The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-10

oondors beak had stunned the man and
the wounds inflicted boy its talons were
something terrible The poor fellow died
OF his injuries 1n another Gaze near the
came village / was lying in the bushes
one day when a condor swOoped on a dog.
fastened one claw IN his back and rose
and sailed away without an effort. The
dog weighed ut least 20 pounds. and ] am
sure the bird could have carried away
double that weight"
A few weeks subsequently my foot was
pierced by trorn and 1 had TO lay up in
camp. A D. amock was slung under a
tree. and after dinner 1 was left alone,
except FOR the presence of "a she goat Jose
had bought from a native a week before 70
supply milk for our coffee. My compan-
ions went up the stream prospecting and
the cook took the other direction with his
fish lines. The goat was fat and fun
size: 81 li1 not weigh an ounce less than
40 pounds. She was feeding az distance
OF about thirty feet. and I was lazily
watching a dozen butterflies which hover
ed over her. when there suddenly came a
Swish like the fan OF a small tree and
a condor had his claws fastened into the
goats back / rose mp I'm the hammock
and had q plain view OF what took place.
The goat was crushed fiat 10 the earth
by the force OF the collision. bat almost
instantly struggled up and made "a fight
20 shake the bird off rs back The wings
Of the condor were outspread. so that the
tips touched the earth on either side and
acted as levers. and after a moment IL
struck the animal a blow with its beak
on the head or neck which put an end
20 the fight at once Blood followed the
blow and A saw blood COZing from under
She cruel talons as wcu As the goat fell
down. sim kicking with IT'S hind legs the
cDndOr balanced Itself with its wings.
took a nrmer grip with IT'S talons and
after trial or two rose up and sailed
away over the tree tops In the direction
Of a mountain spur about five miles away.
II did not lit us burden much above the
tree tops. but the motion OF It's wings
proved that n was no great hindrance
When the men had returned and 1 had
related the incident. Jose said;
That condor few directly over my head
while J was fishing, and though he con-
finued on 90 the mountain, i marked the
spot whore be alightcd and can guide you
20 e. 10 is "a female bird, ana ! have no
doubt there is a young one in the most
PIE added that the nests Of the condors
are always built among the rocks, IN spots
almost or quite inaccessible. but that ne
knew Of two or three instances where eggs
or young birds had been captured by eX-
pert climbers
The next day DE went or 20 tho spur.
and alttf an ail DAYS tramp locaiel tNe
nest II was amongst a tumble OF rocks
a thousand feet up the mountain side, and
the way was 50 rough and perlous that
ne did not believe we could reach It.
While lying concealed he caught sight OF
the male condor. and the female also re-
turned from a foraeing expedition with
large bird I'm her claws.
II was five DAYS before my foot was
we'll enough 90 undertake the tramp. and
Jose and / started alone. We had made
a stout grass rope a hundred feet long.
and we had our rifles and provisions for
two days when within two miles OF the
spur we came across native and his son
The latter about twelve years OF age.
When Jose told them the object OF our
expedition the father replied;
Eyes. there Is a condor's nest up there.
IL has been there since my grandfather
was q hoy. I was close 20 Il once, but II
was empty. Ny son here was near II.
too, only a few days ago. For little
money he viii show YOU path.
That was exactly what we wanted. and
I soon struck a bargain. The lad had
se4 approached ths nest from below, but