The Opelousas courier., 1886-02-13

4 Wllu-CalS dHu puHI"o' f
streaked with savannas a hundred yards
wide and miles in extent. Deer becom-
ing scarce in my vicinity l set a savanna
on fire one morning while or a turkey
hunt. After the burning of the dead
grass the new crop would serve to bait
the deer within a fortnight. At sunset
was miles away from camp, At dusk L
saw several gobblers fly into a grove OF
tall expresses, and marked them, with
the intention of returning in the morn
ing at daylight and shooting them from
the trees. The Redeemed sky gave me
bearings on my way back to camp.
After wading for ten minutes through
mud and water, listening to the doleful
music of a death owl, | emerged upon
the burning wanna. The sky was
overcast. It was as dark as Erebus. A
brisk south wind was driving the fire
northward. The flames were leaplng
over the tall, dry grass, and tingipg the
clouds and the tops of the expresses an
orange hue.
Suddenly l saw in the lurid light far
above me four great Blue Herons. They
were in line, tapping their wings with
the precision of machinery. Instinctively
l drew my gun to my shoulder. On in
spiration I discharged it, for the ''sight"
was invisible. The second barrel did
good work. The third heron in the line
stopped, fell ten feet, and came swooping
toward the ground in great circles. | saw
that the bird would drop some distance
away, snd ran forward to mark the spot.
But the burnt part of the savanna, despite
the lurid light from the rolling wave of
fire in the south, was as black as the
BELIEVING darkness of the clouds. ] heard
the bird strike the earth with a thud, but
did not see where it fell. The black
ashes of the burnt grass were ankle deep.
| searched for the prize, but did not find
it.
was perplexed. Suddenly a feathery
form arose from the ashes ten feet away.
It seemed to hover above me. 1t was the
heron. It had elevated the white plume
on its head as an angry cockatoo draws
forward its topknot. The plume alone
could be distinctly seen in the darkness.
With a blood-curdling scream the tall
bird darted for me. knew the danger.
On the spur of the moment I turned and
ran toward the blazing savanna. The
bird gave chase, screaming frightfully at
every jump. I OWNED the situation, It's
wing was broken, and it was thoroughly
infuriated. If it struck me in the rear
with its shar'and powerful beak 1 fam
1sied that its head would go through me.
In my haste to secure my prey l had ne
elected to withdraw the empty shells
from the fowling-piece. 1t would not do
to stand the chance of a fight by using
the gun as a club, for it was SO dark that
/ could not guage the birds distance.
Besides the bird would be facing the light,
and ! would be facing the darkness. I
continued my retreat l ran as though the
evil one was after me. In my flight I
threw open the barrels of my gun, and
drew out the empty shells. In mad
haste I reloaded and relocked the barrels,
still running at the top of my speed.
Then I stopped, wheeled about and
banged away with both barrels. The
| bird shrieked worse than ever and was
untouched.
Again | sped toward the burning grass.
l had regained my composure, however.
Fear gave way to mirth. l laughed out
right at the absurdity of the situation,
blessing my stars that 10 friends were
near to chaf me. Again l reloaded the
gun, turned and fired. | was ON the verge
of the blazing canes, and had a fair view
of my pursuer. At the second shot the
heron fell, and the impetus from its speed
was SO great that it came against me, legs,
wings, neck and beak, in a limp lump. 1
had shot it through the neck. It's head
was attached by the skin of the neck
alone.
Icarried the prize to camp. It's plumage
was the perfection of feathery beauty.
Old Conner, my guide, was awaiting my
return with a supper of roasted venison
and yams. The bird was so tall that Con-
ner fastened its beak to the back of nv
coat-collar, drew the neck over my head,
and the feet touched the ground. He after
ward severed the head from the neck.
and hurled it across the fire at the trunk
of the palmetto-Ihave seen performers at
a circus handle a knifein a similar way
the sharp beak entered the tree, and stood
quivering there like a heavy-handled
bodkin; and for all that / know it re-
mains there to this day.-Amos'J Cum
mings in the Cook.
fosezss po,.s.Ao