Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-04-24

~ 80 - 'H'e'
in the undistinguishable foliage, and took
it for a dead bird. As l stopped to pick
it up my check was pierced as though re-
%ccivinc a thrust from a ~stilctto. Thlsad-
venture made me extremely cautious
while hunting herons and finally led to
a laughable scene.
In the spring Of 1875 I was encamped
in the heart of Turnbull Swamp, about
eight miles from the head Of Indian
River. The weather was very dry, and
there was much less water in the swamp
than usual. l was hunting %paroquets,
wild turkeys, wood ducks, deer, bears,
wildcats and pumas. The swamp IS
streaked with savannas a hundred yards
wide and miles in extent. Deer becon-
ing scarce in my vicinity I set a savanna
on fire one morning while on a turkey
hunt. After the burning of the dead
grass the new crop would serve to bait
the deer within a fortnight. At sunset L
was miles away from camp. At dusk [
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 Inc
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, l emerged upon
the burning savanna. The sky was
overcast. 1t was as dark as Ercbus. A
brisk south wind was driving the fire
northward. The flames were lcaping
over the tall, dry grass, and tinging 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 l 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
bellying 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.
l searched for the prize, but did not find
it.
I was p%erplexed. Suddenly a feathery
form arose from the ashes ten feet away
1t seemed to hover above me. 1t was the
heron. 1t had elevated the white plume
on It's head as an angry cOckatoo draws
forward its topknot. The plume alone
could be distinctly seen'in the darkness.
With a b~lood-curdling scream the tall
bird darted for me-. knew the danger.
On the spur of the moment | turned and
ran toward the blazing avanna. The
bird gave chase, screaming frightfully at
every jump. OWNED the situation. Its
wing was broken, and it was thoroughly
Infatuated. If it struck me in the rear
with its sharp and powerful beak fam
cied that its head would 60 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
l could not guage the birds distance.
Besides the bird would be facing the light,
and I would be facing the darkness.
continued my retreat; l ran as though the
evil one was after me. In my flight
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 l stopped, wheeled about anc
banged away with both barrels. Tn,
Dlru Smoked worse Luan ever ana wa
untouched.
Again l sped toward the burning grass
had regained my composure, however
! Fear gave way to mirth. laughed out
right at the absurdity of the situation
blessing my stars that no friends wer
/ near to chaff me. Again l reloaded tn,
gun, turned and fired. was on the vcrg
of the blazing canes, and had a fair vie,
of my pursuer. At the second shot tn
heron fell, and the impetus from its spec,
was so great that it came against me. leg,
wings, neck and beak, in a limp lump.
e had shot it through the neck. Its hea
n was attached by the skin of the nee
a alone.
y 1carried the prize to camp. Its pluma2
was the perfection of featherv bcaut,
Old Conner, my guide. was awaiting II