The Ordway new era., 1909-02-19
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In September last ! was enabled,
through the kindness of Hungarian
friend with whom | have spent many
n pleasant day in Albania. to put into
execution long-talked-of project in
the shape OF sporting and photo
graphic expedition to the heights OF
the Carpathians.
After making camp at the tree line,
we rode up to the ridge overlooking
the camp as far as the horses could
20. and then climbed upwards In order
10 find suitable place to put into ex-
ecution our long-contemplated plans
for photographing eagles. 1t was not
easy to find exactly what we wanted
with good outlook facing north. to
insure having working light all day;
but at last we pitched on a spot which
looked as II. with n little labor. It
could be turned into a good hiding
place. A large block Of rock about ten
feet high. already provided with a
deep crack or fissure. In front Of
which, to the north. was small
plateau. sharply relieved against the
sky except for the conical tip OF n
distant peak. seemed to us an ideal
place from which to work. The three
men whom We had taken up were set
to work enlarging the crack by remov-
ing some big stones which had fallen
in. nfter which the side was built up
with rocks. and also the front. Then
two Of the men were sent down to cut
a couple OF young fir trees. with the
cut.up trunks OF which we constructed
a roof. When this was artistically COW
cred with turf II looked so natural that
one day | nearly walked over It my
self. and on another occasion n raven
sat on II while l was inside. This job
took us the best part OF n day. and was
worth the trouble. for unless you are
thoroughly well concealed with the
camera. It is perfectly useless to ex-
pect such keen-sighted birds as ravens.
eagles or vultures to come near:
whereas. II you are completely hidden.
there is no hesitation on their part,
and you are certain Of success sooner
or later. They may not come the first
day, or even the second. but II you
make up your mind to walt until they
provided, OF course. that there are any
about in the neighborhood or that
there are no other carcasses on which
they are feeding, In which case 1t Is
sometimes necessary to wait consid-
cradle time. The pext day we drove
up n poor old sausage horse" which
we had bought on purpose. and shot
It Just In front Of the hiding place.
Then q part of the built.up front had
to be removed to allow me to crawl
in with the camera, after which 1t was
built up again. leaving only hole
sufficiently large for the lens to bear
directly on the carcass. In this rock
prison I spent nine days OF about nine
hours each. the jaeger coming up every
day about sunset to release me.
One day my attention was attract.
ed by the Tapping Of powerful wings.
and l expected every moment to see
either eagles or vultures appear on
the carcass U must explain that
could only see what was going on
through the camera lens itself. and my
view therefore was rather restricted).
Nothing came into sight, however:
but still the Tapping continued, and
soon became aware that fierce con.
flict was raging outside Sny prison.
The noise was tremendous; 1t really
sounded as II two express trains, or
perhaps two airships, were rushing
through the air in deadly combat.
Mingled with the beating Of great
wings I could hear cries Of rage and,
once or twice, actual blows struck.
From the nearness Of these sounds 1t
seemed that the duel was being fought
round the pile Of rock in which I was
concealed. But all could see were
the shadows Of the combatants gliding
mast at lightning speed. and I could
only guess at the truth; but 1t seemed
IN ma plain that an eagle Of some sort
was engaged in driving away vul-
ture or vultures from the carcass.
This conjecture was verified by B..
on my return to the camp. for he told
- that while fishing In the lake b.