The age-herald., 1902-05-11

Eollkary and stately, Ike sentinel watch iaE for the enemy, a long-legged Crane stood enc day in tho bay fishing for gullets The Terms were flying around in stately majesty averheadv ses Fish Hawks were percaed on The shad stakes near the shoals, and the Spipe, Curlews Turnstones and Oyster catohers were buslly running up and down tho beach searching for thelT food.
 It was . warm, balmy day, such as comes occasionally to mako our seacoast beauti- ful place for the birds in early summer. There was no fisherman or hunter In sight, and the shore birds had the place als to them selves. The cries and screams of the Gulls and the shrill oackle of the Eish Hawks and the gurgling murmur of the Snipe and P4ov- CTS were the oaly seaads that broke the quietness of tho scene.
 The big Crane wac fishing with the rest of the birds, standing first on one long leg and then on the other, and occasionally on both. He was awkwardly tall and spindle-legged, and some of the birds passing by were amused at his appearance.
 Why does the Crane have such long legs?" asked a Curlew, with a sudden twist of his tail which brought him to quick stop.
 "So he can wade out in deep water and fish," replied a companion. "He would starve to death if he had to dive for his fish,"
 But why does he have such long billf" persisted the inquiring little Curlew.
 "To catch the fish with, suppose. don't know any other reason. But perhaps the Bittern can tell you; he's near cousin"
 The Bittern standing by puffed up his throat and made his ugly form look less graceful than ever. You'll see some day." he said, stlff1y He uses it to fight with and to protect himself"
 The two curlews laughed at this and thought 1t huge juke, for who had ever heard of the crane fighting? Why, he was such a timid creature that he trembled, ready to fy away, when flock of snndpipers flew over his head. One of the saucy cur Jews said quickly: He would never be able to 9st bis long bill up in time to fight od an an<Fay why, we could fly all around hun while he was hfting hfs bill"
 The bttsarns made no answer, but looked disdaAnfuily eastoward the water where the solitary efapes was fishing. The crane was a hopslg4elfds hutthe blttsrn knew that he was hpm etter, and so he made friends with his, eo4san.
 sua&auN whtse the birds hshed and scfearhedS and laughed, a shadow was cast ever tns bag. whtdh made every little heart tfemrsa and eapssd alf eyes so be turned up ward. Insstnd dtfVefy each creature knew the meaning. orthat shadow, and when the hush fell ovetathe great assembly of birds 1t was as thongh death had suddenly appeared among them.
 Them esrns A long shrlil scream, which to the binds hadAa biood>eurdiing sound that made theuss crouch down in, fear. It was answered by another, and looking up the frightened birds oculd see an enormous chicken hawk clrcling over the bay, while It's mate In the distance was flying rapidly to meet It. The neroe hawk had discovered a good feeding ground, and scarcely one of the birds daysd move wing or head. One out of their number was doomed to death. The great hawk would bounce down upon one and cYush out It's hfe. Not bird dared at tempt to fly away to hide in the distant meadows lest this should attract the hawks attention,
 Slowly. the big creatures flew nearer'to the bay, and then apparently selecting It's vic- tim 1t shot downward like flash, uttering at the same ttIne fearful scream of triumph But the little ourlew which had been chosen fer the hawks meal was not prepared to die, and 1t flew up and around circllng this way and that in the air to escape the feree taiens of the puFsuer. The hawk, angered at this, dashed after the curlew, and soon tired the bird out.
 Then, exhausted by fear and the hard ex- ertions, the curlew'fefl plump into the water