The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-05-01
The Piru
COndOrS

say. BID, said Ranger BALDWIN one
day. here is a chance to win your
spurs. Read this letter."
The letter was from the Smith
sonian Institute at Washington to
Forest Ranger Baldwin. 1t contained
an offer of one hundred dollars apiece
for pair OF live young California
condcrs.
"Whew!" exclaimed Bob, that is a
good price for couple Of birds!"
Il don't think so. At any rate !
can't attend to 1t, as haven't time"
said the Ranger. "The contract Is
yours If you want It."
want It! should say SO! 1t Will
buy my outfit if I'm appointed Sum-
mer Ranger. | think I'll start right
out to-day"
81 guess you don't need instruc-
tions." Baldwin laughed, as he swung
himself upon his horse and started of
for long patrol through his district.
For two months Bob tramped and
hunted the mountain crags for condor
nests. Twice he saw the big birds
soaring through the air several miles
above his head, but those great black
condors, with white ruffies about their
necks and big band of white under
each wing, were not to be caught.
Building their nests from thousand
to ten thousand feet above the sea,
they chose the bare face Of cliff for
their aeries, and were wonderfully
careful not to betray the direction Of
their homes.
One day, almost discouraged, Bob
sat watching struggling lamb from
a high prccipice over the Piru river.
Suddenly a black condor, flashing in
the sunlight like streak Of lightning,
darted through the air upon the lamb.
There was a pitiful bleat from the
lamb, a hoarse, snorting screech from
the condor, then the great bird slowly
stretched his ten feet Of wings and
carried his prey to a small spur Of
rock, nearly in the center OF the three
hundred foot cliff.
Bob Willis fairly flew over the ten
miles to his home. At the wane of |
his hopes he had discovered the nest.
He must succeed in capturing the con-
dors! 1t meant much to him; the
equipment necessary for the position
Of Summer Ranger.
Bob first purchased two hundred
feet Of stout rope. Returning from
the store he called at the house of
neighbor for Jim and Avery Rawlins
Saddling up the old plow horse and
tying the rope and several canteens Of
water upon it, the three boys started
back for the Piru.
1T was right here, Jim. had those
three dead frs on the other side lined
up"
"You can't make It," said Jim, as
he stood poised over the deep, black
canyon. 1T is over three hundred
feet to the bottom. Think what slip
would mean to you"
Il don't care about the height" Bob
replied. "I've trailed those condors
for two months and climbed my legs
off trying to locate them. Now have
them"
But it's dangerous"
"Dangerousl OF course 1t is. II
you fellows are going to back out
now will get some one else to help
me-" r
Jim hesitated an instant ave and
l will let you down, although don't
like 1t. wouldn't 60 down there for
all the money Uncle Sam has in his
bank"
"Oh, I'll lott for the fun Of it. When
| twitch the rope three times, stop
pulling. Two for down and one for
ready. will climb out on this ledge
and look for a good approach. can
see over far enough from here"
Bob as he spoke stepped to the
brink and caught hold Of scrub oak.
With light swing he stood upon an
eight-inch ledge, few feet below,
ready for the downward climb.
''Wait until can tie this rope
around you!" cried Jim.
For reply Bob jumped to lower
ledge. From here narrow, steep
fissure full Of broken rock fell almost
vertically to another foothold fifty
feet below.
The top Of the slide looked secure
enough, SO Bob took on step out upon
1t. He barely saved himself from a
rall as the loose mass began to move
under his weight. Standing with his
feet together and working them slight
ly, to keep the broken rock moving,
be went down the incline as though
sliding on ice, coming to stop with
a crash into manzanita bush.
The condor's nest could not be seen
from where Jim and Avery were;
about halfway down there was small
clump OF young frs growing on mar
row seam Of dirt in ledge, which hid
the nest AS Bob dislodged the boul-
ders and sliding rock In his descent ,
upon this spur. the boys above him !
saw the old condor rise from beneath ,
the frs and fly away.
It wonder IL Bob saw that bird? Do ,
you think she will fight?"
81 don't know. have heard that