Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-12-01
THE "DUCK HAT"

HE DOOh Hail.
Dick Smiths home was in the West,
and as the incident am about to relate
happened good many years ago, he
must have been then only thirteen or
fourteen years old. He was a brave,
hearty lad, full of enthusiasm and love
of adventure, but especially Astounding
with ingenuity, and always doing some
thing new and curious. Thus he has
been known all his life as an Inventor"
and still shows the same quality.
He lived on the bank of river, and
being fond of the water, became an ex-
pert swimmer and oarsman. Although
and many original devices he caught
considerable game. some for its fur, and
some for its meat. 1t is about one of
his boyish inventions that l am going to
tell you.
At certain seasons of the year great
fiocks of ducks came into the river, and
staid many days eating the Indian rice
(Zizanio aquatica) that grew in the
shallow water But as Dicks father
had no shotgun or any convenient way
of capturing them, the ducks came and
went unmolcsted.
AT length ingenious Dick set to work
to contrive some method of catching
them. He obtained a section of thin
bark from some tree, and arranged so
that it would just slip over his head and
rest on his shoulders, like the crown of
large Old-fashioned hat, the top of if
reaching several inches above his scalp.
In this he cut holes for his eyes and
mouth, so that he could see and
breathe. He also fastened leaves and
vines on the top and around it to partly
conceal it.
When this was done. he put it on and
started for the ducks. Reaching a
thicket on the rivers brink near the
game, he laid aside his clothes and took
to the water. He had often been in the
river where the rice grew. and knew
just what difficulties he would have to
overcome in swimming and wading.
Out he went, and as he came near the
ducks he moved very slowly and eau
tously so as not to alarm them.
Pretty soon he was in the midst of an
immense flock. and although they were
extremely wary and quite suspicio us
OF the vine-covered bark. yet within a
short time he succeeded in grasping
quite a number by the legs, and Jerk
ing them under the water When he
had secured all he could fairly man.
age, he quietly made his way home
His catch proved most delicious eating,
and was very acceptable to the family,
as it came at a time in the year when no
other meat was generally available
Frequently while the wild rice lasted
did he repeat the operation, bringing
home the latest specimens that came
| to the river.
But one day rs he sat beneath the
bushes on the edge of the water about a
quarter of mile from home. examin-
ing some ducks just caught, his little
dog by his side. suddenly a huge pan
Their bounced down from the high bank
above, and rushed for the dog. Away
went the dog for dear life, and the pam
Their after him. But Dick knew well
enough that the dog, which was very
fleet, would escape. and that the great
cat would soon give up the race and
come back for himself But the lad had
no notion of atfording the panther boy
for dinner; and so. perfectly cool and
brave, set to thinking how to esca pc.
II he should run away, the animal
would follow his track and soon over
! eohO hiA1s III uC COulu nOt cuudl Tile uOy
in speed; if he should climb a tree, the
creature could excel him in climbing; if
! he should wade or swim into the river
and the panther should see him, she
might follow and get him there. But
Dick was not to be caught so easily;
what worked SO well in deceiving ducks
might do even better with the panther.
And so. instantly slipping on his ..duck
hat" as he called it, he waded rapidly
into the water few rods, and settled
down so that he could just breathe and
see, and turning around, watched the
shore. Hardly had he reached this po-
sition when the panther bounced down
as before from the high bank and be-
gan smelling and looking for the boy.
ailing to detect his whereabouts, she
paved over the ducks Dick had left;
and since she could not have dog or boy
for dinner, she decided to take duck.
Dick felt quite certain that when his
dog reached home in fright and excite
ment the attention of the family would
be attracted, and his father would