The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-05-29
IN the morning.

spranc from the boats on the beach The
plain before us ran III gently ascending
elore to the base Of the hill about one mile
distant. The hunt was up-and the field in
the distance was dotted with scamrerinn
herds of cattle and groups of horsemen min
g!cd in one dusty melee. the sight of which
lent wings to our speed, as vaulting into the
deep Spanish saddles. prepared by our wor-
thy host. We sprane onward to the field of
blood. Impellcd hv the cravings of rcsistcss
appetite, TIE Condor, regardless of danger
pressed forward to aSsail the herds of the
plain while the watchman having sounded
the alarm. the numerous population turned
ont. as well to protect their cattle, as to hunt
the mountain bild-thc Chilians manly pas
time
From the midst OF a can"ry of dust. spread
wide over the plain, there came forth sounds
of noisy conflict. resembling the hcadv cur
rent of "tounhtcn field" and mountain and
hillside were sha}rn by the shouts Of the
hunters the tramp OF >campcring horscmen,
y and the heliowing OF cnragrd and alr ghtc1
cattle The Condor. alone. rapid As the cas-
Sowarv of the desert, pursued in SilCnc" his
destined prey. As WE rapidly approached,
; we perceived one of the herd bursting from
the wertcrn extremity of the cloud of dust
: lashinr hi> bleeding sides with his tail, and
: his hlood-Shottcn eyes starting wildly from
{ their sockets, while toanng at the mouth, he
beloved loudly with pain, With a wonder
II tul unity of purpose. he alone was pursued
II hv the whole flock OF birds who. diSrcrartlin"
/ the other animals. seemed to follow. as with
II a single will. this stricken one. who was at
~ the same time cautiously avoided by his ter
H. riiicd companions Like all grcgrarous
= birds the Condor appeared to have a leader,
who rushing at their head. into the midst OF
;; the herd, pounccd with hi> greedy bcak upon
Il this devoted animal, the fattc>, and >lcckc>t
of the multitude, and tore IA piece of flesh
II from his side attracted bv the sight or the
>' scent of blood the whole flock Ike brood
Of harp;r>. joined in the mad pursuit. Swift
; Of foot as the iIcrtc>t racer. they kept close To
his side ever and anon >trikin. with uncrr-
ing Sa@a.ity at his eyes.
Tell me- Tot o' the gla'!iatcrS of martial
Rome. or OF the Tauridor> of modern Seville
they were pa>tmcs for children compared
al
with the thrilling excitement of the Condor
Hunt. Away they fled. away we hurried il,
the chase \ thousand hor-cmrn were wheel
~ -, =, 49,,
:. ing rapidly in the pursuIt-a thousand cattle
terrified and frantic swept over the plain-a
thousand Condur> mingled in the crowl-un-
were agan hidden from the view in clouds of
dust. \ loud shout soon atirrattractcd Il, Il
the scene of conflict bursting torI! once a
=, @ain from the cloud nj dust int" which Lr Ia,
vanlv r:i>ncd the devoted animal plunge,
madly forward, Vet more closely followed t.,
til, whole field OF vlturcs Black with du>
and streaming with blood from hundred
wounds inflicted by the rcmor>cl,>> Lcak> of
hi> relentless Iur>ucr>. he still fr,i onward
but with diminished speed. .I> if looking t'
man for assistance in his cxtrcmtv.he r,lShe,
M through the midst Of our calvaradc, and C.;
Condor regardless Of our presence hun. up
8, on his side or followed in his footprints
:. From the altered movements Of the ANNA
after he had passed us with his head on high
=. plunging and laundering over the unrvcl
ground it was evident that his course was n
-, LONGER directed by sight. His eyes were -on
. they had been torn from their bleeding
-, sockets
- Wearicd and painting. his tonruc hang
from his mouth. and every thirsty hcak is uI
10 on it. Still onward he flies, hopeful Of es
carc-anl onward presses the Condor.scclIr
-, of his prey The animal now appeared to b
l.. ,lashng for the water, but his declining spec
~. and unequal step rendered it doubtful whctl
er he could reach it. He seemed sudlcnl
.r to despair of doing so, for wheeling aroun
with one last and desperate effort, he gather
;, cd himself up in the fulncss of his rcmainin
strength, and rushed into the midst of tn
herd. as if he sought hv mingling in the Ii,
ing mass to divert the attention of his purSl
crs But the mark and the scent of bloc
was upon him. and on the track of blood til
Condor is untiring and relentless. Beast an
bird were again lost to view beneath the GU
G. tain of dust which overspread the trcmblin
nay plain. But, in few moments pursued L
IN, every bird. he broke from the midst of II
re herd. and made few desperate plungcs t.
th, ward the water, and reeling onward. fell
the length. bleeding and exhausted, on the ma
;att gin ofthe sea-
ons In an instant he was buried up among h
ed pursuerS, and his flesh torn off vet quiverin
re- bv hungry bcaks. In the distance. on ii
18th verge of the horizon the last of the her
y might still be seen, flying upon the win!
ON of the wind from the fate of their co.npal
OBJ ion.
ow- Our host gave the signal and We hurrie
red to the spot to rescue the carcass, with a vie
en- to visit upon the Condor vengeance for II
I've mischief he had done and the blood he ha
ing spilled. At our near approach they took IT
Iuctantly and lazily to flight, and wheeling
of Ill ,1, -, a.,