In May, 1880, on Platt River, in Benzie County, Michigan, an old
man was showing an Indian named Pokagon how to catch pigeons in
their nesting-place. He led him to an open pole-pen which he
called his bait-bed, where he scattered a bucketful of wheat.
While the two watched in ambush the pigeons poured into the pen
and gorged themselves. “Come on, you redskin,” said the old man
to Pokagon, and they caught about a hundred fine birds. “How did
you do it?” asked the Indian in surprize. With one eye half shut
and a sly wink with the other, the old man replied: “That wheat
was soaked in whisky.”
How many other than birds have been snared by the same whisky-bait!
(62)