The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-05-03

~ ! slope OF one Of the great
A "a grassy hins-some people
Can them mountalns-which lie be-
tween the provinces Of Isabella and
Nseva Vizcaya.
We had been travelling all night by
moonlight, and now as the east was
growing rosy we were winding down
TO a little wood in the valley, where we
hoped TO find a mountain stream to
give us water Cor our breakfast, and a
thing of far more Importance. grazing
for the horses. FOR IL was the dry sea-
son, and the grass on the hills was
parcbed and dead. The breakfast
swung with inocliiug lightness behind
Justin's saddle. merely handful Of
cold rice rolled in the butt Of banana
leaf. 1t was also tlflin and dinner, for
we were travelling light and fast, and
carried not even chocolate. nothing but
the rice
| was watching the gyrations of the
breakfast moodily, for | was sleepy
and hungry and sore. when suddenly
from the wood below us the crow of Il
coek rang out. shrill and triumphant.
was surprised. for few people live
along a trail used mostly by bandits
and head hunters.
Suddenly from the slope Of q farther
hill the call rang out again, and then
the whole wood echoed with the sounds
of the farmyard
what town is this?' I asked the
boys. although we We're at least q
days journey from any settlement
which l knew.
''It is no town. senor," said Justin.
1T is the manuk del monte--the wild
chicken-whlch you hear"
After saddles were off and the horses
backs were washed. the animals rolled
and grazed luXurlously by the swift,
clear stream, and Tranquil. prince of
servants, dexterously uurolled the
breakfast
He laid stones on the corners of the
leaf, and patted the snowy mass Of
rice out smoothly and filed a bamboo
drinking cup from the brook. while /
pretended not 20 see. At meal times
Tranquid has n sulemn and important
air worthy OF the most autocratic Of
London buffers, and l am babe in his
hands.
breakfast is served senor" said
Tranquil, gravely.
Il come" replied. with equal gray
ity. and rolled over twice and came up
on my knees. Japanese fashion. beside
my lowly table.
Just as | was going to plunge my
fingers into the rice a cock crowed loud
and clear among the trees close at
hand. A great ferocity of meat hunger
swept over me.
Give me the boom-boom, Justin"
commanded. I'VE will have manuk
del monte for breakfast
The cock crowed often while ! stole
through the underground, as softly as
the ferns and bristly crcepers would let
me.
AS drew near the growing ceased.
and / was pecring about The brush
and shrub for Il sight Of the cock when
--whirl From the lower branches Of a
tree, fifty feet above my head, a Splen.
did bird shot out with q boom like n
partridge and sailed away between the
trunks, q da2zliEg vision OF white and
green ard gold
was too startled TO shoot, for | had
never before seen chickens that roasted
like eagles and flew like pheasants and
Were as brilliant as humming birds.
In moment hard his strong wings
beating on the ether side Of the valley,
and | Went back and ate my rice
quietly.
That incident began my acquaintance
with the wild chickens, and they soon
grew to be "A very dear part os the for
est life. bringing me an odd mixture OF
pleasant memory and homesickuess as
l listened 70 them.
We heard them always when we
made and left our one.nlght homes
along the trail. The cocks proved to
be just as eXactlng husbands as their
domesticated cousins. growing their
families home and abroad with fussy
punctuality.
If a gay young cockerei or giddy pul.
le. fingered too long afed. the lord Of
the flock grew noisy with anxiety as
the sunset faded With the dawn he
woke. brisk and important, and woe
betidc the sIcepybead of the family.
There was no Rouse up, sweet slug
abed' for him, but an ear splitting call
and we often chuckIed at thought OF
the shecplsh haste Of the laggard when
that sound penetrated to his sleepy
brain.
A tropical forest is a thing of awe
and mystery. with It's eternal dim twl.
light and tangled creepers and lnnum.
erablc dark vistas which hide inhabit
ants one seldom hears and never sees
Most Of the crea lures seem TO feel th1
silent immensity and vagueness as :
man does and seek safety in unobtWs
iveness.
These brave, CHEEKY birds alone wer'
unaffected by It, and they crowed am
cackled and ciucked about their bust
ness OF living as carelessly as II ther,
We're no such thing as fear in tn
world
Yet with all their independence thel
showed u battling shyness. and many
weeks went by before I caught more
than n distant glimpse OF one.
tranquil hunted them with painful
devotion. Bur he was child OF In,
cities. lost In the mountains MS pupp,
would have been. When a cock crowet
near camping pincc liis face woul,