102 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



Creek. He walked slowly, examining all the hawk 

 nests and other bunches in the trees, which in the 

 dim light took on odd shapes, and in some instances 

 resembled turkeys. Everything was quiet, and not 

 even the hoot of an owl broke the stillness. While 

 thinking of the lonesomeness a scratching and scram- 

 bling on the ice of the creek attracted his attention, 

 and Dyche saw a black object moving near a water- 

 hole. Thinking it was a raccoon he sent a load of 

 shot at it, and it spread out on the ice. Drawing it 

 ashore with a long pole, Dyche tied its legs together 

 and prepared to hang it to the limb of a tree, when 

 the peculiar feeling of its tail induced him to light a 

 match to see his prize. He found that he had killed 

 a magnificent otter. 



Wandering up the creek for an hour or two longer, 

 he was just on the point of turning back when he 

 espied a large object roosting in the top of a tall cot- 

 tonwood tree. After watching it for some time he 

 decided that it was a big gobbler and fired a shot 

 at it, taking the best aim that he could in the dim 

 light. The bird came down with a thump which told 

 that the shot had been fatal. Tying its feet together 

 and hanging it to a tree, Dyche found by the light of 

 a match that he had killed a large golden eagle. 



After dinner next day Dyche started alone for the 

 jack-oak thickets. He had had enough of cowboy 

 guides and severed all connection with Joe. He made 

 his way slowly through the thicket, over the low sand- 

 hills, for two or three miles. Numerous places where 

 turkeys had scratched away leaves searching for food 

 were found. An occasional coyote was seen skulking 



