The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-04

ing the old man was losing his mind. In
the evening accompanied the doctor down
made in the wonderful experiment.. I
found he had all the birds save one tsthered
70 wire at intervals OF about two hundred
feet along tho bank. Each bird was fur
nished with hundred foot wire and swan
and dove in the river almost az he pleased,
ry. Just out of reach of the bird was
placed small basin containinga dozen or
more little 6sh, and close at hand were a
number of small red and green glass
beads. A tiRht-fitting leather collar was
placed about the birds neck % that it was
lust able to breath comfortably, but was
not able to swallow. Tho doctor Was en-
deavoring to train the bird to pick up the
beads one by one and place them in his
hand. thought it was about the fool
ishest piece Of business ever saw. He
kept this up for several weeks. At the end
Of this time the bird was so we'll trained
that it would pick up all the beads one by
doctor on sign from him, as a reward for
which clever feat he would give it two or
three OF the fish, having first removed the
collar from its neck. 1t is needless to say
that the fish were swallowed voraciously.
IN the course Of two months he had all the
call and feed out Of his hand Of small fish
that he was able to catch by means Of dip
net.
became greatly interested in witnessing
the exercise OF the peculiar power. the
Ever t these strange birds
doctor and his companions s:were getting
along, and observed a new feature that
had not noticed before. The well-trRided
bird that had been made to pick uP glass
beads at the will Of it's master was now
diving. in the middle of the river
bas snS Sas sy one sn sSrs 81.
doctor was carefully slowing away in a
leather bag. On seeing me he endeavored
to hide them. But it was too late. I de-
manded to know what they were, when the
doctor, after good deal of stammering and
hesitation, said they were precious stones;
secured enough for both.
AT this, you may be sure, was greatly
pleased, and asked the doctors pardon fof
my unjust suspicious. We kept the poor
bird hard at work until we had secured q
quart each of as fine a lot of emeralds,
r rubies and sapphilrSes as ever came from the
Oriental world. This We concluded was
enough to make us both rich, and was
ready to start for California ON short no
tice. But the old man seemed to be always
with his birds.
One day he asked me to 90 to town and
get him roll of fine silk, as he was afraid
to leave the birds. i readily complied with
his request, suppoaing that he had some ex-
pertinent on hand. On returning to the
river next dav he was anxiously awaiting
my arrival, and seized the bundle OF silk in
eager haste. From his wallet he took fine
cambria needle and spool of silk thread
and began to sew on the silk cloth indus
tl1ously. saw that he was making small
mr. 1NVt GnN -
two weeks he had it finished, netting.
basket and all. 1t was the neatest thing
ever saw. Then he began making sort of
silk harness and fitting them carefully on
the looms. Having at last completed all his
arrangements, he told me he had new ex-
assistance. I told him he was entirely wei
come to any service it was in my power to
bestow. helped him carry the balloon
down to where the looms were kept; when.
calling them up each by name, he adjusted
their harness and attached traces of wire to
the network of the balloon.
I concluded the old man was now reallv
crazy. What did he propose to do2 Har-
ness birds and fly through the air? Il
looked like it. He asked me to hold the
balloon while he inflated it. He took from
his pocket two peculiar looking Walls of
liquid; one red and the other blue. These
he said, are distilled rubies and emeraids,
and their admixture produces the most ex.
pansive gas known to science. A few drops
are only required to fill this ballon and
make it soar like a bird.' With that he
poured q few drops of each into the neck of
the balloon. Almost Immediately the silk
filed out and rose from the ground. held
on until he got into the basket, and then he
yelled: Let her co. and gave q peculiar
screech like a frightened loon at night. In
stantly the divers rose from the water. the
balloon shot high in air and the whole pro-
cession moved across the mountains and
was soon lost to view in the dim distance.
That is the last ever saw of my curioua
friend, the doctor.''