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Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1077, 24 August 1883, Page 2

How si Momahaki Settlei* Cleared out tlie Hawks.

Momahaki is' situated: .about seven miles off the main road, and is literally swarming with hawks which fly about, apparently unmolested by the settlers. Now, an old Highland settler, whose heart was grieved at the loss of so many fat fowls, determined that he would make an example of some of them, even though he stayed from work for a week to watch them. He waited patiently for three days quite free from their attacks, declaring meanwhile that they smelt “ ponther frae an awfu’ distance.” At Inst on the fourth day an enormous black hawk came soaring over the house ami alighted among the fowls, who each and all set up a sharp, nervous cackle

and fl nl helter-skelter for safety below the house, reminding ih- 1 old gentleman

forcibly of ilie flight of !he Sassenachs it Dunbar. Now, he had forgot to load the old Enfield rifle, which hung about 10 foot above the fireplace—a very sportsmanlike thing, it must be said ; bin in his wrath at the audacity of the hawk, taking, ns he said, the fowls “ fran anaith his very e’en,” he forgot all about rifle, powder or shot and ran out bareheaded to the garden, where ho waved his arms wildly about and uttered a piercing “ shoo,” which roused the old hawk, who was at that time enjoying a dainty little bit at the corner of the house, and who flew away, carrying with him the remains of his repast. Our hero, however, appeared quite regardless of this, and in the i lea that there was more than one hawk regaling himself on fat chicken, rushed inside for the rifle. Being a man of short stature he couldn’t reach it, and after making some frantic upward leaps he took a stool and stood upon it, but found that still he lacked some inches to reach it. Quick ns thought he placed another stool on top of the former, and stood upon it. He had, however, placed the stools too far away and in his haste to grasp the rifle, lost his balance and fell forwards accompanied by the stools. He uttered a few very expressive words, more pointed than moral; and after wiping the perspiration from his steaming forehead, prepared once more to ascend. By dint of swaying from one side to the other “ to keep his balance true,” he got hold of the rifle and descended to the floor, rather slower than he did on the previous occasion. But yet there was the powder and shot to get, and after pulling out the emtents of various drawers, he found both stowed carefully past in an old teapot, as if the owner had been afraid of a repetition of the gunpowder plot, and as the sweat coursed down his cheeks commenced to load.

His powder flask which was rather the “ waur o’ wear” leaked badly and he had poured down at least three charges before he came to put in the wadding, which consisted of nearly a whole edition of the Highlander. He was more successful with the shot, and after having recourse to the Highlander again, and having pul on a cap, was ready. He wentcautiously to the door, opened it and peeped out. He saw nothing. “Hist! what is that coining stalking round the house; it must be a hawk.” So thinking, he shouldered his rifle, took steady aim and fired. To his great joy, the bird, after a few convulsive flaps of the the wings, accompanied by piercing cries, lay on the gravel walk quite dead. But yet our hero was afraid to approach, for as he said, “it micht tear the skin afi my ban’s if I gied near it,” At last he mustered up courage to approach, and found to his consternation, that instead of a hawk he had shot his prize black rooster. As the old gentleman’s optical powers are at no time of the strongest, and being in a groat flurry at the time, he had failed to detect the difference. With great feeling he repeated these lines : “ Best of thy kind, adieu ! The frantic deed that laid thee low, This hand shall ever rue.” Since that lime ho has turned as it were “ his spears to pruning hooks,” and has hung the old rifle on the same rusty nails, swearing never to take it down. This gentleman belonged to the clan that “ wad hurkle to nane,” but in the end he has had to “ hurkle” to the hawks.