CHAPTER XXIIIALONG THE TAHQUAMANONThe boys must have been up before daylight on that next morning. Certain it is that the sun could not have been half an hour high than they stood on the little beach, waved their hats three times as they gave that many vigorous cheers for Paradise Camp, and then entering their loaded canoes, paddled blithely away.“A bully little camp, that,” declared Dolph, as they urged the light boats along with sturdy sweeps of the spruce paddles; “we’ll never forget it, or the gamey bass of Manistique Lake.”“Or a lot of other things that came to pass around this same neck of old Michigan,” suggested Teddy.“I guess not,” Amos put in, and they knew very well that he was thinking right then of little Sallie, also how she had stood there without flinching, while that half-drunken brute of a father held his fist half raised.Would any of them forget that picture aslong as they lived—Teddy and Dolph felt sure they never could.In due time they found where the man lived who was willing, for a cash consideration, and a pretty stiff one, to convey the empty canoes and the packs that would embrace all the duffel across the miles of pine woods, to McMillan.The boys knew how to pack things to good advantage. The canoes were laid on top of all, and upside down, being secured thus so no accident could befall them.As the sun was shining brightly, of course Dolph could not rest satisfied until he had snapped off a picture of the queer load those horses were expected to haul across the country following a “tote” road made long since by lumbermen.Sometimes the boys tiring of sitting, and with a view to relieving the horses in the bargain, would drop off and walk.Noon came and found them still on the way. But the man was now sure they would reach their destination by four o’clock, and so they concluded to stop for an hour, bait the horses and have some refreshments themselves.Amos built one of his speedy fires, and had that aluminum coffee pot settled in place in an amazingly short time.After a good rest, the journey was resumed through the pine woods. And sure enough the driver kept his word for it was not much after half past three when they came in sight of the outskirts of McMillan.The boys had vowed not to sleep under any but a canvas roof during the entire trip and so it was planned to launch the canoes immediately, stow their goods, and drop down the river half a mile or so, in the hope and expectation of discovering a good spot to put up the tent.Then, on the following morning they would pack again and go on down to a place named Newberry, the county seat, where there would be larger stores, the driver told them, and a better chance to lay in the kind of provisions they wanted.There was no hitch in their plans, and they spent a fairly decent night, marred only by the frequent barking of a pack of dogs from town, that seemed to have banded together for a coon hunt, or something along that order.On the next morning they followed the railroad for some time, passing one or two small places, and waving their hats to the passengers on a train.Arrived at Newberry they left Amos incharge of the boats, while Teddy and Dolph sought the post office to mail letters, as well as to pick up anything that may have been sent from the folks, with whom they had left a copy of their plans, marking the time of their expected arrival at such points as Newberry and the Soo.Afterwards the two boys took the list they had made out, of things they needed, and visiting the best store in the town, purchased an abundant supply.“Last chance to get anything,” warned Dolph, when Teddy asked if there was any other article he could think of, “we pass no more places from here to the bay, where we strike a small place named Emerson,” and on the strength of this plea, Dolph took the liberty of adding a few more things to the list.“Hope the canoes don’t sink with all that load,” chuckled Teddy, as, having completed their purchases, which were to be delivered in an hour’s time they sauntered down in the direction of the river.“Oh! they’ll bear up, all right,” declared the other “and besides, remember that a few meals will lighten the cargo considerably.”“I guess you’re right,” admitted Teddy. “I never saw three fellows with such appetitesin all my life. I’d hate to board this crowd, believe me.”“Well I don’t think any landlady would get rich doing it,” Dolph remarked, with a good-natured grin.They left Newberry about two in the afternoon, and started down the river which immediately entered among the pine woods and marshes that make up most of the region for many miles along the south shore of Superior east of the famous Pictured Rocks.At one time the boys had contemplated taking in that region after reaching White Fish Bay. They concluded, however, that the open lake was too dangerous a cruising ground for such frail mosquito craft. Besides, they desired above all things, to visit the city on the famous Soo Rapids, and enjoy some of the wonderful things to be met with there.The current of the Tahquamanon proved very acceptable to the boys. After using the paddles in pushing up against the flow of the Manistique, and then navigating the still waters of the larger lake bearing the same name, it was certainly a pleasure to simply guide the canoes, and allow the current to do the rest.They were in no hurry, and consequently went ashore rather early to make camp, enticed by ideal conditions.Dolph managed to get a snapshot of a deer while here. The animal must have been aware of the law’s protection for it stood knee-deep in the water browsing upon some sort of of grass or lily pads while the official photographer took several views, finally walking up closer in order to make the animal leap, so that he might secure that variety of picture for the collection.Dolph also found that there were trout in the stream, quite good-sized fellows too, of the speckled variety that can be caught in Superior, and at the mouth of the rivers along the north shore, as high as eight pounds in weight.He started in to gather a mess for supper, and declared that he could have taken enough to feed a whole troop of Boy Scouts, had he cared to keep them.“Never saw fish so crazy to jump into a frying pan,” he remarked, afterwards when, the trout having been cleaned, they were rolled in cracker crumbs, and dropped in the hot compound secured by “trying out” slices of fat salt pork.And when the beautifully browned fish were eaten, the pink meat looking so dainty, every one declared that when it came to sweetness, the trout raised in the clear cold waters of Lake Superior had no rival.But then that is what hungry campers are saying up in Maine, in the Adirondacks, and in various other places where trout abound—they are always the finest in the whole world, when you have your appetite along with you and the odor of supper is wafted to you on the wind that shakes the foliage of the pine and hemlock.Another day the boys dropped still lower down the Tahquamanon and in doing so drew nearer the place where they would finally launch upon the bosom of the largest body of fresh water in all America, the mighty Superior, well named by the early explorers.Of course, there were occasionally things that served to break the monotony of the voyage, Teddy and Dolph for instance, managed to bring up on a partly submerged rock at a place where the current was pretty bracing. They came very near having a spill too, that might have been disastrous in so far as losing things was concerned, though they hardly felt as though their lives had been indanger because both boys chanced to be good swimmers, and would have clung to the canoe, which had air compartments fore and aft, and was believed to be unsinkable.But by dint of some clever work the boys managed to save themselves from this dire disaster, though both called it a narrow escape.“And after this,” declared Teddy, “me to tie my Marlin to the ribs of the boat with this piece of strong cord. Then if we do go over I won’t have to lose the gun I think so much of. After snatching it out of Big Gabe’s hands, I’d call it a shame now if it went to the bottom of the Tahquamanon River.”“Huh!” added Dolph, “honest now, I don’t believe I’ll go to all that trouble about my repeater. To tell the truth, I’m not so much stuck on that fine foreign-made gun as I was when my dad made me a present of it. Paid a hundred dollars or so for the thing over in Germany, too. But I’ve sort of lost faith in the thing. Perhaps it was my fault the mechanism didn’t work well; but when a fellow begins to look on his gun with suspicion, he never can enjoy it again. He’ll always be afraid something is going to go wrong.”“Better keep it until the end of this trip, anyhow,” advised Teddy.“Guess I ought to, seeing it was a present anyhow but another time you’ll find me on deck with a different make of gun,” Dolph declared; and his chum only smiled.Another time the camp was invaded by a wandering hog with a whole troop of partly grown pigs; and they had no peace during the balance of their stay there. Whether the porkers scented food, or “just wanted to be friendly” as Teddy put it, they were hardly driven away in one quarter than another detachment turned up in another place.Dolph was full of dark threats as to what he would do pretty soon, if the invasion did not let up. He even handled his gun in a ferocious manner, and asked all kinds of questions of Amos as to how best they could roast a small pig in an earthern oven, made after the manner of the old hunters.But this must all have been said just in the hope of the old sow scenting danger to her brood when she whiffed the odor of burnt powder, might call the invading army off. Certain it was that Dolph was not called upon to fire his gun; and they positively did nothave roast pig for supper, or breakfast, or any other meal, for that matter. And at nightfall their troublesome visitor, grunting their disgust, departed.And so it came that about three in the afternoon of their last day on the Tahquamanon, while they were all plying their paddles briskly, Teddy gave vent to a loud shout and pointed ahead:“Look! yonder lies Lake Superior. Tonight we camp on the shore of the Big Water!”
CHAPTER XXIIIALONG THE TAHQUAMANONThe boys must have been up before daylight on that next morning. Certain it is that the sun could not have been half an hour high than they stood on the little beach, waved their hats three times as they gave that many vigorous cheers for Paradise Camp, and then entering their loaded canoes, paddled blithely away.“A bully little camp, that,” declared Dolph, as they urged the light boats along with sturdy sweeps of the spruce paddles; “we’ll never forget it, or the gamey bass of Manistique Lake.”“Or a lot of other things that came to pass around this same neck of old Michigan,” suggested Teddy.“I guess not,” Amos put in, and they knew very well that he was thinking right then of little Sallie, also how she had stood there without flinching, while that half-drunken brute of a father held his fist half raised.Would any of them forget that picture aslong as they lived—Teddy and Dolph felt sure they never could.In due time they found where the man lived who was willing, for a cash consideration, and a pretty stiff one, to convey the empty canoes and the packs that would embrace all the duffel across the miles of pine woods, to McMillan.The boys knew how to pack things to good advantage. The canoes were laid on top of all, and upside down, being secured thus so no accident could befall them.As the sun was shining brightly, of course Dolph could not rest satisfied until he had snapped off a picture of the queer load those horses were expected to haul across the country following a “tote” road made long since by lumbermen.Sometimes the boys tiring of sitting, and with a view to relieving the horses in the bargain, would drop off and walk.Noon came and found them still on the way. But the man was now sure they would reach their destination by four o’clock, and so they concluded to stop for an hour, bait the horses and have some refreshments themselves.Amos built one of his speedy fires, and had that aluminum coffee pot settled in place in an amazingly short time.After a good rest, the journey was resumed through the pine woods. And sure enough the driver kept his word for it was not much after half past three when they came in sight of the outskirts of McMillan.The boys had vowed not to sleep under any but a canvas roof during the entire trip and so it was planned to launch the canoes immediately, stow their goods, and drop down the river half a mile or so, in the hope and expectation of discovering a good spot to put up the tent.Then, on the following morning they would pack again and go on down to a place named Newberry, the county seat, where there would be larger stores, the driver told them, and a better chance to lay in the kind of provisions they wanted.There was no hitch in their plans, and they spent a fairly decent night, marred only by the frequent barking of a pack of dogs from town, that seemed to have banded together for a coon hunt, or something along that order.On the next morning they followed the railroad for some time, passing one or two small places, and waving their hats to the passengers on a train.Arrived at Newberry they left Amos incharge of the boats, while Teddy and Dolph sought the post office to mail letters, as well as to pick up anything that may have been sent from the folks, with whom they had left a copy of their plans, marking the time of their expected arrival at such points as Newberry and the Soo.Afterwards the two boys took the list they had made out, of things they needed, and visiting the best store in the town, purchased an abundant supply.“Last chance to get anything,” warned Dolph, when Teddy asked if there was any other article he could think of, “we pass no more places from here to the bay, where we strike a small place named Emerson,” and on the strength of this plea, Dolph took the liberty of adding a few more things to the list.“Hope the canoes don’t sink with all that load,” chuckled Teddy, as, having completed their purchases, which were to be delivered in an hour’s time they sauntered down in the direction of the river.“Oh! they’ll bear up, all right,” declared the other “and besides, remember that a few meals will lighten the cargo considerably.”“I guess you’re right,” admitted Teddy. “I never saw three fellows with such appetitesin all my life. I’d hate to board this crowd, believe me.”“Well I don’t think any landlady would get rich doing it,” Dolph remarked, with a good-natured grin.They left Newberry about two in the afternoon, and started down the river which immediately entered among the pine woods and marshes that make up most of the region for many miles along the south shore of Superior east of the famous Pictured Rocks.At one time the boys had contemplated taking in that region after reaching White Fish Bay. They concluded, however, that the open lake was too dangerous a cruising ground for such frail mosquito craft. Besides, they desired above all things, to visit the city on the famous Soo Rapids, and enjoy some of the wonderful things to be met with there.The current of the Tahquamanon proved very acceptable to the boys. After using the paddles in pushing up against the flow of the Manistique, and then navigating the still waters of the larger lake bearing the same name, it was certainly a pleasure to simply guide the canoes, and allow the current to do the rest.They were in no hurry, and consequently went ashore rather early to make camp, enticed by ideal conditions.Dolph managed to get a snapshot of a deer while here. The animal must have been aware of the law’s protection for it stood knee-deep in the water browsing upon some sort of of grass or lily pads while the official photographer took several views, finally walking up closer in order to make the animal leap, so that he might secure that variety of picture for the collection.Dolph also found that there were trout in the stream, quite good-sized fellows too, of the speckled variety that can be caught in Superior, and at the mouth of the rivers along the north shore, as high as eight pounds in weight.He started in to gather a mess for supper, and declared that he could have taken enough to feed a whole troop of Boy Scouts, had he cared to keep them.“Never saw fish so crazy to jump into a frying pan,” he remarked, afterwards when, the trout having been cleaned, they were rolled in cracker crumbs, and dropped in the hot compound secured by “trying out” slices of fat salt pork.And when the beautifully browned fish were eaten, the pink meat looking so dainty, every one declared that when it came to sweetness, the trout raised in the clear cold waters of Lake Superior had no rival.But then that is what hungry campers are saying up in Maine, in the Adirondacks, and in various other places where trout abound—they are always the finest in the whole world, when you have your appetite along with you and the odor of supper is wafted to you on the wind that shakes the foliage of the pine and hemlock.Another day the boys dropped still lower down the Tahquamanon and in doing so drew nearer the place where they would finally launch upon the bosom of the largest body of fresh water in all America, the mighty Superior, well named by the early explorers.Of course, there were occasionally things that served to break the monotony of the voyage, Teddy and Dolph for instance, managed to bring up on a partly submerged rock at a place where the current was pretty bracing. They came very near having a spill too, that might have been disastrous in so far as losing things was concerned, though they hardly felt as though their lives had been indanger because both boys chanced to be good swimmers, and would have clung to the canoe, which had air compartments fore and aft, and was believed to be unsinkable.But by dint of some clever work the boys managed to save themselves from this dire disaster, though both called it a narrow escape.“And after this,” declared Teddy, “me to tie my Marlin to the ribs of the boat with this piece of strong cord. Then if we do go over I won’t have to lose the gun I think so much of. After snatching it out of Big Gabe’s hands, I’d call it a shame now if it went to the bottom of the Tahquamanon River.”“Huh!” added Dolph, “honest now, I don’t believe I’ll go to all that trouble about my repeater. To tell the truth, I’m not so much stuck on that fine foreign-made gun as I was when my dad made me a present of it. Paid a hundred dollars or so for the thing over in Germany, too. But I’ve sort of lost faith in the thing. Perhaps it was my fault the mechanism didn’t work well; but when a fellow begins to look on his gun with suspicion, he never can enjoy it again. He’ll always be afraid something is going to go wrong.”“Better keep it until the end of this trip, anyhow,” advised Teddy.“Guess I ought to, seeing it was a present anyhow but another time you’ll find me on deck with a different make of gun,” Dolph declared; and his chum only smiled.Another time the camp was invaded by a wandering hog with a whole troop of partly grown pigs; and they had no peace during the balance of their stay there. Whether the porkers scented food, or “just wanted to be friendly” as Teddy put it, they were hardly driven away in one quarter than another detachment turned up in another place.Dolph was full of dark threats as to what he would do pretty soon, if the invasion did not let up. He even handled his gun in a ferocious manner, and asked all kinds of questions of Amos as to how best they could roast a small pig in an earthern oven, made after the manner of the old hunters.But this must all have been said just in the hope of the old sow scenting danger to her brood when she whiffed the odor of burnt powder, might call the invading army off. Certain it was that Dolph was not called upon to fire his gun; and they positively did nothave roast pig for supper, or breakfast, or any other meal, for that matter. And at nightfall their troublesome visitor, grunting their disgust, departed.And so it came that about three in the afternoon of their last day on the Tahquamanon, while they were all plying their paddles briskly, Teddy gave vent to a loud shout and pointed ahead:“Look! yonder lies Lake Superior. Tonight we camp on the shore of the Big Water!”
ALONG THE TAHQUAMANON
The boys must have been up before daylight on that next morning. Certain it is that the sun could not have been half an hour high than they stood on the little beach, waved their hats three times as they gave that many vigorous cheers for Paradise Camp, and then entering their loaded canoes, paddled blithely away.
“A bully little camp, that,” declared Dolph, as they urged the light boats along with sturdy sweeps of the spruce paddles; “we’ll never forget it, or the gamey bass of Manistique Lake.”
“Or a lot of other things that came to pass around this same neck of old Michigan,” suggested Teddy.
“I guess not,” Amos put in, and they knew very well that he was thinking right then of little Sallie, also how she had stood there without flinching, while that half-drunken brute of a father held his fist half raised.
Would any of them forget that picture aslong as they lived—Teddy and Dolph felt sure they never could.
In due time they found where the man lived who was willing, for a cash consideration, and a pretty stiff one, to convey the empty canoes and the packs that would embrace all the duffel across the miles of pine woods, to McMillan.
The boys knew how to pack things to good advantage. The canoes were laid on top of all, and upside down, being secured thus so no accident could befall them.
As the sun was shining brightly, of course Dolph could not rest satisfied until he had snapped off a picture of the queer load those horses were expected to haul across the country following a “tote” road made long since by lumbermen.
Sometimes the boys tiring of sitting, and with a view to relieving the horses in the bargain, would drop off and walk.
Noon came and found them still on the way. But the man was now sure they would reach their destination by four o’clock, and so they concluded to stop for an hour, bait the horses and have some refreshments themselves.
Amos built one of his speedy fires, and had that aluminum coffee pot settled in place in an amazingly short time.
After a good rest, the journey was resumed through the pine woods. And sure enough the driver kept his word for it was not much after half past three when they came in sight of the outskirts of McMillan.
The boys had vowed not to sleep under any but a canvas roof during the entire trip and so it was planned to launch the canoes immediately, stow their goods, and drop down the river half a mile or so, in the hope and expectation of discovering a good spot to put up the tent.
Then, on the following morning they would pack again and go on down to a place named Newberry, the county seat, where there would be larger stores, the driver told them, and a better chance to lay in the kind of provisions they wanted.
There was no hitch in their plans, and they spent a fairly decent night, marred only by the frequent barking of a pack of dogs from town, that seemed to have banded together for a coon hunt, or something along that order.
On the next morning they followed the railroad for some time, passing one or two small places, and waving their hats to the passengers on a train.
Arrived at Newberry they left Amos incharge of the boats, while Teddy and Dolph sought the post office to mail letters, as well as to pick up anything that may have been sent from the folks, with whom they had left a copy of their plans, marking the time of their expected arrival at such points as Newberry and the Soo.
Afterwards the two boys took the list they had made out, of things they needed, and visiting the best store in the town, purchased an abundant supply.
“Last chance to get anything,” warned Dolph, when Teddy asked if there was any other article he could think of, “we pass no more places from here to the bay, where we strike a small place named Emerson,” and on the strength of this plea, Dolph took the liberty of adding a few more things to the list.
“Hope the canoes don’t sink with all that load,” chuckled Teddy, as, having completed their purchases, which were to be delivered in an hour’s time they sauntered down in the direction of the river.
“Oh! they’ll bear up, all right,” declared the other “and besides, remember that a few meals will lighten the cargo considerably.”
“I guess you’re right,” admitted Teddy. “I never saw three fellows with such appetitesin all my life. I’d hate to board this crowd, believe me.”
“Well I don’t think any landlady would get rich doing it,” Dolph remarked, with a good-natured grin.
They left Newberry about two in the afternoon, and started down the river which immediately entered among the pine woods and marshes that make up most of the region for many miles along the south shore of Superior east of the famous Pictured Rocks.
At one time the boys had contemplated taking in that region after reaching White Fish Bay. They concluded, however, that the open lake was too dangerous a cruising ground for such frail mosquito craft. Besides, they desired above all things, to visit the city on the famous Soo Rapids, and enjoy some of the wonderful things to be met with there.
The current of the Tahquamanon proved very acceptable to the boys. After using the paddles in pushing up against the flow of the Manistique, and then navigating the still waters of the larger lake bearing the same name, it was certainly a pleasure to simply guide the canoes, and allow the current to do the rest.
They were in no hurry, and consequently went ashore rather early to make camp, enticed by ideal conditions.
Dolph managed to get a snapshot of a deer while here. The animal must have been aware of the law’s protection for it stood knee-deep in the water browsing upon some sort of of grass or lily pads while the official photographer took several views, finally walking up closer in order to make the animal leap, so that he might secure that variety of picture for the collection.
Dolph also found that there were trout in the stream, quite good-sized fellows too, of the speckled variety that can be caught in Superior, and at the mouth of the rivers along the north shore, as high as eight pounds in weight.
He started in to gather a mess for supper, and declared that he could have taken enough to feed a whole troop of Boy Scouts, had he cared to keep them.
“Never saw fish so crazy to jump into a frying pan,” he remarked, afterwards when, the trout having been cleaned, they were rolled in cracker crumbs, and dropped in the hot compound secured by “trying out” slices of fat salt pork.
And when the beautifully browned fish were eaten, the pink meat looking so dainty, every one declared that when it came to sweetness, the trout raised in the clear cold waters of Lake Superior had no rival.
But then that is what hungry campers are saying up in Maine, in the Adirondacks, and in various other places where trout abound—they are always the finest in the whole world, when you have your appetite along with you and the odor of supper is wafted to you on the wind that shakes the foliage of the pine and hemlock.
Another day the boys dropped still lower down the Tahquamanon and in doing so drew nearer the place where they would finally launch upon the bosom of the largest body of fresh water in all America, the mighty Superior, well named by the early explorers.
Of course, there were occasionally things that served to break the monotony of the voyage, Teddy and Dolph for instance, managed to bring up on a partly submerged rock at a place where the current was pretty bracing. They came very near having a spill too, that might have been disastrous in so far as losing things was concerned, though they hardly felt as though their lives had been indanger because both boys chanced to be good swimmers, and would have clung to the canoe, which had air compartments fore and aft, and was believed to be unsinkable.
But by dint of some clever work the boys managed to save themselves from this dire disaster, though both called it a narrow escape.
“And after this,” declared Teddy, “me to tie my Marlin to the ribs of the boat with this piece of strong cord. Then if we do go over I won’t have to lose the gun I think so much of. After snatching it out of Big Gabe’s hands, I’d call it a shame now if it went to the bottom of the Tahquamanon River.”
“Huh!” added Dolph, “honest now, I don’t believe I’ll go to all that trouble about my repeater. To tell the truth, I’m not so much stuck on that fine foreign-made gun as I was when my dad made me a present of it. Paid a hundred dollars or so for the thing over in Germany, too. But I’ve sort of lost faith in the thing. Perhaps it was my fault the mechanism didn’t work well; but when a fellow begins to look on his gun with suspicion, he never can enjoy it again. He’ll always be afraid something is going to go wrong.”
“Better keep it until the end of this trip, anyhow,” advised Teddy.
“Guess I ought to, seeing it was a present anyhow but another time you’ll find me on deck with a different make of gun,” Dolph declared; and his chum only smiled.
Another time the camp was invaded by a wandering hog with a whole troop of partly grown pigs; and they had no peace during the balance of their stay there. Whether the porkers scented food, or “just wanted to be friendly” as Teddy put it, they were hardly driven away in one quarter than another detachment turned up in another place.
Dolph was full of dark threats as to what he would do pretty soon, if the invasion did not let up. He even handled his gun in a ferocious manner, and asked all kinds of questions of Amos as to how best they could roast a small pig in an earthern oven, made after the manner of the old hunters.
But this must all have been said just in the hope of the old sow scenting danger to her brood when she whiffed the odor of burnt powder, might call the invading army off. Certain it was that Dolph was not called upon to fire his gun; and they positively did nothave roast pig for supper, or breakfast, or any other meal, for that matter. And at nightfall their troublesome visitor, grunting their disgust, departed.
And so it came that about three in the afternoon of their last day on the Tahquamanon, while they were all plying their paddles briskly, Teddy gave vent to a loud shout and pointed ahead:
“Look! yonder lies Lake Superior. Tonight we camp on the shore of the Big Water!”