Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-07-10
The Boy Who Trapped a Condor


The Boy Who Trapped Condor.
The home of the gigantic condor is
the snow-clad Cordilleras in South
America. Here he has free and un-
disputed range, soaring above the
dizzy height of Chimborazo, or swOop-
ing upon the fiocks of the poor natives
Gifted with a vision second to none of
the winges species, he manages to es-
cape the lures and arrows OF the Peru
Wan hunter, so that the large rewards
offered for his destruction remain un-
gathered
\ few years ago the District Of Co
quimbo, which is situated on the equa-
tor, was infested by a large condor
which for long time had given the
people u great deal of trouble. | can
not tell you how many hunts had been
inaugurated against the marauder,
but all had turned out unsuccessful,
and the natives still saw him perched
on his favorite spur of the mountain,
looking complacently and with tri-
umph upon his enemies.
The Governor of the district became
so worried over the frequent failures
Of the people to kill the bird that he
doubled the standing reward, and
promised in addition to it n gold med
al to'the person who should rid Co
quimbo of its pest.
1t was early morning when Alboso,
an agile, bright-eyed Peruvian boy,
looked up from the door Of his poor,
thatched hut and saw on one Of the
dark mountain peaks an object which
appeared no larger than ball. The
boys eyes glistened, and no wonder,
for he knew that the distant speck
had life in it, for it was the king con
dor of the Cordilleras, and the very
one for whose head the Governor had
offered such a handsome reward.
More than once he had watched the
willy old fellow as he floated laZiIy
above the mountain or gorged him
self in the deep valley below.
Il believe he sees me - exclaimed
the bov. and that is why he doesn't
want to come down. The king con
dor is sly fellow, and knows that the
best hunters of Coquimbo have set
snares for him.
This particular condor had habit
of disappearing at certain seasons OF
the year, and just when the poor ma
tives were hoping that he had Jared
badly at the hands of some hunter OF
the Andes, he would reappear on his
favorite perch, the people said, with
a twinkle in his eye.
The father OF the boy, Alboso,
worked in the cinchona forest, from
whence comes the quinine Of our drug
trade, and he had more than once
tried to devise some plan for trapping
the condor. but all had amounted to
nothing. | have no doubt that he
had his bright eyes on the reward Of
fered by the Governor Of Coquimbo.
On the morning when Alboso looked
ND and saw the condor on the rock far
above the hut he resolved to attempt
his capture that very day. Alboso
was not much larger than the bird
himself but his limbs were plient and
strong. and he had performed some
feats that had excited wonder in the
neighborhood.
The father that morning had gone
as usual TO the barkers' camp, but be
fore departing had killed and dressed
a calf. leaving the fresh skin hanging
against the hut. The boy thought Of
this while he watched the condor, and
with the recollection came a plan
worthy Of being tried.
The condor of the Andes is captured
in various ways. One of the most
common lures is with fresh hide, such
as the boy-hunter had at his com
mand. The hide is placed on the
ground, the flesh side uppermost, and
the hunter conceals himself under
meath. \ few pieces Of raw meat are
fastened to the skin TO lure the bird,
and having disposed OF himself to his
satisfaction the hunter waits for the
prey.
As rule, the condor, if near, is not
long seeing the cunningly devised
trap. for, as we have said, his sense OF
sight is marvellous, and. soaring over
the valley, he sees the bait, and the
gratified hunter watches him as he
swoops downward, his great wing
casting long black shadows over rock
and grass.
In short time the bird falls upon
the meat with an eagerness very often