Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-19
OUTWITTED BY A TEAL.
A Wounded Duck Proves Too Much
Three Large Eagles

A Wounded Duck Proves Too Much fo1
Three Large Eagles.
A Memphis sportsman told the following
Interesting story to a reporter Of the Mem
PMS Appeal. From my blind IN the VIII
lows heard the Whiz of a ducks wings to
my left. turned hastily, and at the same
time threw my gun to ready 1t was
cross-fyer, "green-wing ed' teal, going like
he was sent for the doctor. [ fred imme-
diately and swing tipped" him. The speed
with which he was going landed him far be-
yond the reach of my second barrel AS
soon as he struck the water he began to
swim towards the middle Of the lake. In
less than two minutes / heard the scream
of an eagle. Turning my eyes toward the
sound / saw at great altitude above the
timber, an immense bald eagle.
NOW you'll see fun" remarked the
native with me; ''but he'll never catch
him. he concluded, as he took an extra pull
On his strong old pipe.
By this time the eagle had begun to circle
over the wounded duck. Nearer and
nearer he drew towards the scared bird as
he diminished the circle at every flight.
The duck, with his sharp eyes fixed on
the eagle swan round and round, just as
his adversary few. When about fifty
yards above his prey the great bird uttered
a scream, as if to put the terrified duck on
his guard, and made dart, with his talons
outstretched, directly at him. On came the
eagle with the speed Of an arrow, and ex
pected TO see the wounded duck borne
away by the 'klng of birds" without any
chance for his life what ever.
''See him divep' cried the native, as the
duck went out OF sight beneath the placid
waters. The eagle, realizing the fact that
he had missed his prey. shot upward in the
air to make another onslaught AS he did
so he again uttered a scream.
"Dar, man; he has yelled for his mate,
an de two of 'em will do up dat little duck
if he don't git out of dat open water and
hide in the grass" remarked the negro
paddler.
Scarcely had the sound of the eagles call
died away when saw it's mate flying swift
u towards the battle ground. l imagined I
could see feathers on the wounded duck
rise as these two immense birds circled
above it. After preliminary understand
ing between them eagle No. made another
dive at the duck, while eagle No. Q circled
close enough to the water to catch the duck
as soon asst showed Its head after its first
dive from No. /. 1 saw the play and
watched the fight for life of the little duck
with intense interest and wished that they
would pass near enough to me to be placed
Passe de combat by a load from my gun.
al ooki lookl he maxim for de cover"
cried the negro, as the duck showed itself
fully one hundred yards nearer the grass.
Down went eagle No 2 and down went the
duck under the water, as l scored the fifth
clean mics for the hungry birds.
As the maddened eagle rose to give its
mate another chance it also uttered a pierc.
ing scream, which, as if by magic, brought
forth another one OF its kind
"Dar, now, if dem fire great big birds
Sc 'gwine to fight one little duck, den I'm
sinner,' again spoke the negro And
50 they did, taking turn about as be-
fore, but with no better success, as every
dive the duck would make brought him
closer to the grass.
Once under cover, they gave up the fight
and the wounded bird was spared until the
shades of night, when he would have to do
battle for his life with coons, mink and
other providing varmints that nightly patrol
the marsh and feeding grounds by which
Wapanoce lake is surrounded.