St. Landry democrat., 1888-04-21
FAWN AND EAGLES.
A Mother Does Heroic Defense of
Her Little One.

Some twelve years ago, while scout.
ing with soldiers in Central Nebrasks
near a pretty little stream called thu
Cedar, we saw over distant ridge a
huge eagle soaring in the air. As We
watched him he darted ferociously
down, and then came battling back in
the air with angry shrieks and flap.
ping wings 10 repeat the dashes again
from time to time.
'Tackling a rattlesnake, may be!''
Got gopher away from his hole, ]
guess'' Don't know how to get a
grip on a hedgehog, probably!' were
some of the many conjectures that
came from the soldiers along the line.
''Too much of racket for any such
small-fry as snakes or gophers or such
varmints. +" remarked our guide, as we
watched the eagle Perhaps it's an
elk or deer some Injuns have wound-
ed" he continued. So with this idea
as the most likely explanation, the
guide and rode over to investigate.
my thoughts bent on finding wound
ed animal, which would prove the ex-
istence of hostile Indians near by. as
at that time the Cedar Greek region
was almost unknown to white men,
the nearest settlement being sixty
miles south.
" AS We approached the spot over
which the eagle was lowering we
noticed that there were two of the
birds. one of which kept ON the ground.
and when the one in the air made an
attack the other would assist, return
ing to its place in the high grass as
the other scared upward.
II knowed it was deer they were
tackling,'' said my guide. as at trot
we assembled to the summit OF ridge
and saw fine full grown doe stand
ing at bay before the eagles. She was
80 intent on battling with her winged
enemies that she paid no attention to
our presence, although we took no
care to hide ourselves from her, and
were only two or three hundred yards
away.
''She's wounded. O. course" said
the guide. rs we halted to view the
proceedings, "for them eagles know
enough not to waste their time on a
full-grown deer that is all right, an
he smell O the blood maddens 'em."
Even the eagles did not deign to
Snotice what must have been our very
conspicuous presence, and angrily
Fruffied their feathers and prepared for
another assault. The one on the
ground came hopping along first with
arched neck and spread wings, like
fighting cock in the barn-yard, and
when within ten or fifteen feet kept
circling around, the doe facing it from
whatever quarter 1t appeared, while
the eagle in the air slowly APP
preached to within foot or two.
striking its wings and pecking at the
does head. So great was this irrita-
ton from above that the desperate
deer rose suddenly on her hlnd-feet
and struck at the bird with her fore
hoofs As she rose, the eagle on the
ground rushed rapidly toward her.
and down she came in second,
striking at it rapidly with blows from
her forefeet that could be plainly |
heard by US SO far away. / thought |
{and hoped) that she had killed it at |
first. it looked so like bundle of
rumpled feathers in front of her feet |
but It was only ''shamming. to get |
the deer to follow it up. temptation
SO great that the angered beast |
did finally make one or two
savage leaps ut it, striking
with its forefeet; but the bird escaped. |.
seemingly just by ssthe skin of his
teeth. but none the less ffectually.
a. the deer rushed forward. the eagle
Pm the air sWooped downward on the
Fpot where the animal had been stand-
6ng. and quick as flash she wheeled
fronN her short pursuit and made for
i he new assailant There was no
oubt OF her success this time.
"Goodp well donet' went up
rom both OF us, as we saw the feathers
Is and the eagle go screaming into
be air. the other hopping away to q
afe distance.
There's the whole thing In nut
hell. Lieutenant, remarked the
#uide. who had eyes like hawk,
She got little fawn with her, and |
sSem varmints are after it for all
bey' re worth. There'e the little be last
Arectly undar her--that thing that