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