The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-09-10
I'll strll lnu y .
From Adventures of Gerard the Lion Kill
er," Published by Derby g. Jackson,
New York.
The Falconer's Story.

Inc fdlCOQGr STORY.
TRAGIcAL RESULT OF HUNTERS JOKE.
In the year A giers fell into the hands
of the Christians my Cousin Lakdar and
myself conceived the idea of playing n
joke on one of our neiebbors n Sheik of
the Ouled Bou Ghancm tribe, who
though a man of no account at all. at.
tempted to raise aud hunt with falcons.
TO accomplish our purpose, we took two
young eagles which we found in their
nests, and taught them to hunt the Mas
(young falcons) which our shepherds
found in the rocks and brought us every
day. We judged our birds sufficiently
instructed and well accustomed to the
noise of man and horses, we sent safe
friend to enquire among the servants of
the Shcik when and where his next hawk.
ing was to take place.
Having learned the appointed SPOT
and day, Lakdar and / set out before
dayhreak, driving an ass before us with
our hooded eagles aud some falcons. in
case of need. Our destination was Oued.
Mellcgh where we heard the Sheik was
coming with great party to hunt the
bustard that abonnded on the plains
thereabouts.
The Sheik and his companions did not
arrive for long time after we had
reached the Oucd Mellegh, aud as the
tamarinds OH the borders Of the brook
gave us good hiding place, we saw the
larties arrive without any danger, and
as they deploye1 on the open plain. we
regulated our advance by that of tho
hunters. Soon a fuck &c bustards arose
before the borscnen who were heating
the plain four falcons were successivcly
cast off aud large bustard wa, instant
ly singled OUT and pursued by the hawks
with sharp cries and orrowy speed Our
eagles, freed from the hoods, were not
long in perceiyina the combat, and when
their eyes were once Oh the scene we cast
them off and they took their fight. first
SLOW y aud in IA direct line, then faster
and approaching nearer aud nearer the
busIard aud his pursuers, as they all
gradually y mounted III air. After having
fastened our ass to n tamarind, We fol-
lowed up the course of the brook, in or
der to have a better view of the combat.
But fast as was their fight, there were
faster foes on the track, and our two
eagles, tanning tho thin dir with their
great wings, climbed up above them and
soon we could not distinguish Que from
the other, aud only saw the group like
dark speck on the summer sky. The
Shiek and his horscmcn were assembled
in the plain, their eyes fixed on the sky,
watching the issue Of the aerial struggle.
Suddenly we thought we heard dis
tant piercing and repeated cries soon
after we saw black body increasing in
size and proportion as it desoouded to
the earth sometimes struggling and
sometimes falling vertically towards the
lower regions. We were able to recog.
nize our brave eagles, with expanded
wings allowing themselves to be dragged
dcwnwNrd by the weight of the bustard
who with hanging feet and broken wings,
fell lifeless to the ground we looked
in vain for the Sheik's falcons, they had
fed forever. Our attention was now
centred on the group Of horscnen.
At the moment the bustard and eagles
fell hurling through the air, into the
middle of the large circle formed by tho
Sheik and his men, loud cry of treason
was heard from the band we now remem.
bercd that in the haste in which our
birds had been let loose, the iesses had
fastened to the legs OF one of
them. Several men OIL foot had laid
their burnous iD such way as to take
the eagles without being wounded by
them. and thus they had discovered the
trick that had been played them
We sought in terror some remedy for
our thoughtlessness. There was moth.
ing left hut TO ny, which we did as fast
as our legs could carry us, without think
ing of our ass, who however, was destin.
ed to save my life in that days frolio.
For about an hour we ran following tho
course Of the brook and sheltered by the
lrees along tho sides, when we perceived