Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-07-10

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and secure it. The condor is so strong
that the full strength OF a man is
sometimes required to successfully
perform the work of the hunter under
| the hide.
For boy, and a mite like Alboso,
the deed seemed impossible.
Full of glee, he stole back into the
hut and, unperceived, possessed him
self of his fathers bolas and good
rope. Then he took the calf-skin
| from its pegs OH the side of the hut
and turned toward the mountain.
! The load was all he wanted 10 drag,
but the gold medal seemed to dance
before his eyes.
Not far from the hut lay little
strip OF scanty pasturage, but it was
now untenauted, for the family, never
rich, had sacrificed its last sheep some
time before. The pasture lay at the
foot of the mountain, and here almost
| directly beneath the condor on the
spur far overhead, willy Alboso spread
his lure He had brought with him
several bits of meat which he made
| fast to his hide. and having cut Sits
! through it for his hands, he took u
| final look at the condor and crept
under the skin.
During the next twenty minutes
there were several sly peeps at the
bird on the boys part, and during the
last one the little hunter felt his heart
in his throat, for the mountain perch
was vacant and the king Of the Cor
dilleras was in mid air.
In short time the trained eyes of
the Peruvian boy saw the widespread
wings and the gigantic body between
them. The condor evidently saw the
tempting bait, for he was executing
narrowing circles in the raritied air
above the snare. The black orbs Of
the boy, fairly dancing now, saw
every sweep of the splendid wings,
and noticed the white ruff of down
which encircles the condor's neck
Nearer and nearer came the great
bird. He grew larger as he approach
ed, and many n courageous boy would
have crawled from beneath the skin
and fled, but not so the little Nimrod
of Coquimbo.
Presently Alboso saw the glossy
blackness of the condor's feathers as
the warm sunlight touched them, the
dull reddish and wrinkled skin Of
head and neck, and the large comb
which surmounts the condor's head.
All these parts were on a grand scale
to the boy, and he knew he had lured
from his home the very bird which
had given the Governor so much
trouble.
With his gaze rivIted on the meat
fastened to the calf-skin, the great
bird continued his descent until at
last he pounced upon the prize.
Now had come the exciting mo
ment. The heart Of little Alboso
seemed to stand still, and for long
time he laid perfectly quiet, as if
afraid to stir Not very far off, though
the boy knew it not, breathless and
filed with fear, the Peruvian mother
crouched in the shadow of bush
and held her breath. She knew her
boy was brave, but she had never
dreamed that he would attempt to
trap the great condor Of the noun
tains.
The question with the terrified
mother was What will the boy dOy'
Will he let the condor gorge himself
and return to his perch, or would he
really attempt to tie his legs to the
hide?
Meantime the little fellow under the
skin was not idle. Watching his Op-
portunity, he put his hands through
the Sits and began to secure the yel-
lowish legs of the marauder. This
was not great feat, for the condor
was too deeply employed to take
notice Of anything. and Alboso sue
ceeded.
Now the tug Of war" was at hand.
Proud OF his victory, Alboso began
to creep from beneath his Lide, and
all at once, leaping to his feet with a
shout, he uncoiled his bolas and com
menced the attack.
The surprise Of the lured condor
was complete, and the next moment
he was making desperate efforts TO
escape. The large wings almost struck
the eager boy in the face, and so dis
concerted him that several throws Of
the bolas were unsuccessful.
At this juncture Alboso caught
sight Of his mother anxiously looking
on. but resolved TO let him fight the
battle with the condor without as
sistance. Her presence encouraged
him, and approaching the bird in his
eagerness he was struck by one Of the
black pinions and sent almost head
over heels on the grass.
The next instant the Peruvian
mother rushed forward, but Alboso
was soon on his feet again. and the
next throw Of the bolas proved the
best throw OF all, and the king Of the
mountains was captive. But not
then even did the monster bird sub
nit to the inevitable, and it took the
combined strength Of mother and
boy to bring him to terms.
We have him now, mother = cried
Alboso when the condor had ceased
to struggle. See what fine prize
he is but think what a nice medal
I L T. I. IL.