Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-04

0uTWITTEO BY A TEAL.
A Wounded Duck Proves Too Much Tor
Three Large Eagles.

4 Wounded Duck Proves Too Much Tor
Three Large Eagles.
A Memphis sportsman told the following
interesting story to reporter OF The Appeal:
From my blind in the willows heard the
whiz OF a ducks wings tony left l turned
hastily, and at the same time threw my gun
to ready. 1t was cross-fyer, green
winged" teal, going like he YVES sent for the
doctor. l fired Immediately and "wing-
tipped him. The speed with which he was
going landed him far beyond the reach OF
my second barrel As soon as be struck the
water be began to swim toward the middle
of the lake. In less than two minutes
heard the scream of an eagle. Turning my
eyes toward the sound l saw, at great alti-
tude above the timber, an immense bald
eagle.
'Now you'll see fun" remarked the native
with me; but he'll never catch him." be con-
cluded, 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 toward the scared bird as he diuin-
ished the circle at every flight.
The duck, with his sharp eyes fixed on the
eagle, swan round and round, just as his adj
versary 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 a dart, with MS talons outStretcked,
directly at him On came the eagle with the
speed of an arrow, and expected to see the
wounded duck borne away by the liking of
birds" without any chance for his life what
ever.
.'See him diver 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 scream.
''Dar, man; he has yelled for his mate. an
de two of 'em will do up dat little duck if be
don't git out of dat open water and hide in de
grass" remarked the negro paddier.
Scarcely had the sound of the eagles call
died away when | saw its mate flying
swiftly toward the battle ground. imagined
l could see feathers on the wounded duck rise
as these two immense birds circled above 1t.
After preliminary understanding between
them eagle No made another dive at the
duck, while eagle No. 9 circled close enough
to the water to catch the duck as soon as it
showed its head after its first dive from No.
l. | 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 load
from my gun.
'.Looiil lookl he maxim for de cover"
cried the negro, as the duck showed itself
fully 100 yards nearer tire grass Down went
eagle No and down went the duck under
the water, as | scored the fifth clean miss for
the hungry birds
AS the maddened eagle rose to give its
mate another chance it also uttered a pierre
ing scream, which, as if by magic, brought
forth another one of its kind
Oar, now, if dem fire great big birds amt
'gwine to fight dat one little duck, den I'm a
sinner" again spoke the negro. And SO they
did, taking turn about as before but with
no better success, as every dive the duel.
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 prowling varmints that nightly patrol
the marsh and feeding grounds by which
Wapanoce lake is surrounded. So intent
was | on watching the fight that / missed
several good shots while the battle went on,
and ended my days sport few minutes
later by stepping oil my blind into the lake.
OF course | Immediately returned to the
club house for repairs and a little bracing
up.-Memphis Appeal