I carried him in my arms; he didn't struggle or offer to strike me, and when I put him on the floor in front of the kitchen stove, he just rested quietly on his bell, held his neck erect, gave no sign of suffering fron any wound, and though he was motionless, his small black eyes seemed to be ever keenly watchful. His formidable bill, very sharp, three or three and a half inches long, and shaped like a pickaxe, was held perfectly level. But the wonder was that he did not struggle or make the slightest movement. We had a tortoise shell cat, who was so fond of lying under the stove in frosty weather that it was difficult to even poke him out with a broom; but when he saw and smelled that big fishy, black and white, speckled bird, the like of which he never seen before, he rushed wildly to the farthest corner of the kitchen, looked back cautiously and suspiciously, and began to make a study of the handsome but dangerous looking stranger. Becoming more and more curious and interested, he at length advanced a step or two for a nearer view and nearer smell; and as the wonderful bird kept absolutely motionless, he was encouraged to venture gradually nearer and nearer until within perhaps five or six feet of its breast. Then the wary loon prepared to defend himself by slowly, almost imperceptibly drawing back his long pickaxe bill, and without the slightest fuss or stir held it level and ready just over his tail. With that dangerous bill drawn so far back out of the way, the cat's confidence in the stranger's peaceful intentions seemed almost complete, and thus encouraged, he at last ventured forward with wondering, questioning eyes and quivering nostrils until he was only eighteen or twenty inches from the loon's smooth white breast. When the beautiful bird, apparently as peaceful and inoffensive as a flower, saw that his hairy yellow enemy had arrived at the right distance, the loon, who evidently was a fine judge of the reach of his spear, shot it forward quick as lightning-flash, in marvelous contrast to the wonderful slowness of the preparatory poising, backward motion. The aim was true to a hair-breadth. The cat was struck right in the center of his forehead, between the eyes. I thought his skull was cracked. Perhaps it was.
Posted by oblivion-s-home
at 10:43 PM EDT
Updated: Saturday, May 21, 2011 11:44 AM EDT
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Updated: Saturday, May 21, 2011 11:44 AM EDT
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