WITH BEAK AND CLAW 23 



Down from some distant eyrie, whence, with his 

 incredibly keen vision, he had been watching for 

 the return of the Fish-Hawk, swept the Bald Eagle 

 of Mattamuskee Lake. 



The Osprey looked up despairingly. 



Well he knew the call of the robber, that ''Hands 

 up!" of the air. 



With a smaller fish, perhaps, he might escape, 

 but now he was too heavily laden. 



The Eagle swooped down, its ruffled feathers and 

 huge size causing it to seem like a monster beside 

 the Fish-Hawk, himself of no mean proportions. 



As the living thunderbolt fell, the intended vic- 

 tim, a master flyer, swerved swiftly upwards and 

 to one side. 



Out into the full width of their seven-foot spread 

 shot the wings of the great Bald Eagle and his 

 stiff tail spread outward like a fan to stop his 

 downward plunge, the very force of his fall giving 

 him impetus to rise again in a sw^eeping curve. 

 Half a dozen powerful wing-strokes brought him 

 once more above the harassed Fish-Hawk. 



Not yet, however, was the latter ready to give up 

 his prey. 



At the second swoop of the Eagle he swerved 

 again, knowing well that his pursuer 's tactics were 



