THE WANDERER 115 



bull, who gave at every lunge, retaliating not 

 at all. 



Outlined against a glowing sky the Berserk 

 pressed his victory home, hugging the slippery 

 grass with all the force of which he was capable. 

 His weighty head, fast locked to that of his enemy, 

 tossed backwards and forwards low to ground. 



He was merciless, and in the pride of his royal 

 youth saw the looming space and the drop to 

 nothingness as a tribute to his strength and prowess. 

 He had driven his enemy to its verge, and now 

 would thrust him over. 



Nearer, nearer yet ! 



For a quick, wild second it almost seemed that 

 the old bull placed his back feet in space and as 

 quickly recovered himself. Together the two 

 great creatures tottered on the brink of the yawn- 

 ing abyss, and then gently and very quickly the 

 elder fell backwards, pulling the conqueror with 

 him. Their interlocked horns had no give in 

 them. Vanquished and victor made an exit in 

 company. 



There was no sound. The lake, purple-black 

 and forbidding, lay unruffled. On a rocky eminence 

 a bald eagle, gorged beyond the power of move- 



