Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-19


| trees and for few feet climb practlc-
ally straight up.
Thu path, Was covered with snow
and Ice, which made the footing more
uncertain. The japanese lantern car
ried by the guide gave none too good
light, otherwise we might have Lost
our nerve and gone back to the hotel
II we really had seen how far mis-
step would have taken us.
1T was still very dark, and the dogs
frightened number Of japanese
'pheasants that had taken shelter for
the night near the srail.' The sudden
whlrr of their wings, and the noise
they made tryins TO fly thru the brush
In the dark, rather startled us at
times. The hurting dogs would beg
US to 60 back and try to get them.
Begin 10 Hear Ducks Going Over.
The worst OF the ascent was finally
made, and we turned to the south
west. toward Lake Motosu and walked
perhaps mile over severa! peaks TO
narrow pass twenty feet wide and
100 feet long, between two low noun
tains. where 'he ducks fly travelling TO
and from their feeding grounds.
In front of us the mountain was
very steep. and few of the tall trees,
growing high UP here and there
reached their tops a little above our
heads. At our backs the ground
broke away suddenly and 200 feet
below was Lake Motosu.S
1T was still very dark. but gradu-
ally the stars were turned out and be-
fore the last ones disappeared we
could hear the ducks going over. In
a few minutes it was light enough 10
see the birds, and then the shooting
began.
Never Had Such Sport Before.
MANY of the ffocks were good
sized. and few OF the smaller ones
few so low they nearly hit us. we
had to shoot them coming, otherwise
they would fall far below into the
lake. where even the dogs could not
retrieve. them. Nearly all OF the
ducks appeared to be mallards. They
were flying sixty to eighty miles an
hour at different heights, and
we could not see the low ones I'M
til they were nearly on us. II was
therefore difficult TO judge the proper
lead After the shooting was over
we all agreed that a lead OF eight to
twelve feet brought down the most
birds. where they ~ere nearly over US.
Mr.. Binder and ! agreed that we had
never had such sport. but we We're
able to pick up but fourteen ducks.
Some were in the lake. others we're
far down the mountain side, and many
which were shot at had winged their
way right on to their feeding GROUNDS
and thanked their stars that our
Judgment as to the proper lead was
poor. The fight was over before q
O'Clock and we had time 10 look about.
Geraeeus Sunrise Worth the Effort.
ITO the northwest, perhaps thirty
miles up the valley. we could see the
beautiful snow covered Japapesc Alps
In the opposite direction, tucked IN
between the hills and mountains, were
Lakes Motosu. Shoji. Nishinoumi. and
Kawacuchi. Up to 300 or 400 years
ago the first three mentioned lakes
had been one continuous chain. but
the lava from Fujis eruptions ran
down and made three distinct lakes.
two Of them separated for more than
four miles
ITO the southeast of US rose ma
jestic old Mount Full 10 height OF
more than 10000 feet. Snow covered
her top and lay in great white
mantle more than half way down her
lava ribbed sides. small clouds or
snow were constantly being blown
out Of her crater. The morning was
very clear. and the gorgeous sunrise
a little to the right Of Full was worth
all the effort the climb cost US.
ION our way home we got two beau
tiful male pheasants. which increased
the size OF our bag materially.
Then Moro Gormandixins.
And perhaps YOU think $50 didn't
find us ready for breakfast. Oatmeal,
ham and eggs, toast, jam. and coffee:
and then a repeat order OF ham and
eggs and coffee. Then. we were
ashamed 10 ask for another serving,
we helped ourselves to oranges off the
Christmas tree and ate them.
During the shooting / wished Rod
ney and Innes, and Upton, and Rubee
could be with me-
=