The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11

''Listenw suddenly exclaimed James
"Wasn't that the old gobbler?"
81 heard something" replied George,
resting his gun on the ground; "but
don't know what it was"
'There it goes again." whispered
James.
SIT must be turkey. Blow on your
fiddle"
A horrible grating noise soon echoed
in the forest, silencing the song of the
birds around. 1t had the harsh, waver-
| ing and unevenly modulated gobble of
the wild turkey. The two young hunt
ers crouched down behind clump OF
palmettoes as James made the noise.
In a short time there was a responsive
gobble from a distant part of the hon.
mock.
1.-THE old gobbler is getting mad"
whispered George. HE thinks another
gobbler is trying to call his flock away
from him."
James kept up the nois., answering
the old gobbler in defiant outbursts.
The old male bird was apparently draw
ing nearer, for his gobble sounded plain
er and louder every minute.
In short time there was a cracking
of sticks and dead leaves, and then out
of an adjacent clump of palmettoes the
red head of the big turkey gobbler sud
denly appeared. Half dozen turkeys
were with him.
"Now fire." whispered James, sudden
ly ceasing his din with the fiddle.
George raised the old fowling-piece to
his shoulder, took quick al IN and fired.
The old gobbler gave a sudden spring
and uttered loud shrek, and then dis
appeared in the bushes.
Without waiting to see the result of
his first shot, George aimed the second
barrel at the flock of astonished tur-
keys. Then, dropping his piece, he
started on run after his game.
One turkey was killed outright, and
another one wounded. James seized
this one, while George started in hot
pursuit after the old gobbler, which was
also severely wounded.
The gobbler, however, was not to be
aaught so easily. Although wounded in
the wing and side, the big bird could
get through the bushes about as fast as
the boys.
1t was evidently going to be long
chase; but the boys were so excited they
did not mind that. They were bound
to have that old turkey.
Suddenly the gobbler broke through
the dense glades and ran out on strip
of land that projected thirty or forty
feet out into deep lagoon. The old
bird seemed to be cornered then.
But, no; with a sudden spring and
heavy flutter of the wings, he managed
to get across the water to a small island
of cypress trees about forty feet distant
''Oh, dear, he's got away from usw
shouted George.
"Look, lookv' screamed James, in his
excitement; "a 'gator!''
Sure enough, big alligator had been
summing itself near the island, and as
the island it's wicked eyes winked and
blinked knowingly.
The wounded bird was unconscious of
the presence of another living creature
on it's island of refuge.
The alligator was close to the turkey,
and after raising its head stealthily, it
took a sudden dive toward it and seized
the gobbler in its huge jaws.
The boys felt about as bad as the COB
bier did as the big "gator" quietly
made meal off their gaze.
eff we only had the gun here I'd have
that rascals hide!" ruefGlly exclaimed
George. my! but isn't he big fellow?
1 don't want him to get hold of me-"
"But what's that noise behind us?'' sud-
denly inquired James, looking fearfuNy
around.
ga RATHER! rattler!" the two ex-
claimed almost in breath.
In following the turkey the boys had
disturbed a big rattlesnake from it's
sleep, but they were so intent on pursu-
ing their game that they had not heard
the eminous rattle.
The snake was now coiled up about
thirty feet away, swinging his head
from side to side in threatening man.
ner.
"Isn't he whopper?" said George,
fearfully. And he's right in our path,
too. We can't get back to the main
land without running across him."
"We can't swim around him, either,
for there's that big gator" whispered
James. ''What'll we do, any how?"
Indeed, that was a serious question
with the boys now. They were actually
penned in by rattlesnake on one side
and big alligator on the other
Neither reptile would attack them if
they remained quiet, bnt that meant
that they had to stay there until either
the snake or the alligator got tired of re-
naming in one spot.
1t was a queer and dangerous trap
into which they had got caught. The
neck OF land on which they stood was
narrow, low and damp, and the bows
could not sit down and rest themselves.
The RATHER remained in it's defiant DO
sition, watching the two lads sharply.
The alligator, after eating the turkey.
quietly closed its eyes and apparently
went to sleep.
MAY be we can escape this way and
the old fellow won't bother u.s." said
James.
He stepped into the water, but his
foot had no sooner touched bottom than
the huge "'gator" opened its eyes and
made motion to enter the water, too.
at won't do, James-it won't do.
He'll snap you up in no time.'
It was evident that the boys could not
escape by the water side, and then they
turned their attention to the snake.
They looked around for some big
chunk of wood to throw at the reptile,
but there wasn't piece large enough
near them.
well have to wait until he gets
ready togo, that's ALL" said James, de-
cidedly. ssIt won't do to m.l,o him