The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-08-23

series Of posts 10 form a salmonrack.
Although fiat instead OF round, and
less than a half-lnch wide. It was
capable Of sustaining a very heavy
weight.
A very small spur or crag projects
from face of the rock column Just
below the top. Could he succeed in
passing the rope over this, an agile
climber, like himself. might mount to
1t with comparative ease Having
first unwound the ball, Koyouk tied an
end Of the Irvine to the rope and made
fast the other to an arrow Then,
putting the feathered notch to the bow
string, he measured the distance with
his eye and sent the shaft, with the
white cord trailing behind it, hurting
aloft.
Although accounted the most skill
full young archer of his village, his first
shot merely disturbed the domestic
tranquility Of the tenants Of the aerie.
The old birds at, once took wing, and
wheeling above their home, expressed
their Indignation by discordant croak-
ing, to which their offspring responded
with shrill squawks of alarm.
A second trial was successful. De
scribing a graceful curve past the top
Of the rock the missile whistled earth
ward, but as it fell the cord lodged
fairly on the spur, from which a
double line remained suspended.
When he had recovered the arrow,
1t was simple matter, by pulling in
the cord to replace it with the rope.
Then Koyouk grasped the slender,
swaying strands, tugged at them with
all his strength until they were as
taut as metal rods under the strain,
then threw his entire weight upon
them and swung his body to and fro,
a human pendulum This test con
WINGED him that the rope would hold.
He slowed the flour-sack il the hood
Of his parkie, or jumper, and then
swarmed nimbly up the precipitous
face of the column. The spur was
gained without mishap, and securing
foothold on it, he scrambled up on the
sloping platform yard or so above
Close at hand. in the center of a
space Of irregular outline, but nowhere
more than six feet across, the excited
chicks, five little creatures, almost
fully fledged, huddled in a huge nest
bulky with the accumulated debris OF
many seasons. The prize was nearly
won.
But the old birds greeting of Ko
youk on their very hearth almost
brought about a disastrous termina
ton Of the enterprise. Hitherto they
had restricted themselves to vocifer
GUS protestation, but when they saw
the intruder crouch within arms
length Of their defenseless brood
resentment toward the one. mingled
with solicitude for the others, impellet
them to close with him. Screaming
with rage, they swooped down in {;
furious charge, striking with beak ant
talons, AMI beating him about thu
head with their stout wings.
So swift and unexpected was thu
assault that Koyouk had barely tim,
to crouch beside the nest to avoit
a frightful fall Fortunately, he re
tanned presence of mind and manage
to ward off most Of their blows, but il
tho 6nf0TCn hoT I,
were soon severely scratched and cut
Prudnce counseled immediate re
treat, but Koyouk disdained to e
empty-handed. 1t had been his orig
nal intention to pick out the choices
one Of the brood, but he had counte
on leisure with which to examine an
select, and this violent reception di'
concerted him. So. taking advantag
of an opportune lull in the conflict h
plucked the sack from his hood, seize
the first bird that came to hand, and
spite of it's puny resistance popped
into the bag and tied up the mout
with rawhide thong.
This act was the signal for a cesst
ton of the truce Again the infuria
ed pair swept down to battle, tn
, time to rescue or avenge the captiv
, One, the smaller, darted fearlessly (
, Koyouk's face, but well-aimed thrut
with his clenched fist repealed it. TT
next instant, as he glanced about
} locate its mate before beginning Il
|, descent, he beheld a sight that cause
: him to utter cry of CONSERVATION.
Z Koyouk turned just in time to 81
! the other bird fly from the spur b
+ meath his feet with the light rol
clutched in its powerful talon