The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-05-31
SAVED BY HIS SWEETHEART.
A Robin Redbreast's Plucky Fight with n
SDarrow Hawk.

Robin Redbreast's Plucky Fight with n
Sparrow Hawk.
A large, sprightly robin. with the
brilliant red breast of the male, alight-
ed on the swaying top of a tall, ragged
hemlock that stands down back of the
post Office. and began to sing a plain
tive, thoughtful song to duller-colored
bird across the road on the lower limb
of a maple. He sang in praise, as a
timid lover might. but, gaining cOur-
age, sang out louder and louder, till,
in a burst of beautiful melody, he for
got his own surroundings, as lovers
often do, and saw only the sweetheart
with whom he would mate.
A brown bird with long, keen wings
and hateful speed flew along close to
The briars along the bank behind the
unconscious singer. With n sharp
swerve he rose up, and then the sweet
heart across the road piped a shrill
note of alarm and warning just in
time. The lover dived down, turned
sharp, and escaped the little sparrow
hawks talOns and more cruel bill.
But the hawk was not going to be
cheated out of sweet meal thus. He,
too, turned and pressed close after the
fleeing robin. 1t looked as il the robin
had sung his last song when the hawk
cut off a corner and came in not two
feet behind the robin, peeping in eager
ness for prey.
The robin is a timid bird and n good
natured one. He fears the black birds,
and hops away from a bullying spar
row; red squirrels are a menace to his
life, while cats and hawks drive him
wildly away in fear. But there comes
a time when a robin, pressed hard for
life, or when his home is in great
danger, will fight as few straight
billed birds can fight, and drive cow
ard bird before him or kills a brave
one. So it was with this one.
Pressed close by a fierce pursuer,
with death and nothing beyond, but
everything to live for. he suddenly
turned on his enemy and struck at
him. Struck full in the breast, the
surprised hawk tumbled over back
ward and fell to the ground. Again
the robin struck him on the back be-
pened; then he turned and the two
faced each other The robin had lost
his appearance of fear and the hawk
showed pain and fear. Still he at
tackled the robin again.
The hawk was a practiced fighter.
His training had all led that way. No
bird, unless surprised and suddenly
wounded, yields without fight. Long
combats with agile red squirrels, blue
jays, kingbirds, and lesser ones, had
given him the skill which only prac-
tice can give. The robins life had
been different. 1t had been a peace
full search for insects and a life of
song; nor had nature fitted him with
such weapons as his opponent had on
foot and head; still the straight bill
was good weapon.
Three times the two tackled each
other The robins breast became red
der yet with blood. The hawk had
lost an eye. The robins tongue was
bleeding and the hawks breast was
Scared deep by the robins first as
sault The robin was the weaker. and
the test was longer than he could
stand, but he could not escape, for to
turn to flee would be only to bring the
other on to his back; so he fought on
desperately.
The fourth tackle he lost his hold
and was sinking back, pressed down
by the greater weight and superior
strength. 1t looked darker then for
him. So thought the sweetheart on
the maple limb. She saw her lover
fight and hoped along the limb and
back again, leaning forward eagerly
and chirping encouragement to him.
Then, when the robin began TO weak
en-, she sprang from the limb and how
cred over the two, chirping fearfully.
As the robin was sinking back ex-
hausted to fall an easy prey to the
hawk, she dived down straight as ever
hawk dived and struck the victor
between the wings in the back 1t
was death blow. and when she and
her lover sat on the maple limb side by
side blood was on her bill, while the
hawk lay dead with broken back, to
be picked up later by the taxidermist.
N. Y. Sun.