806 NORWAY. 



watch him. But knowing the shyness and sharp -sighted* 

 ness of the bird I soon gave up all hope of getting a shot, 

 Presently he made a rapid circling flight downwards, and, 

 after hovering a few minutes, alighted on a cliff several 

 hundred yards distant from my place of concealment. 

 Hope at once revived ; I rose, and began, with the ut- 

 most caution, to creep towards him. The rugged nature 

 of the ground favoured my approach, else I should never 

 have succeeded in evading the glance of his bold and 

 watchful eye. 



When I had approached to within about eighty or 

 ninety yards, I came to an open space, across which it 

 was impossible to pass without being seen. This was 

 beyond conception vexing. To lose him when almost 

 within my grasp was too bad ! I thought of trying a 

 long shot, but feeling certain that it would be useless, 

 I prepared, as a last resource, to make a sudden rush 

 towards him and get as near as possible before he should 

 rise. 



The plan was successful. Cocking both barrels I darted 

 out of my place of concealment with the wild haste of a 

 maniac, and, before the astonished eagle could launch 

 himself off the cliff, I had lessened the distance between 

 us by at least thirty yards. Then I took rapid aim, and 

 fired both barrels almost simultaneously. 



I might as well, apparently, have discharged a pop-gun 

 at him. Not a quiver of wing or tail took place. He did 

 not even accelerate his majestic flight, as the shots rever 

 berated from cliff t N cliff, and I watched him sail slowly 



