| When Waders Attack Part II | | | | back, justbetween the shoulder blades. A distinct smell |
| By J.S. Jones | | | | of burning clothreached my nostrils, and then the hot |
| My waders can attack in a variety of ways, and it's | | | | spot on my back blossomedinto full-blown pain. |
| interestingto see the approach they will take on each | | | | Apparently, the waders had seen anopportunity and |
| outing. For instance, | | | | caught the burning ember in mid air to add |
| I was out goose hunting with a local farmer when one | | | | someexcitement to the morning. Jake had apparently |
| of the moreoriginal attempts took place. | | | | noticed the smellof smoke as well. He looked over his |
| Jake was a farmer with two great loves in his live, | | | | shoulder and said in acountry drawl, "You're on fire." |
| goose huntingand fine cigars. I rarely saw him do one | | | | Then turned back to his dogyelling, "Bring that goose |
| without the other. Hehad set up a sunken blind on his | | | | on over here." |
| land, surrounded by water andthick with food for the | | | | In the meantime, I began to do a fair impression of a |
| geese. The roof on the blind was springloaded and | | | | chimpanzeeon amphetamines. Hopping from foot to |
| when the geese were landing, you pressed | | | | foot, slapping my back overmy shoulder, I tried to |
| upwardslightly, and it retracted leaving the top of the | | | | extinguish the flames. The waders hadstrategically |
| blindcompletely open for shooting. | | | | placed the ember about half way down my back |
| We had just taken shots at a flock of three geese, | | | | sothat the flames couldn't be reached. Then panic set |
| and Jake hadclimbed out of the blind to the ground | | | | in and theflight instinct took over, but the confined |
| above with his dog. Theyset about retrieving the birds, | | | | space of the blinddidn't give me much room to |
| while I remained in the blindwith my elbows propped on | | | | maneuver. As I circled the blind forthe thirtieth time, I felt |
| the edge of the blind. Jake croucheddown a couple of | | | | a rush of cold water envelop my body. |
| feet in front of me with his boots at about myeye level | | | | I looked up to see Jake standing over me, grinning like |
| and admired his dog working. | | | | a raccoonin a chicken farm. He held his soaking wet |
| While watching his dog, Jake reached up and took his | | | | hat in his hands. |
| cigar out ofhis mouth, stretched his arm behind him, and | | | | "Thanks, buddy, that was close," I said. |
| flicked off theashes. I watched the red-hot end of the | | | | "Don't mention it." |
| cigar detach and flyharmlessly over my shoulder. The | | | | "That was awful quick thinking, you're a heck of a guy |
| dog had located a bird and wastromping back to the | | | | to ruinyour hat for me." |
| blind with it hanging from his mouth. | | | | "Yeah, we go way back. Besides, I hate paperwork." |
| Shortly, I felt a warm spot begin to develop on my | | | | Copyright (R) J. S. |