At the Water’s Edge 
ter season, suddenly a bald eagle came upon the 
scene. He was soon joined by another, even 
larger than himself ; and, in broad evolutions, 
now high, now low, at times the merest specks 
in the blue distance, and then with majestic 
dash quite close at hand, they swung from side 
to side of the noble river, and far beyond its 
edge. Their motive power, in their gigantic 
circuits, seemed to be merely the force of their 
imperial will, so slight was their exertion in 
comparison with the energy in evident reserve. 
Occasionally they moved their wings with state- 
ly beat, but otherwise pursued their passage 
broadly floating in sublime repose. Mingling 
amicably with numerous gulls, this lordly 
stranger still seemed distant from them, even 
when most near, so profoundly different was he, 
both in spirit and appearance. 
‘* Around him some mysterious circle thrown 
Repell’d approach, and showed him still alone.” 
Apparently it was only acase of kingly exercise 
that morning—sportive, yet intensely dignified 
—for I did not see either of the pair gather any 
food from the river, which they closely ap- 
proached at times; nor did they cause any con- 
sternation among the ducks, and a hungry eagle 
197 
