The Hermit Naturalist (Classic Reprint)

Angebote / Angebote:

Excerpt from The Hermit NaturalistOn a frosty morning in the autumn of '93, when I was laboriously rowing against the strong current of the Delaware, above tide. Water, in search of a specimen of wild fowl for my cabinet, I saw the old hermit, sitting likea statue in his anchored boat. His shotgun rested on his knees, and he was evidently awaiting a shot at the wild-fowl that occasion ally ¿y over at this season of the year. Aux ious to secure a nearer view of my hermit friend, I rowed towards him in such a manner as not to arouse his suspicions of my curiosity inspired purpose. I rowed but a short distance when I observed a fine ¿ock of wild ducks ¿y over me. At once I turned my attention to the lone sportsman. He also saw the game and was standing easily in his boat and taking care ful aim. As the ¿ock passed directly over him he fired, when to my surprise and horror, he lost his balance, dropped his gun and madly grasped at the side of his boat as he went over board and disappeared from my anxious gaze, in the swiftly rushing current. Believing the current would carry him far below his anchored boat, I pulled with all my strength to intercept him as he came down stream. Soon his head appeared above the surface of the water, a hun dred yards or so from me. Increasing my efforts I soon rested in his way as the swift current swept him toward me, and I called to him to seize hold of my boat. He was an ex pert swimmer and soon grasped the stern of my boat, when I shipped my oars, and helped him aboard, chilled from the effects of his untimely bath.When safely seated in my boat, and having recovered his breath after his exhausting efforts.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.