Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-11-05
aC1omth's Column.
Dan.

Away in western Nebraska, where
the sluggish North Platte rolls its
turbid waters down through a rich
valley. with land on either hand ris-
inc until it gradually merges into
series of low sand hills, the country
is but thinly settled, and the scream
of the locomotive never disturbs the
solitude of the Great Plains. This
country, half garden and half des-
ert, is, however, full of animal life.
Here the great American eagle makes
its home, and the prairie dog and
rattlesnake live and rear their kind
in peace. The native grasses grow
ing on the sandy soil furnish graz
ing for cattle all the year round. and
SO the country is for the most part
given up to the hardy ranchmen and
the wild animals.
On a certain ranch in this region,
some years ago, party of herds
men caught young eagle, which
was unable to fly. It's mother had
been killed, so they took it home to
their cabin. and kept it confined in a
cage.
There was a boy named Charlie
| 81, +b;O ranch who entraated his faith
er to let him keep the eagle. His
father finally did so, and Charlie
took great pleasure in caring for his
new pet, naming him Dan. After 8
while Dan became so tame that the
boy no longer kept him in the cage
but had a small collar put around
one leg and fastened him by small
chain to a post.
| For long time Dan chafed anC
fretted under his confinement. aaC
refused to eat, but finally came t.
the conclusion that his captivity wa:
to be permanent, and began to make
the best of his situation. AS III
grew less uneasy under restraint, thu
. boy allowed him a longer chain, un
til finally Dan had quite an eXten
sive range in front of the cabin.
Dan soon learned to come at th
call of his name. and would eat iron
Charles hand. He would fOlloV
the boy as far as his chain woul'
permit when Charlie went anywher
and on his return Dan would b
waiting on the edge of his circula
range to welcome his master back
= He would shake hands, turn somel
saults, and perform many other CT
rious tricks. But all the time Da
+ was as solemn and grave as judge
Y He never smiled, or even made til
: attempt.
Sometimes Charlie would lie dow
in front of the cabin and pretend
be asleep, and Dan would come ov'
very cautiously and pull Charlie
watch from his vest pocket; an
r when the boy jumped up and sal
"Give it up, you thief p Dan wou
stand on one leg, and hold out tt
watch in one claw, hanging dow
his head and looking very guilty.
One summer day Charlie had be-
running about all the morning al
o was very tired. All the men h;
Il gone away from the ranch, al
e Charlie was left alone with Dan. 1
did not mind this, however, for
= very solitude made him safe; and
20 he knew there were no wild anlmf
near, he lay down in the warm su
IS, light in front of the cabin and W
" soon fast asleep. Dan came up a
Id stole his watch; but Charlie did 4
say, ''Give it up, you thief !" viii
ng somewhat surprised the bird.
Of he played with it for a while, [
nd finally becoming tired of the sp'
is- replaced il in Charities pocket a
b. lay down near him.
n Very soon Dan became interest
in long, black object that crawl
. along slowly through the tufts
prairie grass in the direction OF
les les sleeping boy. In moment his
tive instinct for fighting with SIN
on animals was aroused, and Dan ma
ng a rush for the intruder. A warnll
out ominous rattle halted him but for
ion instant, then he struck at the S
or pent with both of his claws. /
Co. rattlesnake coiled itself ready
strike; but Dan, with harsh shri
in was upon him. The noise awaken
Charlie, who recognized the dams
and sprang outside of the circle.
STA. 1t was desperate encounter. ]
led snake coiled itself around Da
can body, and strove to strike him W
its powerful fangs; but Dan elu(
ass these attempts, and Selling the sn;
lap, in his powerful talons, tore it W
his strong beak, and IN a few
ments the snake was writhing in
you =,
the ony at Dams feet, when few biz
sue
CHS, from Charlie dispatched him.
and >.
al And Dan? Alas the light Oh
i at
had proven too much of an enc'
mat brance the poor eagle had b
The bitten in the fray, and despite Cl
bout 1.E lies efforts to save the bird by b;
PIES. ing it in alcohol, poor Dan d
feet, When the men returned at nis
S-22
Gala they found the trio in lfront of
cabin. The dead rattlesnake lay
we're the ground, while Charlie was 81
sdies ding unavailing tears over the b
com of the eagle.
enrv Charlie has grown to manh
flee now opd on1v DOES To NabraSk "A