New-York tribune., 1910-07-31

the meshes. 1t was the chance of looms lifetime
Flashing downward, he darted this way and that
SatCaly among the frantic prisoners tranShxng halt
a dozen n succession, to make sure OF them, before
he seized a big trout for his immediate meal Grip
ping the victim savagey his bill, he slanted toward
the surfaCe-and plunged into a slack blight OF the
net.
Luckily for him, he within foot of the air be-
fore he struck the deCeu meshes. Carried by the
impetus of his rush. he bore the net upward with him,
and emerged into the full In the shock of his
prise he dropped the fish, and at the time gulped
his lungs full of fresh air. For perhaps half minute
break through the elusive obstacle, which yielded
freely that he could get hold upon it. yet always
thrust him back with suave but nexorabe persistence
At length, realizing himself foled in this direction he
sank downward like stone, thinking to back out of
the struggle and somewhere else. But, to his hor
ror the blight of the net down with him, refusing
be left. In his struggles he had completely enneshed
himself.
And now probably for the very first time in a not
unevenfu life the great loon lost his head. He began
to fight blndly, overwhelmed by panic terror. Plung
ing kicking beating with half fettered wings, striking
with his beak se1niparalyzed fashion because he had
not room to stretch his neck to its full length, he
soon utterly exhausted. Moreover, he more than
half drowned At last, d1nness coming the
golden amber light, he gave up in despair. With
feeble desparng stroke of his Webbed feet he strove
to get back to the surface. Happily for him. the net
in this direction relentless 1t yielded without
too much resistance, and the hopeessy enanged pris
came to the top. Lying there in the meshes he
could at least draw breath.
WHEN little later in the day, he saw boat ap-
w preaching up the lake, with two Of the dreaded
man creatures it, he gave final mighty struggle,
which lashed the water into foam and sent the i'm
prsoned fish into fresh paroxysrs, and then, with the
stocsn that some of the wild creatures display
in the moment of supreme and hopeless peril he lay
quite still, eying the foe deiantly
One of the beings in the boat was that same lanky
youth whose attempt to shoot the loon had been such
conspicuous failure. The other the lanky youths
father the pioneer himself At sight Of the trussed up
captive the youth shouted exultantly:
It's that durn loon, what's eatin ali the fish in the
lake. II fix his ishin'!" and lifting his from the
thole pins he raised it strike the hep pless bird
Don't be sich fool, Zeb! interrupted the father.
Yell git more money for that bird alive, down to
Fredericton than all the fish in the nets worth 4
loon like that amt comr'on He's beauty"
The youth dropped hi oar and leaned over to snatch
up the prize But he Jumped back with aIacrty as
his father snapped, Look Quit"
What for?" he demanded rather sheepish1y.
Why, replied the older man, hell stick you ike
a pig, with that knife beak Of hisn if ye don't look
sharp. Reach yer jacket. Well wrap up his head
TIL we kin git him clear o the net
The youth obeyed. He1pessly swathed in the heavy
hOmespun Jacket, whose strong nansrel enraged and
dauned him, the great bird disentanged from the
net and lifted into the boat. Laughingly the father
r)aSSaI he bundle ALONG the o1nUa1e rO his son