OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - The Ohio Hunter [Chapter 14] ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sara Grimes McBeth saramcb@socket.net June 22, 2005 ************************************************************************** RETURN TO MY OLD CAMP 147 CHAPTER XIV. NINE DAYS' STAY IN THE SWAMP UNEXPECTED SUCCESS IN SMALL GAME--DOGS FIND A BEE- TREE--CItASE AND CAPTURE OF BEAR AND CUBS --PROCEEDS OF tIUNT RETURN HOME. Early in the winter of I848, I returned to my old hunting grounds in the swamps of Paulding and Putnam Counties, Ohio. I went to my old camcamp and made a place of' deposit For my furs, and arranged as comfortable rendezvous as I could for myself. As soon as the arrangements were complete, I started for a hunt. The first day out, I found no bear, but caught one mink, a coon, and a turkey. This supplied me abundantly with camp-meat, of superior quality, and after feasting my healthful appetite on the choice dainties, I lay down by my camp-fires to enjoy a refreshing slumber, -- having fully paid the price of a good night's rest, by the active exercises of the day. But my quiet sleeping was disturbed about midnight, by Bill, whose incessant industry, when coon were awake and stirring, never allowed him to sleep at the same time. Bill came close to my face and commenced barking. I arose and followed him. He led me to a very large tree, and by his inimitable skill in 148 THE OHIO HUNTER sign-making, succeeded in making me understand that his favorite game was in the tree- top. I built me a fire and lay down until morning. When day-light came, I looked up in the tree and saw two large coons. I immediately dislodged them from their elevated position by a shot from old killall, and carried them to my camp, feeling almost as exultant as Bill over the success; for I knew they would bring me a dollar apiece. After cooking my breakfast, I started again, : and soon found two more large coon. As I was returning to my camp, I heard the bark of one unruly dog that had slipped off by himself and was already in pursuit of deer. The rest commenced leaping, and skipping, anxious to be off; but I detained them at my side. Presently I saw the deer, and one decisive shot from old killall ended the chase. I now felt that Providence really favored me, in sending me so much meat and wild honey to eat in the wilderness; for must not forget to tell you that my dogs had accidentally discovered a bee-tree in which there were forty pounds of pure, white, honey, which I had placed in a trough, dug out for that purpose, and had carried also to my camp. I drew the deer into the camp and dressed it. After sharing the meat with my dogs, we started out again on rather a miscellaneous search, for I had determined by this time to kill whatever presented itself for the interesting ceremony. We CATCH ANOTHER COON 149 had not gone far, until my dogs treed another coon. The tree was very large, and I thought I would not cut it; but the dogs were unwilling to leave it, and at length, yielding to their entreaties, the tedious operation was commenced. When the tree fell, the dogs ran immediately into its top, and soon had a large coon secure in their grasp. I saw another run out of the tree-top, and started in pursuit of that. I soon caught it, and went back to the dogs. I then took the two coons went back to the camp. which was at no great distance. I did not go out any more that night, but stayed in my camp, ate pientifully of venison and honey, and lay down and slept soundly until morning. When I awoke, and brushed the snow off from my face, I found that it was about two inches deep, which greatly facilitated the bear hunting. After eating our breakfast, I said to Madge and Bill, "We will now capture a bear !" I think they must have partially understood me, dogs though they were, for they started right off, and were soon following a bear track at no moderate pace. At last we came to where the bear was in ambush, and we started him, the dogs now showing the utmost of their ability for a chase. I followed them in the chase, well accoutered with gun, ax, butcherknife, and knapsack. At last I met Bill coming back very bloody. When he saw me, he made all the maneuvers requisite to 150 THE OHIO HUNTER. tell me they had treed the bear, and had come for me and killall to conclude the scene. He hastened back to the scene of conflict, and I followed as fast as possible. When I came in sight, the dogs that had been lying under the tree to rest, ~ jumped up and commenced barking. I went up to the tree and found a fine large bear in its top. I enjoyed the scene to my satisfaction for some minutes, and then brought him to the ground, and we returned to the camp. After carefully dressing, my.game, I proceeded to the more difficult task of' preparing my evening meal, which ccmsisted of johnnyeake and meat. I made my corn bread after a fashion peculiarly my own, placing it on a board in front of the fire to bake, and arranging a piece of the bear on forked sticks just above it, so that the drippings of the meat should fall on the unbaked bread, and thus supply it with shortening. When the frugal meal was eaten, I lay down by my fire sleep, quite satisfied that a good day's work had been accomplished, and consequently slept in peace. The fifth day I went out again, and hunted all day and found nothing. I did not feel as contented on that evening as on the former one; but then I knew life was not made up entirely of successes, and I did not expect more than my share. In the evening, I thought of the patient wife and little children at home, and realized if I ON THE TRACK AGAIN 151 should at last become the prey of some wild beast, how indefinite must their knowledge ever be of the fate of the wild-woods hunter, around whose destiny so many interests lingered. But I was at length transported from such thoughts as these, to grand hunting expeditions, in dream-land, and did not become conscious of the fact that these were only flights of imagination, until the light was streaking the blackened heavens with gray, reminding me that it was time for a coon-hunter to be at his post. I went out and caught three coons and one opossum. The seventh day was the Sabbath, and I stayed in my camp all day and fed upon roast venison, roast bear, roast turkey, corn-bread and honey. The next morning, the snow being nearly all gone on the highlands -- but .just right on the low land f'or tracking coon I started with my dogs for that purpose. We soon found plenty of tracks, but they curved around in such indefinite circles, that it was impossible even for the sharp-scented Bill to determine their origin, or their end. They led over, and under, and around, a large log that lay at the foot of a. big sycamore tree, and the dogs had many times mounted its summit, but at last Bill crept under and soon gave the significant yelp which told that the coon were found! I examined closely, and found a hole in the root of the tree where they entered. I then cut another just above it, and there I discovered 152 THE OHIO HUNTER. the coon. Bill was not slow now in bringing them to light. He went right into the hole and clinched first one and brought it out, then another, until the trick had been repeated no less than seven times! It would be needless to say his hearty grasp was returned by one equally affectionate,--and that the faithful dog was sorely wounded and bleeding about the throat, -- but nerer complained, and the meek sufferer was ready for the next day's duty as early as if he had not been out sk{rmishing late the previous evening. . It was quite a satisfactory day's work to myself, and after dressing their hides and eating my frugal meal, I lay down by my camp fire, and slept soundly until morning. It snowed again that night, which was advantageous to my business. The next morning I said to my dogs, "We will have another bear to-day!" We now made straight for the bear marsh, which was about two miles-distant, and there we found the tracks so thick it was hard agefin to distinguish one from another. At last I found one that led off from the rest, and discovered it to be the trail of a female and her cubs. I followed this until I came to their nest, when I routed them, and the dogs followed in quick pursuit. At last they succeeded in treeing one of the cubs, but they still followed on after the old bear and another cub. When they had left the KILL A CUB. 153 tree, the cub came down, and returning toward its nest, unfortunately met me in the way,--and a dog which I that day named Coward, having stayed behind in the chase, not having sufficient courage to attack the old bear, I thought to give a first lesson in cub- fighting. He started after him, but could not bear to leave me far behind in the chase. I saw him come up to him once in the chase, but the cub offered a little resistance to his incivilities, and Coward beat a hasty retreat; but the cub passed up a tree which was just what I wanted, I soon brought him down from there, and left him lying on the ground, while I pursued the other bear. I had not gone far when I heard the barking of the dogs, which assured mc that their game was safe. When I came up I found they had got her stopped under a high log, while she kept her pursuers at bay with dextrous blows from her ponderous paw. When she saw me approaching, she made one bold grab at Madge; but Bill soon showed her he was somewhere there, too, and catching her by the hind leg, made her relinquish the grasp she had made upon Madge's sensitive olfactory. Madge was soon out of her reach, and Bill made good his escape, and the old bear went up a tree, which was just what I wanted. Old killall was so accustomed to bringing them down from such places, that I was never afraid of his fidelity, and soon the old bear came floundering down to the 154 THE OHIO HUNTER ground. I now looked around fol' my dogs. All were there but Coward, which was quite astonishing, as he was not in the habit of venturing far from the strongest side. But as his services were not very important time of danger, I did not trouble myself much about his safety, but cut a withe and fastened it in the nose of the bear and started back to the camp. When I came to the place where I left the cub, it was not to be found, but there was trail and we followed it.; and the sequel showed that the ball had only pasced through the upper portion of the head, stunning it, and after a while it had come to and started off. Coward, emboldened by its mangled appearance, had ventured to follow it at a respectful distance, and when from exhaustion it laid down to die, had helped it through the diffcult ceremony by savagely biting it about the throat. I felt quite well satisfied with the last day's gain, and concluded now to return home with the spoils. I will here give an account of the proceeds of my hunt, for the nine days. Caught fourteen coon, three bear, one deer, one mink, one opossum, and a turkey, and found about forty pounds of good honey. I afterward went to Fort Findlay with my furs. I there sold the old bear skin for $7.00. The other two bear skins for $8.00. The mink brought 50cts. The opossum, 15cts. And for the fourteen coon RETURN HOME. 155 skins, I got $12.25. For the deer skin I received 50cts. Making in all, $28.40. The turkey I ate myself, and the deer I divided between myself and dogs. The bear meat I carried home, and ate in my family. The oil amounted to about twenty dollars, so that the entire proceeds of my hunt were not less than sixty dollars. :By this means, I yearly increased my little "earthly all," until it became a very comfortable reliance for my family.