“My Big Buck” was Gerald E. Lewis‘ second book, and his first of two collections of outdoor stories of Maine. Published in 1978 by The Thorndike Press, the book contains a telling foreword by legendary Arthur R. MacDougall, Jr., and a total of seven short stories.
Along with “So Long Scout”, “My Big Buck” is one of my all time favorite collections of hunting and fishing stories. The book covers the classic Maine surroundings of woods, lakeshore, stream, coast, and farm. Lewis hunts, fishes, canoes, camps, and just all around enjoys life in these stories. His sidekick Eben, the ‘old feller’, is a key character in all of the stories. Eben is both a wise woodsman and an honest, ethical, reliable friend. While Lewis works on the family farm, teaches and writes, he relishes the chance to get away to the northwoods camp where Eben is a resident for most of the summer. Eben’s character was based on Lewis’ real life friend Stanley Pierce, and the camp setting was based on a real set of camps located in Howe Brook, Aroostook County, Maine. (While Lewis and Pierce have both since passed away, area resident and fellow book collector Kevin Upton of northern Maine provided me with some interesting details about the men and the camps).
The seven stories in “My Big Buck” span a variety of topics. All are well developed stories with attractive surroundings and interesting plots. A hint of Arthur MacDougall, Jr.’s Dud Dean stories is evident throughout. Whenever I read Lewis’ stories, I can’t help but wish he had written more. The man was truly talented, and his stories still do not get the attention they deserve.
How Much for the Fish? – Lewis surprises Eben as he arrives unexpectedly at camp one spring morning. He’s there to get in some early season fishing in on the local streams, and Eben is glad to have him. They have a great stay at camp, and experience some really great fishing. Lewis provides an expert description of the stream environment, and old set of logging camps, and different animals he encounters. Toward the end of a great day of fishing, Eben hooks onto a monster salmon the men know as ‘Big Eddy’. The fight is long and tough, but Eben plays the salmon expertly. While in mid-fight with the salmon, a couple of drunk out-of-staters show up in their power boat and come to watch the battle between man and fish. When Eben and Gerry finally land the enormous fish, the two visitors see that Eben intends to release it. The men want to keep the fish and enter it in a couple of big fish contests, and offer to buy it from Eben. What will Eben do?
Brother Moose – Lewis is still at camp with Eben, and the fishing has been excellent. In fact the entire trip would have been perfect if not for a couple of out-of-state visitors who had hassled he and Eben a few days before. One night, Eben sees lights out on the lake near the river inlet, and he has a hunch it’s the same fellows they’d run into before. Eben hatches a plan. He, Gerry and woodsman neighbor Joseph take the canoe out on the lake for an adventure in the dark. The events that follow are certain to make you laugh!
The Trial of Hoe-Handle Brown – Gerry and Eben are in a saloon in town trying to escape the sweltering heat of the summer. It just so happens that Hoe-Handle Brown’s trial is taking place at the courthouse today, and the two decide to go over and give their friend some moral support. Hoe-Handle, a poor farmer and homesteader, was pinched by the local game warden for killing a deer out of season. But some “extenuating circumstances” may play in Hoe’s favor. Regardless of how things go, Hoe-Handle intends to say some things that he’s had bottled up for a long time.
The Champion Pain in the Neck – Eben is guiding a doctor and his wife and son on a river trip, and invites Gerry (who he refers to as the ‘Professor’) to come along. Gerry has always wanted to take the trip, so he agrees to help guide. No place names are given, but I suspect the setting was meant to be the Allagash River. The trip is going well with one exception: the adolescent son of the doctor and his wife is a real pain in the neck. He’s a spoiled, rich, city kid who cares more about listening to music on his portable radio than about the fish, wildlife or other surroundings on the trip. Eben has an idea that could cure this champion pain in the neck. Eben’s plan, combined with a small tragedy that occurs, may make a man out of the boy yet.
Lobster Poaching – Eben joins Gerry on a trip down to the Maine coast. Gerry has to interview an old ship captain for a magazine article, and Eben intends to do some fishing and exploring. They camp out on a friend’s property, but find a really abrasive property owner next door who gives them a hard time. The interview with the captain goes well, but Gerry and Eben find out that someone has been stealing lobsters from the local fishermen’s pots. They get on the case, and it turns into another adventure in the dark. You won’t believe who they catch red handed!
Paul Bunyan, Junior – Gerry joins Eben in the middle of a guiding job for some youngsters in a summer camp. Eben is really having a tough time getting these kids interested in the outdoors. He tells a number of interesting true stories about the Maine woods and woodsmen, but the kids just don’t seem to care. Finally that night, Eben decides to embellish. He tells one of the great tall tales Mainers are known for, and the kids are on the edge of their seats!
My Big Buck – The story starts off with Gerry and Eben hunting rabbits and birds with dogs. After the hunt, they begin to talk deer hunting. Gerry has never shot a really big buck deer, and he really wants to get one. Eben has spotted the tracks of a big buck and shows Gerry where he should try hunting opening day. The season starts and Gerry gets a unexpected shot at the big buck, and misses. Between school and other chores, there’s hardly enough time to devote to finding the big buck again, but Gerry manages to put in some real effort. After Eben’s hunting trip up north is over, he comes down to help Gerry hunt. The buck appears again, but isn’t bagged. Finally, toward the end of the last day of the hunting season, Gerry comes face to face with the big buck for one last time. What happens next is what makes the story a classic.
While it only contains seven stories, each of the tales in “My Big Buck” is of top quality and well worth the read. I’ve read them numerous times and they never get old.
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