STORIES

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

The Flying Salesman

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By Bruce Collins

Community: Vancouver Island

My brother and sister-in-law operate Arrowvale Campground on the Somass River in Port Alberni. This summer, two families of German tourists drove in and asked to have a look around the place before they committed to stay. My niece hopped up and offered to show them around. She toured them past the cottages and through the campground, finishing at the riverbank.

While the wives and kids took in the scenery, one of the men asked, “Are there any fish in the river?”

“Oh, sure,” replied my niece, “There are lots.”

The men exchanged a skeptical glance. Perhaps they’d heard similar claims before.

While they stood considering, a bald eagle swooped down from his perch on the opposite bank, and with a large splash, grabbed for a fish. He came up empty, circled around right in front of them—the people actually stepped back—and dove a second time. This time he snagged a good-sized young salmon, and with some effort, flew off upstream.

A few moments of silence followed, as all watched the bird heading home with his supper. He flew around the bend in the river and was lost from sight. At once, the two men turned to my niece, and said, “We’ll stay.”