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AN ADVENTURE WITH WOLVES.

HUNTING ADVENTURES
IN UTOPIA,
AND OTHER POEMS.
—BY A—
PARRY SOUND SETTLER’S SON
WRITTEN IN HIS 14th AND 15th YEAR.

 RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED TO JOHN DUNCAN, ESQ.,
Markham, Yonge St., near Richmond Hill.

1880 :
Printed by Morton & Co., 3 and 5 Adelaide Street East,
[unnumbered page]

PREFACE.

   Kind friends (for as such I shall consider all those who may read this little volume) perhaps a few words in the way of an explanation may not be out of place. The author of this book was raised in the far northern district of Parry Sound ; his father, the writer of this preface, being one of the pioneer settlers of one of its first settled townships, Mckeller, the garden townership of the district, and for which material advancement and rapid improvement will compare favorably with the most favored townships of the Dominion; a condition of things not altogether owing to the natural advantages it possesses but to the praise worthy habits of its Industrious inhabitants, ably aided by the energy, enterprise and business tact and talents of Messrs . S. & J. Armstrong, with the valuable assistance of their brother Robert and Henry, founders, and in great parts proprietors of the beautiful and beautifully located village in 1870 there was only a single house upon it, now there are two first class hotels that would be a credit to any town on the line of the northern Railway. In conclusion, I am not quite certain, but that I ought to apologise for publishing this little volume, but every credited thing must have, or must have had, a beginning, and nothing, attempted nothing done. the materiel of which this, volume consists are amply sufficient for a first venture, and if it is successful (as I hope it will be) expect to hear from us again. yes, kind friends, for I am myself a verse maker and rhyme writer, yet I have not attempted to alter a single line in the book as I do not wish to interfere in any way with its originality. Mr. Morton has kindly and courteously proposed to correct the spelling, which, owing to the limited educations of the author, was not good, the same reason and extreme youthfulness of the writer, the book being nearly all written in his 14th and 15th year, must excuse defects of style and thought.

JAMES ELLIOTT.

Toronto, Sept. 22nd, 1880. [unnumbered page]

AN ADVENTURE WITH WOLVES.

No more I hear the robin sing,
     Or see his bright red breast;
 But I can see the wintry clouds
     Which rises in the west,
The little star is mangled by
     The falling snow up in the sky.
Again the snow comes hissing down
      All o’er the grass and leaves so brown;
We have no need for to complain,
      The weather bright we can’t remain,
The snow comes wreathing from the sky,
     “No glimpse of blue can meet the eye.”

THE HUNTER.

The hunter now begins to rove
     All o’er the hill and through the grove;
He tracks the game with gun and spear,
     When he’s well armed he has no fear;
He is guarded by the sun ad sky,
     Which shines between the branches green.
The hunter brave his patience still,
     The time he has lost he gain or fill.
With watching eyes and listening ear 
     He hears the sound of wolf or deer,
Many mountains he’s surveying ,
     Many wolf he’s shot and slaying,
He hoists his gun, now on his shoulder,
     And marches home more brave and bolder,
The steady hand that held the gun,
     And the trigger small,
One instant lit the powder quick 
     And drove the mighty ball.

Spring is here, oh !  boys, hurrah!
     February’s gone away;
The time is short, but it seems long 
     Since I heard the robin’s song; [page 3]
I long to hear this song once more 
     And hear him chirp around my door .
The bright blue sky, it seems so high,
     Where clouds of snow fell down below. 
Winter’s white and summer’s grey,
     Fields of snow or fields of hay,
We soon shall see the honey bee
Among the flowers bright,
     And all day long we hear his song.
He works from morn to night.

Again the sky is bright and warm,
     And buds and leaves begin to form,
Old spots of snow is all we see,
     While sugar maple running free.
Spring will open every lane,
     Lakes are free for boats again.
Men begin with pike and pole,
     Fast the sawlog now does roll.
Spring is here, i’ll let you know,
     All the streams begin to flow.
Men begin with horse and plough,
     Women with their pale and cow.
I’d rather see the rock and mud
     Than see the ice and snow,
I’d rather hear the birds that sing 
     Than hear the winds that blow.
Its far away down beyond the tide,
     There is an ocean far and wide,
Where summers sun does brightly glow
     Like frost and moonlight on the snow.
Summer here, with rain and thunder,
     If it’s not I’ve made a blunder,
Dark clouds heave on by the sky,
     “ No glimpse of blue can meet the eye.”

December days has come again,
     With its dark clouds of snow and rain,
With clouds for dark and sun for light,
     The days so dark brings days so bright.
A gloomy shade from heaven showing 
     While the distant winds are blowing [page 4]

God made the bird to build its nest,
     He made its food to find,
He did not make the man to curse
     To satisfy his mind.

Spring is coming, it will show 
     All the flowers in a row,
I love to hear the birds sweet song
     In the summer days so long.
Spring is coming, golden flowers,
    Birds is singing every hour
It seems to me like  spring so gay,
     I cannot think the birds is away,
But nature caused them for to go, 
     The will of god it must be so. 
Wednesday morn has come again, 
     Not sing of snow or sing of rain. 

With a circle round the moon,
    Though its shining very dim.
Birds and frogs is all in tune,
     I’d like to know their glorious hymn. 
Happy times it is to me
     With the fields of green around,
Busy times to bird and bee,
     Idle they are never found,
The nature of the honey bee 
     Flocks among the blooming flowers,
Around the mansion with a glee, 
    Every day and every hour. 

Yesterday the rain did pour, 
     But now the sun is shining bright, 
Among the trees, the wind does roar,
     Wit hastening time brings darkest night. 
Their is a wave of glimmering light,
     With dreadful wind on land. 
Makes a signal dark as night. 
     Why it is I understand, 
Busy times has come again
     To till out land a sow our grain,
Tell me which without delay, [page 5]

Without the first of may,
     Though dimly shining is the moon,
I cannot see my shadow plain.
     While piping wind is still the tune, 
A sweeping o’er the distant plain,
     Both high and lofty grows the tree,
And spreads its branches round. 
     I’m welcome for its crops to see
That falls upon the ground, 
     It forms its bud in early spring, 
Bright summer brings its leaf,
     When birds and frogs no more do sing 
It is our saddest grief. 

I love the sweet and hate the sour, 
     No bitter thought can ever pour. 
Bright flowers now again does bloom.
     And chase away dark winter’s gloom. 
I like to smell the bud and leaf,
     But dearly love the flower,
I like to sit when the evening’s cool
     By my cottage door on my low legged stool, 
With the twilight stars in the evening hours, 
     With a bright green grass with a smell of flowers.

Golden harvest here again 
    With its fields of bearded grain,
Rye and barley now does stand 
     Ripe and ready for the hand. 
Soft and sweet the breezes blow 
     Among the fields of grain that grow, 
While behind the reaper
     Lays  each sheaf snug in its band.
I sit upon this hill so high
    All for to view the northern sky.
The view is beautiful from here,
     Across the water bright and clear,
Long heads of green both wide and low,
     No one but god could make them so. 

Rough and wild the winds does cry, [page 6]
     For October days is nigh,
Though it threatened very long. 
     Lightning sharp and thundering strong, 
It will surely come at last
     With its dreadful cutting blast,
Rushing with its sharpest lances, 
     Twisting trees by treacherous chances.
Far in the north beyond yon cloud 
     I hear the thunder roaring loud, 
With patches of a sunny sky
     etween the clouds that fastly fly.

Once more I hear the wild goose cry
     As he swiftly passes by ,
Crying loud I’m southward bound.
     With my brothers all around, 
For October is here again 
     With its dreadful drizzling rain, 
While beneath a clouded sky
     On the ground the leaves does lie. 
Here the roaring among the trees,
     See the flowing of the seas,
Everything is looking pale
     Since October winds does wail. 
Listen to the water roar 
     As it dash against the shore, 
While beneath a bright blue sky
     Glides the frosty evening by.

AN ADVENTURE WITH WOLVES

Welcome is the sleighbells sound, 
     With a never ceasing bound,
O’er the ice and through the snow, 
     Jingle, jingle on we go.
You can see the horse and sleigh, 
     You can hear them shout hurrah!
While the driver straight does stand, 
     With his whip stock in his hand, 
Not a time I’ve even knew 
     That I was not welcome to.
So as it has just begun,  [page 7]
     I will go and join their fun.
I will go with horse and sleigh,
     I will go with heart so gay.
Snap your whip, for well you need,
     You cannot pass my mighty steed,
He try just once, but once in vain,
     Upon my steed he cannot gain.
Let the moon shine bright or dim,
     O’er the mountain we will skim,
Singing loud our christmas song,
     As we slowly jog along.
Now my driver take your rein,
     Let us start our steam again.
Then you hear the whip’s loud crack
     Echo form the oak far back. 
     Then the driver says to me 
As we both are well and free,
     Once I tried you, but in vain, 
I will try you now again.
     Then his mighty span of black
When they heard his whips loud crack, 
     Rushed along with greatest speed,
O’er rough and smooth they take no heed. 
     But my mighty steed of grey,
Fed on best of oats and hay,
     Rushed before his span of black,
Heeded not his whips loud crack.
     Then I stopped my steed of grey.  
Shouted loud hurrah! hurrah!
    Then he answered soft and kind,
Oh, my friend, I’m far behind, 
     All my boasting was in vain,
All my racing could not gain.
     I never knew there was a team 
That could raise so much steam
     As to pass my span of blacks 
 In spite of all my ships loud crack, 
     When our driver did reply 
With a full surprising eye, 
     Oh, I hear a distant sound, 
Speeding fastly oe’r the ground,
     The sound of wolves I fear it is. [page 8]
While in his hand his whip upraised,
     Nearer, nearer came the noise, 
Till the driver cried “oh, boys !”
     As he looked behind, before, 
Louder seemed the wolves to roar.
     Quick he seized his whip and reign— 
Speeding swiftly through the plain—  
     Now, my wolves, we’ll shortly see 
Which is swiftest, you or me. 
     So the jolly span of black 
Never, never ceased to slack, 
     But my mighty steed of grey, 
Close behind the other sleigh, 
     Too has never ceased to fail,
Bound up neck and straight out tail,
     The driver shouted loud and clear 
Oh, the wolves will soon be here, 
     Now my mighty span of black 
Is now beginning for to slack, 
     Now my gallant steed of grey 
Just has passed the other sleigh, 
    The drivers face grows white as snow, 
As the winds does widely blow, 
    Closer does the wolves arrive, 
Oh, not long we’ll be alive. 
     As the evening glides away, 
And the night does fast array,
     We have nothing to defend, 
But our mighty span of black,
     Oh, we soon be to our end, 
The wolves is right behind our back. 
     But my span of black did go 
Swifter than the wind that blow, 
     While upon the frozen ground, 
Screeched beneath each speeding bound. 
     But the wolves were gaining fast, 
Rushed upon us now at last, 
     But the driver, stout and strong, 
Took his club both thick and long, 
     As the wolf jumped from the snow 
There he hit it one hard blow, 
     Hit it fare upon the head, [page 9]
     And on the road he laid it dead. 
Still the driver, brave and true, 
     Stood there with his club updrew. 
All the time the gallant team 
     Still kept up the bounding stream,
Waiting for another blow 
     Dropped his club down in the snow. 
But a wolf so large and tall,
     When he saw he’d stooped his mall,
Sprang and bit him on the wrist,
     But he struck it with his fist, 
Heeded not the dreadful pain 
     Struck it now again, again,
Struck it hard with might and main,
     But the brute with snarl and groan,
Sunk his teeth clear to the bone, 
     When upon his sprang another 
In the pathway of his brother,
     When the driver gave a cry, 
“Oh my friend, I’ll have to die,”
     Then I answered back aloud 
“Has upon you rushed a crowd,”
     Then he answered loud again 
With a voice of grief and pain,
     “Yes, my friend, I’m wounded sore,
And I cannot fight no more,”
     Then I answered back and said 
“I will try my bright steel blade,”
     Then I seized it with a grip,
Making ready for a clip, 
     With great force I brought it down, 
Struck him fair upon the crown, 
     Killed him right upon the spot
Just as if he had been shot. 
     Then the driver made reply 
“Strike him fair above the eye.” 
     Now the wolf with snarl and snap
Sprang aside to shun the wrap,
     Then he sprang off from the sleigh,
Gave a howl and ran away, 
     Then to me the driver said, 
Looking at the wolf that laid, [page 10]
     “Let us throw him on the ground,
It may stop the wolves that bound.”
     Now the wolves have left the sleigh 
Quickly went to eat their prey. 
     Now the horses took a fright, 
Left the wolves far out of sight, 
     We are through the tall pine plain, 
We are near our home again. 
     Then the driver said to me 
“I remember now,” says he,  
     As he smiled with haggard face, 
When we had the second race, 
     Oh, my bonnie span of blacks,” 
As he slicked them on the backs,” 
     “How you bounded o’er the plain, 
Never needed whip or rein.” 
     Oh, my gallant steed of grey 
Leaped before the smooth shod sleigh, 
     Eyes so dark and mane so long,
Legs so small but very strong, 
     Oh, my gallant short haired steed 
Eighteen miles has take the lead, 
     Through the tall pine plain we’ve passed,
We are landed safe at last.

HUNTING ADVENTURES IN UTOPIA.

It was upon a winter night, 
     When the moon was full and bright, 
And my comrade did reply— 
     With a kind look in his eye,—   
“ As the night is bright and clear 
     Let us go and hunt for deer,” 
Then I answered, soft and low, 
     “ I am willing for to go, 
Bring your shot, your axe, and gun, 
     And we’ll go and have some fun,” 
Then I went to get them all
     Where they hung on to the wall,
Looking up I found them there,
     Brought them down with greatest care. [page 11]
Then I said with greatest thought 
     “ Have we got our axe and shot,” 
“ Yes, he said, with voice so kind, 
     “ Nothing must we leave behind.’, 
I could hear the woodland roar 
     As we started from the door, 
Then we went with great delight, 
     Through the struggling moonbeams bright,
Oh, we went along the way 
     Singing loud or song so gay, 
Sung a song of hunter’s old, 
     Singing how they fought so bold.
Now we’ve come into the bush,
     When my comrade said “ oh, hush, 
We must hush or hunting song, 
     For the way is wild and long.” 
Just them my comrade halted back,
     Oh, I see a large wolfs track, 
We must be both sharp and sly, 
     I fear a wolf in ambush lie. 
So we went through the snow so deep,
     And down the mountain long and steep,
Through the hemlock grove so green, 
     O’er the icebound flood between, 
As we gaily march along 
     Lonesome for to sing our song. 
We can whisper to each other, 
     Like a sister or a brother, 
We can talk and chant along, 
     Though we dare not sing our song, 
If a bear or wolf is nigh, 
     To each other we can sigh, 
But neither deer nor wolf was seen, 
     Through the tall pine trees so green,
Through the valley we can go, 
     Tramples o’er the frozen snow, 
Watching with the sharpest eye, 
     Always ready for to try, 
Through our hard times at night 
     We are ready for to fight. 
Then we went along the plain, 
     Go to either lose or gain, [page 12]
Gun and axe to guard us each, 
     When terror’d by a wild cat’s screech, 
Then my comrade with a sigh 
     Said “we’ll have to fight or die,” 
Then the cat with fiery eyes 
     Gave three terrifying cries, 
Then spreading out its smeller wide, 
     Spread out its tail, draws up its hide, 
Then with claws so sharp, sprang down 
     Right upon my comrade’s crown.
Oh, the dreadful, bloodthirsty cat 
     Sank his claws right through the hat, 
Quick as thought, without a sigh, 
     When I heard my comrade’s cry  
Aim your gun straight for his head, 
     Let him feel a ball of lead. 
Then my gun I quickly snapt,
     For it was already capped, 
Then I pull the trigger down, 
     Drove a ball straight through his crown. 
Then he gave one dreadful cry, 
     Which echoes from the black ash nigh, 
To loose his hold I tried y might. 
     I could not loose his grip so tight. 
My comrade now with spirits low 
     Fainted down into the snow, 
Then I looked with frightened eye 
     To hear my comrade’s deathly cry. 
To see the blood a flowing down 
     From the wound upon his crown. 
Now the cat was kicking round 
     With dying yells upon the ground, 
But his fiery eyes did glare, 
     Like the eyes of a wounded bear, 
My comrade raising from the snow 
     Speaking in a voice so low, 
“ Load your gun with greatest haste,
     By the brute we’ll soon be chaste,”
Looking with a frightened eye 
     Up towards the tree top high,
Then I seized my flask of tin,
     Ramming fast the powder in, [page 13]
On the nipple placed a cap,
     Now it’s ready for to snap. 
My comrade with the sharpest eye 
     Looked towards the tree so high,
Now my comrade says to me 
     “ Oh, I see a lusifee,
And he’s stronger far I know 
     Than our other dreadful foe, 
Oh, a minute don’t delay, 
     For I fear I’ll gain the day.”
Then my gin with heavy charge,
     Loaded for a brute so large,
Placed it tight against my shoulder,
     Solid in the hands that hold her,
Then the dreadful wolverene
     With its fiery eyes of green,
Gave one terrifying howl,
     Then continued with a growl.
Then I took one aim so straight,
     Aimed it quick before too late,
Then the gun with dreadful roar
     Killed him not but wounded sore.
Oh, the dreadful wolverine,
     With his flashing eyes of green,
Then with pain sprang down below, 
     Forcing fiercely for his foe.
Though my face grew very pale
     But my courage did not fail.
Stood there in that dreadful land,
     Stood there with my axe in hand,
Then the dreadful fight begun
     As ever was beneath the sun,
As I shouted with a cry 
     Either one will have to die,
Then y hand so strong and steady
     With the axe updrew and ready,
But the brute had dodged the blow, 
     Harmless fell it in the snow,
Before I drew my axe again,
     Oh the brute with rage and pain
Sprang upon me with a bound, 
     Tore me down upon the ground, [page 14]  
But so brave to save my life
     Then I stabbed him with a knife. 
While beneath is two strong paws 
     Bit me with his two great jaws, 
Then I drew with greatest haste, 
     From a belt around y waist, 
Far better done than said I’ll do,
     Then from my belt a pistol drew,
Then I aimed with mind of dread, 
     Aimed my pistol at his head,
Dropped the trigger on the cap,
     Then it gave a spiteful snap,
Drove a ball into his crown, 
     Then he staggered backwards down, 
Then sprang upwards with a yell, 
     On the snow again he fell. 
Then my comrade paused and said
     Oh, the dreadful brute you’ve slayed, 
But without a boast to cheer, 
     Answered back so soft and clear, 
Yes, the dreadful brute I’ve slew,
     I would die my friend for you.
Yes, my friend, I plainly see 
     You would die yourself for me,
And I’m sure I never knew 
     That you had a heart so true. 
Now beyond yon hill so far
     I could see the morning star,
I could see the eastern cloud 
     Moving in a purple shroud, 
I could hear the morning breeze
     Whistle among the tall pine trees, 
While the little star of dawn 
     Told me that the night was gone. 
Then my comrade said to me 
     “ Over yonder  do you see,
Go and bring our hunting bag,
     Go, make haste, and do not lag,”
“ I will do just what you say, 
     I will go without delay.”
Now with hasty step I go  
     Through the valley long and low, [page 15]
Up the mountain long and steep, 
     I could walk and I could creep.
As I looked with great surprise
     Saw it lay before my eyes,
There I saw our hunting bag
     Laying in a chewed up rag,
Now my hair stood on my head
     When I heard a cry of dread,
But I shouted in despair 
     It’s a panther or a bear,
From my belt with half a jerk
     Brought my two edged hunting dirk.
It’s a panther, well I know, 
     And its fiery eyes does glow,
Then it gave a dreadful roar, 
     Louder than it did before. 
Now the panther sprang for me 
     Down from off the beechen tree,
As the dreadful brute drew near, 
     Oh, I quivered then with fear,
To myself I whispered low 
     “ Oh, my blood must stain the snow,
Shouted loud with heart so true, 
     Oh, I know not what to do.” 
But the panther long and spry 
     Gave another dreadful cry. 
Then I gripped my dirk so tight, 
     As we fiercely went to fight, 
Now just then my dreadful foe 
     Crushed me down into the snow, 
Then I raised my feeble cry, 
     Oh, this time I’ll have to die. 
But my comrade did appear,
     Rushing faster than the deer, 
Then he said in feeble tone 
     “ No, you will not die alone.” 
But my side he soon did stand,
     Took the dirk from out my hand, 
Then with furious force he pressed,
     Pressed it in the panther’s breast, 
Still my comrade quick and smart
     Pressed it further in his heart, [page 16] 
Then the panther ceased to fight,
     As he held his grip so tight. 
I could see his fiery eyes,
     I could hear his dying cries.
Then he struggles o’er the snow
     While his life blood fast did flow , 
Then he fell upon his side, 
     And his mouth he opened wide.
To my comrade then I said, 
     “ Oh, at first I was afraid, 
As I rose up from the snow, 
     Gazing at my dying foe,
Now, my friend, so brave and true, 
     You slew one and I slew two.”
“ Yes,” he said, “ for well I know
     Dead you laid them on the snow.” 
Then to me he said again
     “ Let us tarry in the plain,
Get some water from the lake, 
     And a fire I soon will make ,”
As he proudly winked to me, 
     And we’ll have some bread and tea,” 
But my friend he did not know, 
     TiH at length I told him so, 
“ Is there anything of it ?
     “ No there’s not a single bit.” 
Then he went to where it laid, 
     Coming back to me he said 
“ No, there is not anything, 
     Even not a thread or string.” 
Then with grief he did repeat, 
     “ Nothing for have we to eat, 
And I’m very hungry now,” 
     Said he then with lifted brow, 
“ Yes, indeed, and so am I,” 
     Then I quickly did reply. 
As to me he said so kind, 
     God will help us, never mind.”
So we never will complain ,
Load our guns with haste again, 
     From my pocket then I brought 
Was my flask of balls and shot, [page 17]
In my left hand held my gun,
     With my right hand then begun.
From the flask, a lid of tin,
     Filled it, poured the powder in,
With some paper stiff and brown 
     Made a plug and rammed it down.
From my flask so thin and small
     Brought from it a large gun ball,
With the ramrod, long and thin, 
     Then I shoved the ball down in, 
Placed my hand upon the stock,
     Then I upward drew the lock 
Took a cap so small and bright, 
     Placed it on the nipple tight, 
As the trigger back I drew, 
     Let the lock came slowly too, 
As I raised my voice some higher 
     Now it’s ready for to fire. 
“ Yes”, my comrade said to me, 
     “ It is ready now I see,
And we’ll onward start again 
     Through this wild and raving plain.”
Gazing at the far off land, 
     Held his dirk tight in his hand, 
Then he said “ my friend, we’ll go
     Straight towards yon woodland low,” 
Then we traveled quickly on 
     Till the day was almost gone, 
When I heard a roaring sound, 
     Like a lion under ground. 
It’s a lion from his den,
     And he’d kill a hundred men,
Then he quickly said to me 
     “ Let us climb the black ash tree,”
Then we started from the snow, 
     As we upward quick did go. 
I could hear the lion’s roar 
     Nearer than it was before, 
When I seen his blood-red eye
     I was sure we’d have to die, 
With a spring and with a roar, 
     With his teeth the tree he tore, [page 18] 
As the tree began to sway
     I could hear my comrade pray.
Then the mighty tree of ash
     On the snow fell with a crash.
But my heart so true and brave, 
     From the tree a jump I gave, 
In the snow I quietly lit, 
     But it harm’d me not a bit, 
With my eye so sharp and keen,
     Down beneath the ash I seen 
Their the lion did I see 
     Down beneath the black ash tree,
When my screeches loudly shrilled
     “ Oh, my comrades killed, he’s killed,” 
When above me then I heard
     Was a low and trembling word 
“ No, i am not killed you see
     As you thought I was, said he.
Then my eyes caught sight of him
     Hanging on a cedar limb,
As just then he said to me 
     “ Quickly, climb another tree,” 
Then again I heard him crying
     “ Oh he’s coming, oh, the lion,
Oh, to kill you now he’s bound, 
     As the tree he haggled round,
As his dismal roars of dread 
     Shook the treetop over my head,
Still the brute with ceaseless roar, 
     To the heart the tree he tore,
When I heard a snarling cry
     Coming through the air on high, 
“ Oh, I hear it now again     ,
     Down in yonder tall pine plain.” 
Now the lion I could see
     Quite his knowing at the tree,
Knowing that it was his foe,
     Crouched himself down in the snow,
Louder now his eyes did grow, 
     It’s the lion’s dreadful foe, 
As the fearful brute drew nigh 
     I could see the lion’s eye. [page 19]
I could see his small red eye 
     Sparkle when he heard the cry.
On the snow he laid his nose, 
     On his back his hair uprose. 
Soon the tiger came with haste,
     By the tracks his foe he traced, 
With his nose towards the snow
     Came fast towards his mighty foe,
When the snarl and growl he stopped,
     To one side he cowardly hopped.
Then the lion with a spring,
     Roared and mad the  forest ring,
On the tiger then he lit, 
     Savage with his teeth he bit,
Soon the tiger felt the sting, 
     Gave the lion one great fling.
Now it was the dreadful fight 
     Ever was by day or night.
Soon the tiger, long and slim,
     Found is foe too strong for him,
Struggled to get free again,
     But I thought it was in vain,
When with snarl he sprang before
     From the lion’s way he tore,
Then he sprang with might and main
     Through the deep snow on the plain.
I could hear the tiger crying
     As he rushed before the lion,
Now as far as I could see
     Up upon this black ash tree,
I could see the tiger sweep
     Down the mountain, long and steep,
But the lion soon did find
     That he fast was left behind. 
Still he bounded with curled up tale,
     Never, never ceased to fail,
But upon his tracks did go
     With his nose towards the  snow,
While each bound, with dreadful roar,
     Made the snow fly up before,
Then my comrade said to me
     Up into his cedar tree, [page 20]
“Oh, I see the dreadful tiger,
     Coming with a feeble stagger.”
Still the lion bound to gain,
     Savage roared aloud again,
Then my comrade loud did shout
     “ Oh, the tiger’s tired out,”
Then he turned himself around,
     Making ready for a bound,
Then he sprang with might and main
     Right towards his foe again,
Now I saw them meet again
     In that dreadful roaring plain,
Then the lion with a bound
     Tore the tiger to the ground,
Then the tiger with a cry
     As beneath his foe did lie,
Struggled hard with grief and pain,
     But his struggles was in vain,
Then the lion gave a roar
     As the tiger’s throat he tore,
Then the tiger with a sigh
     Gave another deadly cry,
As his blood the snow did stain,
     Then he struggled one again,
Then the lion with a roar, 
     Left the tiger in his gore,
Then the lion looked at me,
     As he rushed towards the tree,
Then he tore with might and main
     At the black ash tree again,
And he never once did slack
     Till the tree began to crack,
Then this tree with dreadful crash,
     Lodged upon another ash,
But the weight of ash and me, 
     Bent this other slender tree,
Then it quivered like a reed
     As it bent with greater speed,
When both me and tree of ash
     Tumbled down with crack an crash, 
But it started first so swift 
     That it gave me one great lift, [page 21]
And I fell then with a smack
     Right upon the lion’s back,
Then the lion with such fright 
     Waited not to snarl or bite,
Then he rushed, oh, I dare say,
     Faster than my steed of grey,
Faster, faster went he still,
     Down the bottom of the hill,
And his speed seemed not to slack,
     Still I hung upon his back,
Then I gripped his bloods tained hair, 
     With the grip of a black bear, 
Then I cried with fear and grief, 
     As I trembled like a leaf,
I could see the wind and air 
     Rustle up his blood stained hair 
Now this brute went back again
     On a pathway through the plain,
As the plain so far before,
     Echoed from the lion’s roar,
Far before me I can see
     Tall and straight the black ash tree,
While the hemlock thck and green,
     Away far back is to be seen,
With its branches fresh and fair, 
     Spreading lofty in the air, 
While beyond me far and wide, 
     I can see the mountain side, 
With its spreading oak and beech,
     With their limbs that outward reach,
While the winds with ceaseless roar
     Sweep so free across the moor,
But this brute with curled up tail 
     Never, never ceased to fail,
As all lion’s of his kind 
     Have their tails curled up behind, 
But this lion as he’d roar
     Curled his tail up more and more,
Then would spring so swift again.
     Spring with all his might and main,
As the lion up did rear.
     I could feel the cutting air, [page 22]
Then the lion with a roar,
     Louder, louder than before,
But surprised when I seen,
     Far before me bright and green,
 As he rushed down in a glen
     There I saw his gloomy den. 
As he rushed down in the hole 
     From his back I gave a roll, 
Then so smart just as a squirrel, 
     From his back I gave a whirl, 
Clouds of red and sky of blue, 
     Like an arrow swift I flew,
While beneath each stride that go
     Sank within the thawing snow, 
Still as fast as I could go 
     Through the backs of thawing snow. 
Faster, faster now went me, 
     Straight towards a tamarack tree, 
When I reached it up I went, 
     Scrambling with my back half bent, 
Upward, upward now went I,
     In this tree so slim and high.
In this den down under ground 
     I could hear a dying sound, 
There I saw him at the door
     Laying in a bleeding gore, 
When I saw the lion lay
     Down I came without delay,
Anger overcame me so 
     That I turned upon my foe, 
Broke a club from one short limb, 
     Thought my club was very slim,
Then I drew my club so high,
     Struck him fair above the eye,
Though my club is like a cane 
     You will get it once again.
As I struck with dreadful force
     In the very same old course, 
Then I gave one roar of dread 
     As the club fell on his head, 
But this blow with dreadful speed 
     Was the last he’d ever need, [page 23]
Dead he lies there in the gore 
     For to never rise no more. 
To myself I then did say
     “Back I go this lonesome way,” 
I will go and never slack,
     Now upon the lion’s track, 
As I sprang across a stream, 
     There I gave one dreadful scream.
When I heard so soft and fair
     One loud cry as in despair, 
Now this sound that I have heard, 
     Seemed just like my comrade’s word, 
Then with all my might and main,
     Gave one dreadful shout again,
Then I listened with a sigh,
     As I watched with anxious eye, 
When a noise did meet my ear,
     Seemed just like a welcome cheer, 
Then I heard the words again
     Echoe from the dtstant plain,
When I saw so far away 
     Gallop swift my steed of grey,
While beside a steed of black 
     With a man upon his back,
Yes, so lofty, side by side, 
     Like the Autmn winds did glide, 
With a man I seemed to know 
     On his back was bending low, 
When he said unto his steed 
     “Do youto take the lead,” 
Then his mighty steed of black, 
     With his master on his back, 
Doubled twice each speeding jump
     Till his back was in a crump.
Like an arrow from a bow 
     Rushged before the winds that blow, 
I could see his eye so bright, 
     As he came with greatest flight. 
Then I said unto this plain 
     “Glad to see your face again,”
And my friend he then did cry 
     “Yes, indeed, and so am I,” [page 24]
Said then, as he looked at me,
     “Oh, where may your comrade be?” 
But I never ceased to fail 
     For to tell this dreadful tale.
When the story I had told 
     Of my comrade, brave and bold, 
Of the hemlock’s lovely park,
     In the dismal desert dark, 
Then my friends in sorrow said 
     “He is killed I am afraid,” 
Saying as he downward bent 
     “Oh, just here we’ll make a tent,” 
As my friend now said to me 
     “Break some branches from that tree,”
Hot the sun was in the sky,
     And the leaves was crisp and dry,
From this tree some boughs I broke, 
     But a word I never spoke, 
Got some sticks and limbs to bend, 
     Up he sticks them end to end, 
Boughs of hemlock overhead, 
     Of the boughs we made our bed 
To my friend I joking said 
     “Now our great old bed is made,”
Well, indeed, and is that so,
     Good old fellow in you go.
Sleepy now to bed I went, 
     In this very open tent. 
All this night I slept so sound 
     On these boughs upon the ground. 
Morning came, as morning will,
     Rising sun above the hill, 
Spaces of a silver hue 
     Waves along the sky of blue, 
While the sun in dreadful splendor 
     Rose above the trees so slender.
But a thought then struck my mind 
     Of my comrade far bahind,
To my friend I quickly said,
     As upon his bed he laid, 
“Rise up from your bed of green,” 
     Upon this trail we back must lean. [page 25]
Then he sprang up from his bed, 
     Put his hat upon his head, 
Then he said with woeful tone
     “Oh, your comrade is alone.” 
So we go and never fail
     On this long and lonesome trail.
Then he said with voice so kind
     “I have no hope of him to find, 
But im sure I’ll go with you 
     Though I’m not a hunter true,” 
So we go without delay 
     On this long and lonesome way. 
Then I mounted on my steed, 
     Told him to take the lead, 
But I heard him quietly say, 
     “Perhaps I will not know the way.” 
“You will find it then, I said, 
     I am not a bit afraid, 
Straight ahead we now will go 
     Down into yon woodland low.” 
Sights were many, words were few, 
     Clouds was red and sky was blue.
Then my steed with tightened rein
     Sprang along the lonesome plain, 
Then my voice did loudly shrill,
     Through the valleys, o’er the hill,
Go, oh, now you with gallant steed, 
     See how soon you’ll take the lead. 
Then without a bit delay
     Galloped swift my steed away. 
But my friend his eye did glow 
     As he griped the mane flow, 
Saying as he darkly frowned, 
     “ No swifter steed has trode the ground, 
If you choose to race with me
     I will beat you soon you see.”
Well, indeed, and that is true, 
     Now I’ll try my luck with you,
Their is not a horse, you’ll find,
     That could leave my steed behind. 
Now my friend you’ll start your steed, 
     See if you can keep the lead.” [page 26]
Then his steed with snort and rear, 
     Speeds long the woodland fair. 
Then my steed with snort and roar, 
     Saw his mate fly swift before. 
Then I said with eager cheer, 
     “ Go now swift as any deer,
Far behind me I have seen
     Short and thick the hemlock screen, 
While me before me I can see
     Tall and straight the black ash tree.” 
While as swift as winds that blow, 
     Now my steed of grey did go. 
Low I sat with eager eye, 
     Nor breathed a word nor cast a sigh, 
While in one hand I held my rein 
     And in the other griped the mane. 
While straight before so swift and fleet 
     He sprung and flung his four grey feet. 
Then to my joy and glee I seen 
     Leap so swift now o’er the green, 
I could see my friend before 
     Going swifter, bending lower, 
But I gained upon him fast,
     I have reached him now at last. 
Then I said so soft and kind
     “ We will see who’s left behind.” 
Griping tight the main that flow, 
     Urged his steed to faster go. 
Then his steed with eager eye, 
     Like an arrow swift did fly. 
Swift as reindeer, side by side,
     Now how lofty we did ride. 
I could see his eye that glow, 
     Neck to neck as we did go. 
But now long we raced that way, 
     For my mighty steed of hrey 
With his glossy neck so straight, 
     Left behind his coal black mate. 
I could hear his snort and bound 
     As he speeds swift o’er the ground. 
When I heard so far before 
     Something like a squeel or roar, [page 27]
But the noise I did not heed,
     Gave a cheer and hasten speed. 
Oh, not long we did not go 
     When I seen our mighty foe.
Stopped my steed and turned around. 
     Back went I with swifter bound.
When I met his coal black steed 
     Coming with the greatest speed. 
Then I shouted soft and fair. 
     “ Oh, I met a grisly bear.”
Then said I, “ to save our life 
     We have neither gun nor knife,”
Then he said in words of woe,
     Very soft and very low, 
“ Three revolvers have I got 
     Loaded heavy with buck shot.” 
When so far before I seen, 
     Showing through the woods of green, 
Was a river wide and long, 
      But it’s current was not strong. 
But we went with speedy bound, 
     Swift as lightning o’er the ground. 
But this mighty brute behind, 
     Very shortly did he find, 
That we went with spring and bound,
     Far the swiftest o’er the ground. 
When we reached the river wide, 
     Glancing round on every side, 
Then we cheered so soft and kind, 
     We have left you far behind, 
Drawing up my horse’s rein,
     Turned my head and looked again, 
Their I saw the grisly bear 
     Coming with a spring and rear. 
But to go I knew not where, 
     Right behind us was the bear, 
So I quickly took my rein, 
     Bid my horse to go again.
But his feet beneath him quivered, 
     Stood a second there and shivered. 
Then he sprang right off the bank 
     Down into the water sank. [page 28] 
But just as I rose again,
     Clinging to my horse’s mane, 
Right beside me there he rose, 
     Snorting loud with his great grey nose. 
Very swift my steed he swims, 
     Stretching forth his four grey limbs. 
Hearing now a splashing sound, 
     Quickly turned my head around, 
Their I saw my friend’s black steed, 
     Swimming with the greatest speed, 
But my friend I did not see
     Thinking drowned he might be, 
When now it stuck my beating heart ,
     I saw above the surface dart, 
There I saw my friend once more, 
     Stretching quick his arms before. 
Now this mighty grisly bear 
     Turned around with spring and rare. 
Now he onward did descend 
     Right towards my friend, my friend. 
Soon they was six foot apart, 
     Then my friend so quick and smart, 
Like a beaver in his flight, 
     Down he sank far out of sight, 
Up he rose with face aglow, 
     Swam before his mighty foe, 
Then the bear with growl and roar 
     Gave one dreadful leap before, 
While his teeth he loudly nashed 
     As towards my friend he dashed. 
But my friend that was before 
     Made the water splash far more. 
He has half-a-mile to swim 
     Through current strong and water brim. 
I could see my friend’s black steed 
     Swiftly pass the water’s reed, 
When I said with grief again 
     “ Swim, friend, swim with might and main, 
For I can see that gristly bear 
     With splashing paw just touch your hair.” 
But a word he did not say, 
     For a moment swam away, [page 29]
Then with hands before his crown,
     Rapid went he slanting down. [page 30]

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