The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-11-11

be flown at once-are employed as as |
sistants to the hounds which eventual |
ly pull down the quarry. The falconer
shown in the illustration may be sup
posed to be on the lookout for game
of this larger kind. The saker, which
stands unhooded on his left fist, will
be thrown off as soon as ever that
game Is on foot, and will. by its su.
perior speed, be enabled to stoop at
the quadruped. whatever 1t is. long
before any hound could get within
range OF 1t. Either the stoop will re-
suit in severe buffet or blow dealt
on the side of the head of the fugitive,
or else II Will be eluded by sharp
double" on the part of the quarry. In
either case, the headlong course of the
animal will be delayed. and is almost
sure to be DETECTED from It's original
direction to another. so that the
hound. which is allowed to start when
the falcon is already hard at work,
can profit by the diversion so made
and take advantage OF every turn and
twist which the victim may make.
Falcon and hound are, OF course.
we'll accustomed to act thus In con.
cert; and each understands how val.
liable Is the assistance rendered by the
other as an ally. No doubt the gazelle,
when attacked by the falcon. is at
first too much Intent upon saving IT,
self. II possible. from the pain and
annoyance caused by blows with the
saker's talons-even II worse mischief
In the shape OF dizziness or a broken
neck were not apprehended-to pay
any attention to the hound still In the
distance. But when his nearer ap-
pearance on the scene has made 1t
evident that his attentions are still
more to be dreaded than those OF the
foe In the air. the problem how to
avoid this double danger becomes al.
most too difficult for the brain Of the
fugitive. No wonder. therefore. that
the chase SO often ends In kill. Two
elements besides skill are required for
success In this kind Of sport: that is
to say. speed and strength. The first
Ia supplied by the saker. and the last
by the greyhound. while the attribute
Of skill may be fairly claimed by the
man who has organized the whole
show.
When the quarry is kite. ring
ing" flight Is almost sure to occur
The kite is far too proud of his pow
ers to doubt that he will be able to
keep the air." as falconers call It:
that Is to say. to beat the hawks In
fair flying upwards. So he climbs uI
1 hot oil I'd fn
fer on similar occasions--in big spira
: circles. The pursuers Tn their part
. adopt the same system. SO that al
, the three may be seen travelling some
times In the same and at other times
D quite In opposite directions. their one
) object being to get up as quick as they
can by what they deem the nearest
) route. A confirmed Cockney might
perhaps. compare them to belated pas
. sengers rushing up the stairs OF al
; underground railway to keep an ap
q pointment at which they are overdue
q But the circles made by the kite ant
5 the sakers are more like three hun
y dred than three yards In diameter
/ Even II the falcons are 80 stronl
: and In such fine condition that the!
Q get above the quarry. their work Il
i then hardly more than begun. On,
I after another they will make stoops a
d their adversary. throwing up. II the!
r miss, SO as to remain still with tn
o command Of the air.
g When a kill occurs. the falcone
d must not fail to have kept pace witt
|, the flight. and be at hand to make Il
8 at once. SO as to substitute some 9th
a er quarry for the defunct kite. Fo
8 II once the saker has been allowed +
L .break in" to one OF these uncleal
~ birds and taste the flesh. the chance
: are that she will ever afterwards N
' fuse to dy at him at all.