St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-05-31
AN OLD MARTlNE1..


II
Amusing Description or the Military Drill
Of Crows.
Night after night watched the crows.
| ontil at last it became certain that tho
crow. with the stentorian lungs, was in
absolute command and had his forces
| we'll under control. After about week
moro Of training, they began to show
undc:bted signs Of excellent discipline.
AT the command of the leader, . flock
OF dozen or more took wing and de-
scribed q much larger circle than ever
before. Until they were about two hun
dred feet from the rest, comparative
silence reigned among the remaining
host; but then. suddenly, came several
loud. sharp tones from the leader, and
about as many more left the trees.
This time the new division sepa-
rated into two equal bodies, and few
OIL at right angles for q short distance.
Then. In response to another cav, they
turned in the same direction as the ad.
vance-guard, who were now some dis
tance away. After few moments had
elapsed, the word of command was again
given. and all the crows arose in body
and followed the lead Of tho advance
guard. the old chieftain being well to
the front; but noticed that he did not
fy SO fast as the main body. and they
gradually passed him. ..Now,"
thought ''he may be the crow with the
most acute brain, but he certainly lacks
the strength of wing TO keep to the
froat, for by this time he was among
the stragglers bringing up the rear. But
before long the air again resOunded with
the hOarse Cav! Caw!" and immedi.
ately the apparently abandoned trees
sent forth very creditable rear-guard.
These last crows rose and scattered
themselves into open skirmishing order.
Then the General at once proved to
me had been very foolish in drawing
hasty conclusions concerning his wing
power. for he at once forged ahead,
plowing his way rapidly, until he
reached the main body and took lead
ing posi- tiOn. by this time the advance
guard had completed their circle and
were fiuttering round in smaller circles
preparatory to alighting upon their old
perches; but the vigilant eye of their
leader detected this attempt, and q cav
Of command sent them forth to duty
again. The old fellow WAS perfect old
martinez SO far as drill was concerned.
Up to this time he had taken things
somewhat easily, as it had been only
company drill; but now it was the all.
important battalion drill, and tn crefore
there was no shirking allowed.
The word to halt was soon given, how.
over. and each detachment, perched up
on its camping trees, awaited orders.
AS IL it was perfectly understood that
after drill they were to ''roost at ease"
a terrible cawing commenced. Itseemed |
that each crow meant to let them all |
understand that he was the best-drilled !
bird in the brigade. te-i-
The following evening, when the regi. |
ment received the order to march, there |
was no sign Of their halting in their |
flight; but, after scurrying around tho |
circle once or twice, at sign from tho |
leader some Of them left the main body |
and few ahead till they reached the ad- |
and the right and left
wings of scouts took their places. The
birds then on duty slackened their |
= y ~ ouu 6AouuoAiy IcyOlu0V tuc main 4
body. The same thing was repeated by
the rear guard. 1t became evident that
the General not only intended to guard
his army, but also had arranged to re-
lieve those who were sent out upon this
special duty. In fact. no human Gen.
sral could have thought out all proba-
BILE contingencies and prepared for them
better than did this ''0ld black crow"
Next morning, after waiting for some
lime. the voice of the General sounded
'orth the order to march. The advance
,uard at once arose with their usual
Ca~e" and then in silence started due
'outh. flying on a harizontal plane
'nly . few feet higher than the trees
hey had left At the word. the other
guards few out as right and left wings,
nut maintaining the same height in the
.ir as the piOneers-in fact, all appeared
IS if moving along an invisible railroad
rack. AS soon as the advance parties
rad taken their posts, the General gave
he signal starting the main army in
notion. s - u-t-
Before long they became a gray cloud
n the distance, and then melted out Of
light in the glowing Southern sky
agnes Fraser Sandman, in St Nicholas.