A PAIR OF EAGLES 79 



and flew to a tall living pine a few hundred feet distant. 

 Here standing on a thick limb with the pine boughs above 

 and about him, he was free from the possibilities of an 

 attack. 



Presently the psprey flew out over the lake and, spying 

 a fish near the surface below, paused, while on hovering 

 wings it marked well the spot. For full five seconds it 

 hung there in the air, then suddenly, with a heavy splash 

 pounced into the lake. The water was still foaming as the 

 bird came from the surface and with dripping wings grad- 

 ually raised, and started across the lake. In its talons I 

 could plainly see its finny victim. Would the eagle attempt 

 to rob the bird of its prey? Anxiously I waited to see, for 

 I had often read and heard of the sight. The osprey was 

 crossing the little lake directly toward me. As I watched 

 the pine, there was a sudden swaying of the boughs and 

 there full and free to view came the great American 

 eagle— the emblem of our national independence. With a 

 mighty spring it had launched into the air and its huge 

 wings were carrying it at a tremendous rate. 



The osprey caught sight of the pursuer and its half 

 pitiful cries of ^'ki, M, hi/' suggested the anxiety of its 

 mind. At once it put forth every effort of its wings. On 

 came the birds, both flying higher as they advanced, each 

 endeavoring to rise above the other. The fish hawk sped 



