The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-10-11

of their stay
The days trip had been long,
hard one" said Gopher. and We were
not exactly looking for game or ex
element when we wound down the
narrow trail toward the Dexter cabin
II was about eight o'clock and dark
as pitch.
'psear the gate Ii n giant oak tree.
with low. rambling branches As l
passed under II ! heard n strange rat
Ting noise In the limbs and leaves
overhead, With a glance upward l
saw the dark head of mountain lion
move out along large limb and could |
dlmly see the huge body OF the cat
creeping after. II seemed that could |
see the fash OF his white teeth In the
darkness and | could feel the low. |
savage snarl no let go when he saw |
me.
INSTANTLY | jumped: heavy paw
! grazed my shoulder, dragging my coat
| to the ground, cutting the hesh
| through the heavy clothing wore.
and long. 1.-THE object landed on the
/ ground beside me. almost exactly. In.
deed. ON the spot whore ] had been
standing
Il could not have been more than
eight feet away, and lost no time In
bringing the 1890 into play, emp
tied six shots In the direction of the
dark object AL the third OF these
heard wild snarl. cav the black
body launch itself through the air.
directly toward me. and had just pres
enca OF mind enough to fall fat on
the ground. could feel the wind
caused By the great beast In passing.
and have no doubt | was as pale as
ghost the moment he went over me.
Il seemed 10 feel. rather than hear.
the great beast light on the ground
beyond me and with n bound gained
the shelter of the side hills brushy
tangle. from whence. ! suppose. he
came"
Late that night. when the moon had
come out and the fog had fallen n BIT,
the hunters went out again. but could
ilnd no trace of the big cat Next
day there was trail OF blood lead.
; ing away from the scene OF the en-
counter. but this soon led into rough
and rocky ground. and could not be-
followed with any degree Of certainty.
so the chase was given up.
Battle with the seavenger.
On the third day OF their stay at
( the old ranch meat ran short. and the
party, dividing into two bands. struck
out TO get a deer. Gopher killed q
, deer about mile from camp and. as
! the day was yet young. determined "a
push on IN search Of another buck
To Brighten away chance coyotes or
other small animals from the carcass
he covered II with his coat. laying a
red bandana handkerchief on the TOP
OF the pile.
He made n circuit OF some two OF
three miles through the nearby can
yons and, coming down ON his deei
| from above. was surprised To see
4 seated on the carcass. bird OF ths
| size Of uligrown Newfoundland
| dog. He recognized the creature Al
| one Of the rare California condors. OF
| vultures. which now and then appca,
| In the coast Wise hills, and shouted
| to scare 1, from It's feast. which h'
| could see was rapidly being torn Il
| pieces.
| To his shouts the great bird pal,
J no attention. He walked nearer. and
remembering stories be bad heard o
o the fcrocity OF the giant yulturo whoI
y angered. Gopher fired shot from hi
u revolver over the birds head. Their
lna fine OF some 5000 imposed for tn
g killing OF a condor. and he had NJ
desire 10 incur the penalty. bat b.
= could not bear to see his supper van
ishing into the maw OF the bird O
Is prey.
d Still the condor failed TO move. ba
continued TO tear AZ the deer. iron
which It had by this time stripped IN
coat thrown over IL for protection
Copner came nearer. and finally picl
r inv 90 a stone. throw 81 az the bird
a striking IL On one NinE.
u. Evidently this reused the yulturo
p wrath for. spreading ITS great wing
q II rose Sith a loud hiss high into ID
d. air Copaer stepped forward TO a.
y What damaze had been done 70 hi
=. quarry. when. without sound Eny
II the rush Of air through It's grea, pil
rr ions the condor fell from the hsigl
Ia 20 which It had asceaded and xtrae
o. the man squareiy between the shou
jere. the whlie tearing at bits boa
rs with hoax and fsl9ns
p RnccIsI down b. me force ~ y
- blow. ffc Hgal1r fei' tgrward over y
NJ bots ~ 'ro desc ard down into i
re euiig p11A1Ies his alo7" save
Jo hie iife fa~ hs1 'he great bird 50
be ceedrd ga landing one hiow on b
- skaH wHh lts heavy beak e ma
surely have split kis bead side one
81 ROLES iuf5 she ruich Gopher h'
- presence q mind enough 20 lie 81
a. fer q few moments Thea. ralstr
himself ~ sitting r0s'ure. he "a
~ ~. vulfsre its hilc7us bead turns
el sideways he better ~ watch his hl
iuR place. seated on 4 huTe b1Nld'
70 iusf back - the br ~ ~ the Dec
- Dropping doau ars.n Conner rcaohs
for hfs revolver thls -Ifr was lyir