296 



THE MUSEUM. 



1 at once found that the cliff shelved 

 in almost from the top, and as in most 

 places I could not touch the rock, I 

 soon began to spin around slowly, 

 which did not add to my comfort. I 

 shall never forget the first sensation of 

 the moment. Though I was positive 

 that there was little or no absolute 

 danger, yet I was in some way far 

 from feeling secure. Suppose the 

 strands of the rope should wear away 

 by the friction against the sharp edge 



of the cliff,or that in some way B 



should for a moment lose his hold, or 



if this or that and then I would 



"brace"and try and think of something 

 else. First, just the bare wall of the 

 overhanging cliff and then a momen- 

 tary view of the surrounding country 

 below and then a hurried look below 

 me where T now caught glimpses of 

 the nest on a broad f^at ledge still 

 some ways down. Thus, I must have 

 gone down a hundred feet, and was 

 just congratulating myself npon an 

 approach to at least temporary safety, 

 when I suddenly heard, close at hand, 

 a tremendous flapping of wings, and 

 the next moment I received (so ij: 

 seemed to my excited senses) at least a 

 score of heavy blows on the head and 

 shoulders, accompained by several fear- 

 ful scratches upon my head and neck. 

 I had been holding the rope with both 

 hands, but now, instinctively I ducked 

 my head under one hand and arm and 

 with the other grabed my revolver. 

 I dare not look up, but reali;^ing my 

 somewhat dangerous position, I swung 

 the revolver, butt end up (and it was a 

 very heavy one), violently back and 

 forth above my head for a moment, re- 

 ceiving &t the same time a blow on the 

 hand from one of the eagle's talons. 



This proved to be the best move I 

 could have made, for it drove them 

 back, and looking carefully up, I took 

 a hurried aim and succeeded in "drop- 

 ping" one of the birds, which frighten- 

 ed the other one away. 



Meanwhile, my friend, ignorant of 

 the true state of affairs, had continued 

 to lower me, and just as I terminated 

 this strange encounter, I felt my feet 

 touch the ledge, and after resting a 

 little, I worked my way along to the 

 nest. It was a huge affair, fully three 

 feet high and as many in diameter, and 

 was constructed of sticks of various 

 sizes, some of them as thick as one's 

 wrist, but dwindling in size to small 

 twigs at the top. It was almost flat, 

 scantily lined with pieces of bark, and 

 feathers from the breast of the female 

 bird, and contained the eggs. The 

 eggs, fine specimens, which I have still 

 in my collection, measured 41-2 x 2 

 3-4 inches, and were of a cream col- 

 ored hue, irregularly marked with red- 

 dish-brown blotches. Well to bring 

 the story to a close, after securing the 

 eggs I gave the signal to be raised, and 

 finally reached terra firma once more. 

 But a sorry looking sight, with coat 

 and collar soaked with blood from the 

 scratches on my neck and head, and 

 large strips of skin torn from my 

 hands. After this w^e soon made our 

 way down the butte and secured the 

 eagle. It proved to be a fine speci- 

 men of the Golden Eagle, well mark- 

 ed, and measured 7 feet 10 inches from 

 tip to tip. Then starting for home, we 

 reached the "camp" just after dark, 

 tired and hungry, but well pleased 

 with our two days' outing among the 

 "foot-hills." — /. D. Gorha»i in the 

 Naturalist and Collector, 



