The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-05-12
Tell Inc not of the sladiators af martial


pared with the thrilling excitement of the
Condor Hunt. Away they fed, away we
hurried in the chase. 4 thousand horse-
men were wheeling rapidly in the pursuit.
thousand cattle, terrified and franic swept
over The plain-a thousand Condors ming>
led in the crowd. until, by the rapid move-
ment, herd and Condor were again hidden
from the view in clouds of dust A lond
shout soon after attracted us 10 the scene
of conflict. Bursting forth once ngair from
the cloud of dust into which lie had ya:ny
rushed, the devoted animal plunged madly
forward, yet more closely followed by the
whole fiell Of vuliures. Black with dust
wounds inflicted by the remorselcss bcaks Of
his relentless pursuers, he still fled onward,
but with diminished skeed. As if looking 10
man for assistance in his extremity. he rush
ed through the midst of our cavnlcade, and
the Condor, regardless of our presence, hung
upon his side or followed in his footprints.
From the altered movements of The ami
nal after he had passed us, with his head on
high, plunring and laundering over the un>
even ground, il was evident that his course
was no longer directed by sight. His eyes
we're gone-tbey had been torn from their
bleeding sockets
Wearied and painting, his tongue hangs
from his month, and every thirsty beak is
upon it. Still onward lie flies, hopeful Of
escape and onward presses the Condor,
secure Of his prey, The animal now ap>
peared to be dashing for the water, but his
declining speed and unequal step rendered
seemed suddenly 10 despair Of doing So, for
Wheeling around with one last and desper-
ate effort, he gathered himself up in the fui-
ness of his remaining strength, and rushed
into the midst of the herd, as if lie sought
by mingling in the living mass, TO divert the
attention of his pursuers. But the mark
and the scent of blood was upon him, and
on the track of blood the Condor is uniir-
ing and relentless. Beast and bird were
once again lost TO view benealh the curtain
Of dust which ovetspread the trembling plain
But, in a few moments, pursued by every
bird he broke from the midst of the herd,
and made few desperate plungcs toward
the water,and reelingi fell at length,
bleeding and exhausted, on the margin Of
the sea
" Sternitur exanimisque trcmens procumbit
humis bos."
In an instant he was hurled up among his
pursuers, and his flesh torn Off vet quver,
ing, by hungry beaks. In the distance, on
The verge Of The horizon, the last Of the
herd might sill be seen, flying upon the
wings OF the wind from the fate of theii
companion.
Our host gave the signal, and we hurried
to the spot TO rescue the carcass, with II
view to visit upon the Condor vengeance
for the mischief he had done and the blood
he had spilled. AT our near approach they
took reluctantly and lazily 10 wing, and
wheeling in oblque circles, they were soon
seen floating over he crest Of the mountain,
dark specks in the armament. The hunters,
prepared with stakes abou. seven feet in
length, comm enced driving them in the
ground, few inches apart, and in circular
form around the carcass, leaving small
space open. AS soon as we retired, the
birds descended upor the plain, and en-
terlng The incIosure, renewed their feast
and again took TO wing. In the course of a
few hours, the huntsmen returned, and
throwing into the pen an additional, supply
of fcod, drove down other stakes in the open
space, leaving just sufficient room for the ad-
mission OF the Condor.
The birds, more numero than ever, re-
turned to their filthy banquet.
Meanwhile, having refreshed our horses,
and parIaken of the Hospitality of our wor>
Thy host, we once more took the field for
venGeancr on the gorged aud lazy foe. As
the wings of iis bird have a sweep Of sew
enteen feet, they are not readily unfurled,
so that when the Condor has alighied on the
plain, he is only enabled 10 rise by running
over a space of fifteen or twenty rods, and
gradually gathering wind c lift himself en-
high. While in the midst of their rayeuous
feast, a few Of the hunters warily approach
ed and closed tho opening and thus una
ble to soar aloft from spot so confined and
crowded, the Condors are captive. But
Chillan scorns thus 10 slay foe. Armed
with asso, each OF the natives sits upon
his horse, eagerly nv ailing the turning loose
of half dozen birds from the inclosufe.
They are out-and away scampers The
Condor, feet as the winds OF heaven--and
away, in rapid pursuit wheels the mounted
ChlIan, swinging around his head the moose
OF The unerrng lasso, which, falling upon
the neck Of the bird, makes him captive
The line is played out, and away sweeps
The powerful bird, and away the praciised
horseman after him. Sprnging upward.
the Condor now unfolds his wings and nut-
ters in such width of circle as the rope will
permiI-and now shoots perpendicularly up
ward-and now falls headlone, and is .railed
exhausted upon the ground
The heightened shadows of evening had
fallen along the plain before the sport was
up, and the last Condor was captured. We
returned to our ship, well pleased with the
entertainment, and swinging into our ham
mocks, sunk irto deep slumber, for which