Lower coast gazette., 1913-11-29

we became aware that, out in the
open, vast flocks were feeding, un-
disturbed by all our firing. From
across the river came in increasing
numbers, and there was no uncertain
ty about the place where they in
tended to stop. The sight mystitied
us, until Henry met us near the flood
gate. This was a huge trunk set
midway across the bank, used in
Glowing" the field when the crop
needed it. The overseer vas evil
IDENTIFY less apprehensive about the
freshet than about the birds.
"Boss men," he said to us, 1--WE
sure are going to get all the birds
on the river. / know Mr.. Mani
gault's banks went an hour ago. Can't
you hear the water rolling over the
Big Harry"-the nickname Of a
bank-''at Bellefeld? All the rice.
birds from those places will come tc
us. They can't get rice on a flowed
field. l hear the waters dropping up
at Elmwood; | don't think it will
top this bank. But we will have tt
do a piece of shooting, or this rice
will be eaten up completely"
It was not often that Henry made
so long a speech, and we were i'm
pressed.
"What is the best thing to do?'
Tom asked. "We haven't men enough
on the place to watch 300 acres il
the birds make up their minds t.
eat us out"
The negro, who had guarded tn
rice-crop through all it's stages 0
growth, from the time when it hat
been sown broadcast in the black mu'
until now, when it was almost read.
for the sickle, looked anxiously owe
the field, then up at the birds flock
ing in the sky.
"We must get down into the rice,
he said. we can't do much on tn
margins. While we are waiting here
they will clean out that prize fifteen
acre strip in the middle yonder."
He pointed in the direction of tn
spot; we could see the rice there shak
ing with myriads Of feasters. Abov
us the birds continued to gather, un
til the very sky seemed alive, an
the hot, still air was vibrant wit
the monotonous, metallic pink-pank
pink-pank! Of their cries.
Far off in the field we got a vie,
Of the size of one Of the f1ocks whe
it was momentarily disturbed by
sharp-shinned hawk that darted on
Of a cypress and sped across the ope
toward a p~ine-ceyered point of Ian,
With a dull roar, the birds rose in
dark cloud, flew over the golden ric
and settled once more out Of sigh
We knew that a flock Of that kin
could ruin an acre in a day, and thu
in ten days the myliads that had co
lected would get the better part
the whole crop. The rice-bird is
sad g%lutton, and will devour an il
credible number of the soft, succuler
grains. Perched on a rice-stalk, h
will eat his fill; when he begins I
feel uncomfortable, when his bill b,
comes clawed and sticky, he will no
and slide down the stem toward til
water in which the rice stands. Thel
he will drink, wash his beak, and s
find himself ready for another feas
In the rice before us there wei
, thousands Of birds going through thu
simple yet disastrous performance.
The freshet had not topped tt
bank, but it had covered the fields
the other planters along the rive
. delta. Thus it had robbed the bire
J Of their feeding-places, and had sci
them all to us to devour the rice
the Manifold.
While we stood there, Prince,
negro boy of our age, and u cor
panion in most Of our hunting al
fishing trips, came along the bal
with his musket. He grinned as
approached.
~ dunno" he said, show we
gwine to onrabble this great ponder
ton. Them builds is as thick
black pepper IN a DOttle.
We began to laugh, but Prince
nonsense did not amuse Henry.
"How much ammunition have y
got?" he asked Prince.
Prince felt the little canvass sht
bag that he carried, and shook t
powder-horn that hung oyer ]
shoulder.
"Only about six loads" he al
wered.
We decided that we had better
back and stock up with ammunitio
On the way there we planned how
should take charge of the field. '
would divide it into four parts, a
each Of us would undertake to {
fend a quarter.