Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-11-05

This lake is the only one in tho
! middle West where the famous can
vass- backs and red-heads congregate
| in thousands to feed upon the wild
celery which also grows so abundant
liz along the Potomac bottoms the
home of these choicest breeds of
ducks
When Thursday came only brace
of red-heads had rewarded their
efforts As the morning express
came in Ned and Win stood on the
platform beside the agent, waiting for
the gun to be handed out of the car
But no gun appeared. They even
asked the messenger in the car if he
was sure that it was rot mislaid some-
where. He was very sure it was not
aboard and they returned to their
camp disappointed and disconsolate.
Well I'll have to make the old
muzzle-loader do for another day. for
there's no other train till the same
hour tomorrow. said Ned as he
shouldered his ancient Springfield and
followed Win for a days hunt along
the shore
Its going TO be rather lowry to-
day. and We may have good luck as it
is was Wills response.
But this cheering prophecy was
certainly not verified. so far as Ned's
luck was concerned TO-. though Will
succeeded in bagging several fat can
vass backs Ned's shots were fruitless.
This together with the disappoint-
ment OF the morning. exasperated
Ned to an unusual degree. and
aroused all the stubborn perseverance
of his nature.
''Pll tell you what Will I'm going
to bag some game before night if |
have to resort TO desperate means to
do sor' exclaimed Ned; but as it be-
came nearly dusk he was still without
any game in his bag.
Now. just see that he exclaimed
in disgust, as fine flock approached
them and settled down upon the
water just out OF range. As he said
this he caught sight OF log floating
close in shore. Here Will I'm
| going 10 paddle out behind that log
and get close shot right into that
| flock. even if the water is fearfully
cold F" said Ned. stripping of his
/ clothes and handing them to Will.
Then he pulled mp quantity of weeds
and wild celery. with which he heaped
the top OF the log and OF his hat,
Holding his gun nicely balanced
across the top OF the log. he buoyed
himself upon the latter. slowly and
steadily propelling 1t forward towards
the floating flock. intending when
/ sufficiently close to the duck. to sud
\ denly jump astride OF the log and
! fire into them as they should rise from
/ the water.
Meanwhile, Will remained upon
| the shore. watching the progress OF
Ned's courageous attack. and think
! ing how terribly cold the water must
be-
Gracious" soliloquized Will ~
hope he isn't going to try to get any
nearer! They'll be up before he can
shoot sure.
1t was an exciting moment to both
the principal and spectator whose
interest in the outcome was out OF all
4 proportion to its intrinsic import
ance. As Will watched the move
ments OF the ducks and their cleverly
disguised enemy with almost bated
breath, expecting to see Ned sudden
ly leap astride OF the log and fire, a
new and unexpected element sudden
ly entered into the situation. 1t was
an enormous heron. tagging its low
fight across the lake in the exact di-
rectlon Of the floating log. Would
the heron alarm the ducks before
Ned could shoot? was the only ques-
ton which entered Wills mind. as he
saw the course of the great water
bird. Ned however was as uncon :
scious of the approach Of the heron
as ne was Of the chill of the water.
He was instead congratulating him.
self upon the cleverness of his device
and the assurance OF success. just
as he was gathering himself to spring
astride the log he felt 'somethin Q
still and big suddenly PUNK down"
upon his head as he afterward de-
scribed the incident.
Will watched this unlocked for
turn OF affairs with the most intense
interest No sooner did the bird
'plunk" down. than over the water
came terrified human shrek fol-
lowed by the startled cry of the heron
and the frightened quackings OF the
ducks The next moment Ned's
white body leaped up out OF the water
the ducks whirred away in the direc-
ton in which they had come whilet the
heron still stood upon the head of the
terrified victim. tapping its ponder
Gus wings in wild sort to gain suf-
ficient impetus to rise in the air.
The fright which Ned experienced
during that moment was according
to his frank confession. as great as
he would have felt in the clutches OF
bear. He declared that he fully
expected to find his hair turned to a
light gray When at last his mys-
FERROUS visitant managed to get wing
he quickly sensed the whole situation
as keenly as did Will. whose spasms
of uncomfortable laughter echoed
over the water to him. as he slowly