The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-02-06

integrity, and at times was heroic IN
his own defense. We were simply
lucky that none of us. were. called upon
TO second in an "affair of honor
out in those Wisconsin wild woods.
The story that 1 am about to relate
was told for the truth, yet no one was
an eyewitness, and hence l can only
vouch for it by telling you that I told
1t, and when you understand the Ego
of this tale it will present itself forci-
bly, to your doubling minds as ''ths
truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth"
We have all read stories time and
again of the instinct of animals in do.
mestic life, but 1 have never read any
thing like what 1 have to relate, and
hence it may serve to advance the
knowledge already acquired in this di-
reetion.
i left camp early one morning with
tackle in hand to try my Waltonian
skill in one of the little streams that
emptied its waters into the lake, on the
shores of which we had pitched our
tents. I had also taken my fowling
piece along for any emergency that
might arise. On reaching a desirable
place where my pi~scatorial art could be
used, as I thought, to the best advan-
tage, 1 threw out my lines, and seated
myself in a convenient place to. await
a .bite." After some patient, waiting
Without even as much as a "nibble" tc
remunerate my loss of time, I was ate
tracted by a strange noise .emanatins
from a .clump of stout bushes that
skirted the stream not far away. Itook
up TmY gun and started in that direc-
ton toNdiscover the cause. I had only
proceeded a few steps when out from
the bush waddfed as fine a mallard as
anyone would wish for a roast. "Ahi"
thought I, as 1 raisedthe gun. 9I,fnf1GSf
take you in" But the strange action Of
the duck called me from any intention
to Stay it, and ! did not fire. The raisA
ing Of the gun did not stop or disturb
the bird in the least. On it came toward
me, each moment increasing its
peculiar action, violently shaking it's
wings, and bobbing up and down, try
ing in every way, as 1 now know, 10
attract my attention. 4 stood still to
watch it. She would advance in this
way toward me and then with a volley-
of short "quacks'' retreat hastily to.
ward the bush. 1t repeated this several
times and each time with seeming more
earnestness. l then resolved to. follow
it. l had no doubt it had a purpose in
all this maneuver. 1 was right in my
conjecture. The duck led the way into
the bush, keeping directly in front Of
me and just outof my reach. followed
where, near the brink of the stream
was an old box trap, and in it securs
and fast was the male of the pair. Tho.
female with the usual sagacity Of that
sex undertook to free her mate, and
l resolved to repay her effort. j.
lifted the box, and hat instant they
wild ducks. once more. Awaysthey
as fast as wing and and air could
carry them, presuming, / suppose, OF
the perfidy of man and that l wouls
shoot if they would give me a. chance.
/ went back to my lines,ponderina
the question; Do not the wild
beast and fowlo of the air know that man
bath been given the wisdom to conquer
subdue all things?
told this at the camp fire that night.
but no one could OF would offset it. and
it that I went to bed the proud cham-
ZION of the day.
GUY ROYAL. |