The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-24

when 1t was housed would they return
to their nest. 1t seemed so much like
human sympathy that Commodore
Porter resolved that If good feeding
would save the wounded bird. he should
be ready for the fight southwark when
all the storks would leave. The stork
at length began to use its wings for
flying down, but it was longer in get
ting able to rise even six or eight feet.
and nothing would tempt it to regain it's
nest 1t had lost courage and conf
dence, and was satisfied with its con-
dition and had evidently formed an at
tachment to the commodore.
But now the case assumed another
aspect. A Gathering and knocking and
scraping was heard high UP in the heav-
ems, and, behold, thousands of storks
were careering about, calling out all
the storks from river, brook and sea-
shore, from the treetop and chimney
top. to prepare for the southwark flight.
large body swept down low over San
Stefano and deputation of four alight-
ed to examine the disabled companion.
After time they rose into high air,
made their report and all the storks
went home. Their temperance for
their final flight was expected in about
three or four days, when they would
gather in full force and, following one
solitary leader they would take lofty
flight for tropic fields
Day after day, for two whole weeks,
the commodore waited for them, when
at length they came in gathering f1ocks,
as far as the eye could reach, probably
from all Roumelia. Macedonia, and it
may be from the banks of the Danube.
A large flock lowered low over the
wounded mate. with tremendous clat-
ter of their big red bills. A few alight-
ed, and after due examination and con-
e,,1t rfal h,,t CT, I.r,r, mt
fellows, who were commissioned to re-
main and share the fate of the wound
ed. They were the christian commits
sion" of the storks. Then one stork led
off in lofty, steady flight, with out
others followed, and three, and SO on,
stretched neck, toward the south; two
until the base of the triangle thus
formed was some hundreds OF feet.
Then flock after flock fell in and the
long column at length disappeared.
Commodore Porter resolved to give
the three storks the best possible winter
quarters. 1t was not their purpose at
all to stay. 1t was already very late
for their migration When the wound
ed was again able to mount to his ma
tive home. the chimneytop, it was evil
dent that his two attendants were
preparing for fight.
A great Gathering of bills called out
the commodore and the news ran
through the village that the birds were
going to take leave. Every one turned
out to view the start. Never were
storks thus honored before. They put
off in direct line the wounded one sec
ond. He could not quite maintain the
level of their flight. He would certain
ly fall into the Sea of Marmora. The
commodore followed them with his
glass and saw the rear guard at length
come underneath the poor fellow take
him on his back and bear him high into
the air for another fight. So they dis
appeared.
They will have about so miles to fly
on that line before they can find rest
and fodder" said the commodore, but
those gallant fellows will do it. They
will do it or all perish together
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