THE BELTED KINGFISHER 



"Can't you take it?" asked Raymond. 



"I must," I answered, but I did not know what I was attempt- 

 ing, for that picture cost me the highest price I ever paid for 

 any study, with the exception of .one landscape. 



"Cover the hole with your hat until something can be found 

 to stop it," I said. Raymond in his eagerness splashed through the 

 frog-pond and did as he was told. A piece of sod securely stopped 

 the opening. Then I figured on the light and where my camera 

 must stand. Of course the location fell in the frog-pond. There 

 was no way to place the camera, so we began carrying stumps 

 and rotten logs to build a foundation. When we had a fairly 

 solid basis we carried rails from the fence near-by and laid them 

 lengthwise and then across until we had a solid platform above the 

 water. Then I set up my tallest step-ladder, placed an eight-by- 

 ten camera on top and focused on the opening. The camera 

 was just right, so I put in a plate, attached the sixty- foot hose, 

 and tossed the bulb up on the embankment. 



Then I went around in front, set the shutter at a snap, and 

 climbed up to remove the sod. Raymond crowded close behind me 

 to help and we broke into a colony of digger wasps. They 

 swarmed all over us. Raymond got one on his ankle and one on his 

 arm. I had one on my arm and one down the back of my neck in- 

 side my linen collar. I do not remember that anything ever hurt 

 me worse. It was the middle of June, our time of most intense 

 heat; I had worked carrying rails and logs until my blood was 

 boiling, and the sting was directly over my spine and near the base 

 of the brain. The thing so paralyzed me that it was some time be- 

 fore I could move to doctor Raymond with wet clay. 



I sent him into the willows in front of the nest, gave him 

 some lunch and water, and told him to sleep or do anything save 

 make a movement. If he happened to see the young coming he 

 was to signal me. Then I went up on that embankment, lay 



137 



