Page:Recollections of My Boyhood.djvu/11

Rh there would be. Where the disease was said to he in the blood, the blood was to be drawn off, leaving enough blood in the body to keep the spark of life burning until new blood could be supplied. In those days I think it would have been difficult to find a man or woman without scars from the lance.

Wild turkeys were plentiful in the woods and we often heard them calling and gobbling near the house; they were highly prized as a game bird and a hunter could generally bag all he wanted in a few hours. I often trapped for quail and other small game; the trap was a small box made of boards set up on triggers in such a way that pulling at the bait, which was attached to one of the triggers, would allow the box to fall and enclose the game. One morning I found a rabbit had been in the trap but had gnawed out and made its escape. What surprised me though, was the great size of the hole he had cut in one side of the trap to crawl out at; it was large enough for a coyote. He doubtless considered himself much larger than he was. I knew it was a rabbit by the tracks on the snow. At another time I visited my trap, and looking through the cracks from the top of the box, discovered I had caught a red bird, about the size of a jay bird. I was delighted when I saw what I had caught, for it is a very pretty bird and I had often wished I had one; so I raised one side of the trap just enough to allow me to put my right hand under and seize the bird. The bird, though, was quicker than I, for he seized me first with both his feet and made a swipe at my thumb with his beak, taking out quite a slice. His claws were like crooked thorns, his bill was as sharp as a tack, and cut like a pair of scissors. I took hold of the bird with my left hand, but could not get it to let go of my right. While it dug its claws into my hand, it worked with its bill on my thumb and fingers, but I soon stayed the havoc he was making with his beak by securing his head with my left hand, grasping very lightly though, so as not to aggravate him. This much accomplished, I could do no more. The situation had become desperate. I would have gladly surrendered and given the bird his freedom, but the fight was on and I could not get the enemy off my hands. Realizing now that I must have help, I ran to the house, which was not over a hundred and fifty yards away, holding the bird up as if for exhibition. As soon as I got into the house the