to the bow, the hard flesh appearing in a roll, on either side, to almost hide it from view. Then the two sets of wheels, which were nearly fifty feet apart, began to rise slowly from the deep rut and when the load had gained a headway of two feet Ned, for the first time, raised his voice to a mighty volume, as he shouted the one word "Wohush;"to stop his team. He did not give them more than time to make three inhalations of air, however, before he twirled his goad again, giving that peculiar movement which every ox in his team knew, meant, pull again. Those short, but lusty pulls, were repeated, until the load was squarely on the hard road, and the panting team pointed for home; then a vociferous shout arose, from the spectators, and those concerned with the movement of the mast, most of whom closed 78 THE ADVKNTfKES <>F around Ned, shaking his hand and congratnlat inn him in various ways. The carpenter again urged 1 to take the five dollar bill, telling him tli.it his services were cheap at that; but he still declined, to accept, for he was ever nady to s-r\ those who needed assistance. The four leaders were brought from the field and connected with the team, and as the load was put in motion, every hat in the crowd was lifted in a parting salute to the hero of the occasion. CHAPTER IX. A. Race Between, the Flying Eagle and Ned. Nlinton on Slcates. Visits the F"air. Canine Sagacity. race between Ned Min ton's horse, Borneo and the Flying Eagle, owned by Humphry Desmont, was but the beginning of a series of similar races on the ice, that winter. There were races between trotters, between trotters and rack- ers, and between skaters and running and trot ting horses. The most -notable was a mile race between the Flying Eagle, and Ned Mint on on skates. The stipulations were that Ned should circle the horse three times during each mile heat, for three consecutive heats. The Eagle was to be driven under the saddle by Desmont, dressed in a beaver hat, ruffled shirt and linen duster. The day of the race proved to be a cold one, with a stiff breeze blowing from the north-west, and when Desmont, thus arrayed, made his appear ance upon the street, astride his horse, it was the signal for a general turnout, not only of the jockeys, but of the villagers generally. The announcement of this unique race had been 79 ""I Tin: AI>\ i;vn i;i:s OF made several days In-fore, consequently the news of the affair had reached the people in the adjoin ing towns, a number of whom came over to enjoy the fun, among them. Herbert Holmes and Miss Angelia Seeley. When Ned saw them drive upon the ice, he skated toward them and raised his cap. Miss Seeley, who had recognized him, from a distance, and had been intently watching his graceful movements, as he made quick evolutions upon his bright skates, now forward and now backward, as he cut spread eagle after spread eagle, in the ice, acknowledged his salute with a smile and bow, and a graceful wave of her hand ; but young Holmes sat stiffly errect, his attention seemingly afar off. It was evident from Ned's action that he had not entirely forgotten tin- pleasant experiences of the few hours passed in her society, that spring, and that he did not seek a (loser interview was, evidently, the fear of offend ing her accepted lover. When ready for the race, Desmont and Ned scored down for a distance of ten rods, side by side, until the line was reached, then Ned bounded ahead and crossed in front of Desmont, making a larger circle than he should. This gave Desmont so great a, start, that, before Ned came to the front to make the second turn, the half mile mark XKD MINTON. 81 was passed. By this time, Desmont, whose coat was trailing in the wind, as he went streaking through the air, was thoroughly excited, and was bouncing up and down in the saddle, 3 T elling and urging on his horse with whip and spur. The second turn was made by Ned on a shorter circle, cutting around sharply close behind the mare, coining again to the front, and making the third turn just in season to save the race. There was loud cheering by the crowd, but no part of the demonstration was so satisfactory, to Ned, as the knowledge that Miss Seeley was tossing her handkerchief, and otherwise making manifest that her sympathies were with him, utterly regardless of the presence of her escort. Desmont was so thoroughly vexed, by the apparent sympathy for Ned, that he became determined to win, the next heat, if possible. He was excited, and drove back to the line at a speed which gave his horse no opportunity to regain her wind. His friends sought to advise him, but he heeded them not, and whirled his horse, and immediate!} 7 scored for the pole. Ned was abreast, the mare, when the line was crossed, and with a few rapid strokes of his skates gained space to pass in front and make his first circle. The mare, by this time, was thoroughly S2 TMK ADVUXTrUKS OF .-dive, and entered into the excitement of tin- ra< with a clip that made Ned realize tluit it would tax his best efforts, this time, to win out. The experience of the first heat, however, had prepared him to make liis circles with such small loss, in headway, that his three turns were not only made, but IK- \\as able to reach the line several rods in advance of Pesmont, who came to the pole minus his beaver, and his hair flying loosely, in the wind, in unison with the flapping of the tail of his linen duster. He was so badly beaten, this time, and was so thoroughly chilled, with the cold, that In- hurried home, without stopping to explain why he did not fulfil the terms of the race by trotting the third heat. In all these sports, Ned cared more for the amusement than for the winnings. At the fairs his greatest enjoyment was found while engaged in hauling oxen in opposition to those brought in, by the farmers, from the neighboring country. These men, like others remote from comi>etition, believed implicitly that their own excelled all others; therefore, when they came to the fairs, they exj>ected to carry back all the premiums, for which they competed; hence it became amusement for Ned to sometimes give them a few practical NED MINTON. 88 lessons, exemplifying his power over oxen. When hauling a single yoke of light weight cattle, attached to a drag, loaded with stones, he was sometimes beaten ; but with a large team he seldom found his match. It is generally -admitted that any ordinary teamster can make one pair of oxen exert their whole strength; but getting a pull from several yoke in a string is quite another matter. It then requires a man with an innate power over the brute creation, as was ascribed to Ned by those who knew him best. The seasons were rolling around, bringing to Ned, age and experience. He had earned consider able money, in various ways, and had owned several horses. His last purchase was a fine horse which could travel pretty well, but was not fast enough for the course. He was a handsome creature, however, and Ned's lady friends were ever ready to accept an invitation to take a drive with him. Thus far he had shown no special preference for any of them, and frequently said, when in a joking mood, that he loved them all. Perhaps a little piece of his heart was still beyond the Marshfield hill, yet, none of his friends could ever wring the admission from him, although the girls sometimes bantered him about it. You will remember that Ned came into posses- ^ t Tin: Anvi;\Tri;i:s OF sion of a do*?, AB boot between old Mike and Borneo, some time ago. This dog was named Skip, and \vas Ned's constant friend and companion, until he met an untimely death by poisoning. Ned had formed a great liking for him, ami sincerely mourned his loss. In speaking of him to one of his friends he said, "Skip had a t the numerous streets in town, bake a batch of NED MIXTON. 85 pies, and place them out to cool, Skip was sure to be there just at the time they attained a tempera ture to swallow at a gulp, though he had not previously been seen in the vicinity for months. Did the children play house-keeping and have a lay out of doughnuts, cake and little delicacies, in a neighbor's hayrick, Skip would trot along, timing his movements exactly with theirs, bound through the slats, 'swipe' the whole outfit, and trot away, sniffing the air for new discoveries. The quality of the food mattered not to Skip. Though he had just swallowed a choice cut of beef snatched from a hook, in a neighbor's shed, and an opportunity offered, the next moment, to steal the accumulations of several weeks' savings, of scraps, known as soap grease, with his long lank jaws, he would scoop up the contents of the receptacle, and swallow it with apparent good relish. Skip never stood around and looked wistfully on, like other dogs, when fish or meat carts came to town, but, within an hour after their departure, he had located the peg upon which each purchase hung, and he knew the habits of each famity so well that he was able to time his movements to make his raid a success. Skip had been in his usual good health, up to today, ;ind bid fair to live many years, barring a violent Nl THE ADVENTntKS n| death, but greed, undoubtedly. \va> the indirect cause which brought about the termination of his busy life, It is presumed he took a bait, laid for foxes, and the poison therein proved to be more than, even, his robust nature could overcome. His acts were only in harmony with the laws of self- preservation, but many will rejoice at his suffering, with good reason, and few will mourn his death: yet I miss his hearty greeting, and shall give his remains a Christian burial, and drop more than one tear on his lonely grave." CHAPTER X. A. River-Driving Cruise. Interesting Descriptive Scenes. The Log Race. Shaving the "Tenderfoot." reason of Ned's youth he was not allowed to participate in driving his father's logs from the Cranberry Lakes ; but, a year or two later, he engaged with the Main River boss to assist in bringing a boom from Fifth Lake, through all the intervening lakes on Main River. This was a long cruise, with many hardships which gave the lad experiences which served in various ways to pre pare him for greater events in after life. This boom, which contained several million feet, of pine and spruce logs, was easily moved to the narrows above the dam in Fifth Lake by the force of a gentle breeze blowing toward the outlet. While sluicing the logs through the dam and driving them through the stream, into the head of Fourth Lake, where they were caught in a boom swung for the purpose, the crew of forty men made their headquarters in a bark camp, built with a shed roof sloping toward the rear. The front was open and faced a glowing fire built 87 88 Tin-: Ai)VK.\Ti'i:i> OF some six or eight feet distant. This fire, which the cook niul his assistant kept const .-mtly burning. \vas a pleasant sight to the men return ing to camp, wlien the shades of night had closed down with a density to preclude further work. Usually a half dozen men were enough to do the slue-ing: t he balance of the crew being kept busily employed along the stream, hanging sheer- waters, poling logs from among the alders, in the flowage. rolling them over sand bars and rocks, where jams wore beginning to form, and otherwise exert - ing force to keep them moving. River-drivers, as a class, arc surefooted. The heels and soles of their shoes are kept well filled with steel calks, protruding half an inch, or more, which is a great assistance to them. A driver of experience, thus sho 1. is usually able to maintain his balance, on a single log, when running ripples, among protrud ing rocks, or on the uppermost stick jin a moving jam. when a slip might cause him to be crushed, or to drown among the moving logs, constantly squirming, rolling, and sometimes raised on end ly the great power of water exerting its force against them. In the river-driving business, a good boatman commands about equal pay with the best drivers. In moving camp, the provisions. camp-i>y I call moose, you shoot um." "How can you call a moose?" queried Ned, "Come back on rid^-. Me show you," replied Lewey. Nf'l had never seen a moose consequently was in high glee at the possibility of getting a shot at one of these noble animals. On Lewey 's propo sition he was up and off, without a moments delay. Joe armed himself with an ax and when they reached a hard-wood ridge, a half mile distant, halted and peeled a strip of bark, from a white birch tree, and rolled it in the form of a horn or tunnel. Ned, who stood watching him, curiously, asked him what he was going to do with it. ''Me show you," said Lewey. "Moose make one big noise when him call mate, same as this." He then raised the bark to his mouth and blew a loud hoarse blast. ''Now you get scare we no get moose, less me take gun. No papoose like you ever shoot moose first time him see one. When moose come, him run climb tree. Afebby you climb tree, too. Better give me gun you takeax." \<>. "said Ned, "not much; if a moose comes here, I will stand my ground, unless you run first." "Mebby you dont know what bull moose like," replied Lewey. He then commenced NED MINTON. 99 blowing at regular intervals of about a minute, and kept it up for ten minutes, when a hoarse response was heard in the distance. "There him come now," said Lewey. "Me stand back this tree with ax, you stand back that tree with gun. Don't fire 'til moose near to put bullet through him head. When me call him, him come right on, no stop, see? You no kill uni, he kill you." While Lewey was giving these instructions and admonitions, he gave a blast at the close of each sentence, the responding calls sounding nearer and louder each time. The Indian had a position behind a tree, a few rods in advance, and to the right of Xed, and when he heard the moose, crash ing through the timber, he gave one blast more, then cast his horn upon the ground, and screened himself from sight as he griped his ax tightly. When Ned heard the animal, crashing toward him, his courage almost failed, and as he came into full view, with his mane bristling, and his head, which supported an enormous set of antlers, erect, he felt like running; but he remembered Lewey' s admonitions, and his own promises, and stood his ground. Just as he raised his gun, the Indian made a sound, and the moose stopped short, and, as he stood in a listening attitude, 100 THK AI>\ KM I KE8 OF turned his head slightly. Ned aimed for his eye, and pulled the trigger. The moose lurched ahead and came to his knees. In an instant Lewey bounded forward, in the true Indian way, and before the moose could recover, struck him on the head, with the poll of the ax, sending him on his broadside, and then gave him a slash on the neck with the edge. " Ned, who had waited to reload, now came for ward. Lewey, who was in a tremor, looked at him, but saw no signs of excitement or fear, save the drops of perspiration, which were standing on his forehead, wereupon, he remarked, "You no papoose. You big Injun. Make good shot. Most in eye." Ned stood and watched the death struggles of the big animal, and when he ceased to move, he assisted Lewey in dressing and quartering the carcass. He then cut a pole, and the two men carried the meat, a quarter at a time, to the river bank, half a mile above the falls. From there Ned went to the camp, and returned with the boat, into which the meat was packed and carried safely down. Only one quarter was taken from the boat, however, the remainder being left to be conveyed to and distributed, the next day, at the other camping stations, farther up the river, where it NED MINTON. 101 was well appreciated by the members of the several gangs, whose fare, thus far, had consisted princi pally of salt beef and baked beans. As soon as the logs cleared the lakes, a message was sent to those in charge of Third Lake dam, to hoist all the gates. When this great volume of water reached the logs it sent them bounding along, clearing the rocks on the falls and ripples. A strong crew was kept rolling the rear, from the shores, so that each twenty-four hours found the men, thus occupied, several miles in advance of the spot upon which they camped the night before. When the water, from the lakes, was exerting its full force, on the logs, the boss driver, who was going from place to place along the river, to learn the conditions, came down to Holmes' Falls. Early the next morning he ordered Ned Minton to go to Great Falls, five or six miles below, and return as quickly as possible, and report the conditions and needs of the crew which had been sent there, from Machias, to swing a boom to pre vent the logs from running on in advance of the time that the water would be at its best. Ned began the journey along the bank, and, as there were several gulches to cross, he carried a pick pole on his shoulder to aid him in getting 102 THE ADVEXTl'RKS OF over. When he had made about half tin- (list mice, he came to an unusually large creek, the water in which was too deep to wade. Accordingly he went to the edge of the river, and placing two small logs side by side, mounted them and shoved out into the current. The water being swift, he kept to the logs, after the gulch was passed, as an easier and more speedy method of advancement. As he was gliding along, with the current, his attention was attracted by a large animal, of the cat species, coming along the bank of the river, evidently on a fresh deer trail. He traveled with his nose to the ground, and was so intent follow ing the scent that he was unmindful of Ned, who lowered his pole silently in the water and gave a few vigorous shoves, toward the shore, than raised it and stood perfectly motionless save that motion imparted by the swift current in bearing him along. Wlipn nearly opposite, the animal halted and threw his head high in air, and began that peculiar movement of the tail so often observed in the cat family when about to spring upon their prey. N'<1 was about four rods distant from the shore, and began to feel desperately uneasy. He realized that he must do something quickly to disconcert the brute, for it was very evident that ho in- NED MINTON. 103 tended to attack him, and was even then assum ing a crouching position to make the spring. Ned's first thought was to shove his logs beyond reach, but he realized, as quickty, that there was no time for that now, and he regretted that he had neglected to take that precaution when he could have done so. He felt there was but one course left, whatever the result. He brought his pole down with all his might, making a splash which sent the water flying over his adversary, and at the same time gave forth a yell that echoed and re-echoed among the adjacent hills and cliffs. This forceful and noisy demonstration acted like magic to intimidate the powerful and danger ous brute. His first bound was made over a bank toward the woods and he stood not upon the order of his going. He was plainly heard, by Ned, for several minutes, as he went crashing through the woods, over the dead limbs which cracked and broke beneath his weight. His terror was so evident that Ned had no fear that he would again come back to molest him. The water now becoming deeper, and the current less swift, in bearing him on, he polled to shore and made the balance of his journey by land. While at the falls, Ned took great pains to 104 THE ADVENTURES OP notice and enquire into everything, that he might be able to report fully and intelligently on all points, in accordance with his instructions. He then started on his return trip and arrived at the camping ground as the shades of night were gathering, with a density that made his course a little uncertain. His arrival gladdened the hearts of his fellow laborers, for he brought them letters and papers, the first received from their dear ones, since leaving them to go on the drive. Among the letters for himself was one from his old friend, Hiram Quagley. This letter contained m>\\s which he most desired to learn, such as the arrangements for races and dances, to take place that spring, the societies formed, love matches, business prospects, and so on. Ned read all the letter with interest, but seemed to ponder longest over that part which told that Miss Angelia Seeley had been over lately, and had inquired for him. Hiram also stated that he had been to St. John, N. B., and that he had engaged to work there the coming season. While there he said he had met .1 fine girl, who possessed greater charms and virtues, than he had ever before ascribed to the sex. He felt sure that Ned would acknowledge NED MINTON. 105 this fact, if he could see her and become personally acquainted. The snatches of description of the city, which he gave, were coupled with Miss Diana Hubert, the girl in " question. He also spoke appreciatively of those of high social position, by whom he had been cordially received through the influence of Miss Hubert. He had frequently met this young lady at these gay entertainments and they had become very good friends. The point which he dwelt upon most, in his letter, however, was, that he had learned from talking with her, that this gay life which she participated, in largely to please her parents, was utterly distasteful to her, and that her most ardent desire was a home far away from the city, and the love and confidence of an honest and kind companion, possessed of a true and re sponsive heart, for the country was always invit ing to her, and she loved its quietude and the grandeur of scenery much better than she did the city. Ned wrote an answer to Hiram's letter that night. He informed him that he probably would be home in a few days, for several men were to be discharged from the drive, the next day, as the rear was now coming close down and there was no longer necessity for so large a crew. The most of !<)<> THi: ADVKNT! KKS OP the