The Prairie Falcon 



them; and if I find them, they are mine; and if I reach them, you may 

 wreak your vengeance on whom you will. I will not even reproach you 



for the rape of pullets 

 nor the carnage of 

 quails. Go to it, old 

 sport! Fill the 

 air with shrieks and 

 call heaven to witness 

 what a rogue you are ! 

 Aye, but you're a gay 

 fowl, and I'm o'er 

 fond of you! 



All the traditions 

 of chivalry, save gen- 

 tleness, and all the 

 associations of ro- 

 mance gather about 

 this bird. In speed, 

 in grace, in prowess, 

 and in skill, he is the 

 peer of any; and in 

 the choice of nesting 

 sites he is excelled by 

 none. Picture, if you 

 please, a granite cleft 

 in the foothills. The 

 road at the bottom 

 winds deviously over 

 intersecting talus beds, 

 "rock slides," while 

 the sun-kissed battle- 

 ments of riven rock 

 tower on either hand 

 to the height of a 

 thousand feet; and 

 they clear their own 

 debris in sheer walls 

 of at least half that 

 height. About the 

 brink of the precipice 

 a dozen Falcons are at 

 play. It is courting 



1611 



Redrawn by Allan Brooks from ; 

 READY! 



i by the Author 



