The Savannah morning news., 1900-11-22


struggling ana calling FOR her in tones
that would have scared anything but >
goose away The bunch OF fowls grew
bigger ard darker as IL drew noar As
the brown ban os c.amor and feathers
rounded the point the anchored goose
broke hs fastenings aud shot alofi with
long erv Of ioy Nobody except ne
oncominr geese understood what tho lih-
Grated bird said. but the hock swerved
to tho rIeht when ten rods beyond gun
shoe and hurried back 10 the further eide
OF tho lake
shoot" yelled Small loaplng 10 his
| feet ana throwing hts gun 10 hts shoulder.
kin that aceurseh goose of mine IL you
don't hit another thing as long as you
| live"
The escaping goose was forty rois be
| hind his companions ard as the nre
hazcl from two score OF guns tho bird
| feli 90 the lake riddled with huckshot Ben
Ballard was tho only man who made any
attempt 10 hold his temper lie argued
! that an was not lost so long as they r.
taIned control Of the remaining goose N
they would lei him have his way he
would snow them how to catch AL the
geese they needed. Il was too late 20 DO
anything that DAY: but on the following
| morning the party me- az tho same place
ana waited for Ben 10 act. he took a
small bell from hs pocket and attached
/ 30 20 the neck % the goose. Then he
tied "a long stout line 20 tho bird s lex
| and lei II swim FAR out on the lake call
| INK 10 its fellows as IL receded from the
shore The wih geese answered In kind
! As soon az the birds began 10 wheel over
] Pen ed hH n
| the shore
Don't shoot" said he. Walt until the
geese hear tho bell and you'll see some
| fun Did YOU see that? Aud that Gec'
| but he's a great fghter"'
While Ben was explaining his actions
and telling the merits 81 his tanned goose
The wild birds had heard the unklc OF the
bell. and Oh but the largest and brayest
/ gnnders in tho flock had gone away IN
| fright. The forty or City which remained.
| angry al the bell. had given battle to tho
! captive aud would have killed a. n Ben
had not pulled the line back rapidly As
soon as the battling birds had come with
in ten rods Of the blinds Ben yelled now
/ give EN- fits and yankod the line hard.
/ forcing the decoy under water. The guns
! spoke in concert. and twelve geese. the
biggest and bravest IN the Aock. hit the
| water.
I
ed Ballard Keep low. All che ganders
Ia Maine viii De- hack soon 90 fight this
new dude who carries a bell 10 charm
| the hearts OF the geese. They'll fight until
the last Eander IS dead"
! Wth def management the decoy was
taken ashore. weak ana bleeding from Fs
hard fight ard when iis wounds had been
dressed with oil Il padded away TO the
end Of the line as II GLAD 10 renew the
| fight The wild birds came up three times
90 give battle losing more chan score
OF the best OF the flock before they ceased.
The tame Rnnder slept In wire cage a.
the rear OF Billiards. cook stove that
night. Before parting from his associate
Ballard said:
Meet me az tho usual hour tomorrow
end I'll show YOU another trick that is
worth more than the one you have learn
ed to-day"
The men were anxious to ask further
| questions. but RETAINED. Most OF the gan
dors able 70 give battle were dead. and
the geese would no, night. il was beyond
their comprehension how any further
hunting could Doe OF use They were all In
the blinds. however. when Ballard came
| with his tame goose at daylight He cut
the string from the leg Of the goose. and
ltessing Il In the air smiled as IL few away
20 where the flock was stirring. The decoy
lighted in the middle Of a large flock feed
lux among the Wild rice near shore. and
walked down the lines linking the bell
and bowlnc TO right and left as II Il were
some distinguished ambassador from a
| foreign court Tho geese seemed pleased
With the newcomer company and were
charmed by the silvery tones Of the bell.
hut the ganders held aloof 10 groups,
| standing 10 stlfsiy aud refusing 70 nod.
| All at once the gandcrs made furious
rush at the visitor. picking 80 about tho
head and beating Il with their strong
wings The decoy was strong but was
| coon thrown down BY weight OF numbers.
| Regaining its feet after hard hght IL
0ed among the geese FOR help, but the
aokle females stood aside ana let " pass
without so much as a friendly nod. II
was soon overtaken ana buried under
| scores Of angry binds that piled upon its
body crying in triumph and Mapping their
wings a. a sign Of victory
Tbe ciamor had died down and Ballard
| feared that his bird was dead. when "
| emerged from the press. spread its wings
and hurried toward the blinds Ballard
iod the men 20 keep still ana watch the
/ resl,lt. When the decoy was near che
blinds an the female geese on the shore
| ,rose and followed the sound OF the bell.
,..,ioe "A a safe distance behind Tor fear
| rhe,. should get mixed up IN another bat
~ The decoy crossed above the line 81
brush decoys without stopping and kept
atrslaht on 20 smalrs barn. when v hight
"a In front 81 the door and walked inside,
followed two minutes later b. oil the fe-
males. .,
p.isrl when we have had somethins
10 eeat we win pick out this latest for
| -..-.rt.aa and Let the rest go.