Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-06-18
WHAT [ SAW OUT WEST.
BY DAVID HILL.

is lone flag station out on the prairie
| by name of Highland. Not sixty rods
| from it is what we in the East would
call mud pond; but by the natives
it is designated oy the pretty, and yet
inappropriate title of Highland lake
In the west all ponds are called lakes
regardless of their size. / chung TIC
that lake for two days hunting ducks
and with excellent success. 1t con-
tanned mallards, canvas backs, teal
red heads, Clippers, and, what is de-
spised by all hunters, the Insignificant
but was unable to get within shot OF
them.
During the afternoon of the first
day was accompanied by a fellow
the name of Cody. He claimed to be a
relative of WI. Cody Buffalo Billiard
resided in Denver. So far as a buck
suit with gay trappings attached, a
broad brimmed sombrero, and fine
looking gun was concerned, the re-
semblance was all right; but when it
came to shooting it is evident
he didn't take after his illustrious
progenitor in that respect. At night
he had one solitary duck, and that
was wounded one he picked up out
of the grass. To help him out pre-
sented him with some of mine, as I
had no use for them, after which,
thanking me profusely, he returned
to the city and doubtless told a true
story as is the habit with all sports
men.
I stopped in Longmont that night,
and was surprised to learn that a man
had been shot and robbed in Boulder
the night before; also, that tramp
had shot another man on the railroad
track, and at no great distance from
Highland lake. However, went back
there the next morning and banged
away at ducks the same as usual.
The railroad track being close at hand
I kept an Off eye upon that at the
same time. [ did so in case that if
anybody came along ] could stop
them before they got near enough to
frighten the ducks. [ didn't want the
ducks frightened. Everything was
all quiet until along in the afternoon.
Then freight train drew up at the
station, which, by the way, was moth
ing but four walls without roof, win
dows Or doors, and put off a tramp.
[ knew it was a tramp because there
is something about tramps that will
reveal their identity in spite, Of them
selves. 1t is not hard to recognize
them under suspicious circumstances.
I crawled down into a dry sluice way
as the train drew out-not because I
was afraid of the tramp because
it afforded a better opportunity to
get at the ducks. Ducks have their
own peculiarities and preferences the
same as people; and one Of their
greatest preferences is, they rather
be killed by an unseen foe than an
open one. Then again, tramps are &C.
centric fellows, and I imagined if this
one saw me it would be just like him
to walk right over in open sight, and
that would frighten the ducks COM
pletely. For these reasons [ crawled
down into that sluice- way. Once
down in the sluiceway I suddenly
recollected that 1 had killed ducks
enough. 1t was strange [ had not
thought of it before; but then, 1 had
been quite busy throughout the day,
and this really was the first oppor-
tunity that had been given me to think.
So long as was there however con-
Guided to remain, because-well! be-
cause was there. 1 enjoy watching
ducks even when not shooting them;
and you have to go through the same
to watch ducks to good
advantage as you do to shoot them.
Hunters must be very precise about
yourself. If was to rise right up the
ducks would either fly or swim across
jhe like, which would amount to the
same thing. Then to rise up sudden
y before that tramp with gun in my
1ands-why! it was liable to shoe k
aim; and I have a great antipathy
against shocking the feelings of any
one, tramps or otherwise. So [ con-
GUIDED to remain in the sluice-way.
Standing upright in the ground a
title north of the flag station was
all post; and on top of that post was
;wo cross pieces of timber arranged
n such a manner that it resembled an
DID fashioned turnstile. Of course
here was nothing peculiar about the
post, and for the matter of that, neither
vas it ornamental. 1t had right to
stand there, too, just like any other