THIRD DAY. 43 
navigated the wood behind us, crossed an open sheet of water, 
and soon reached a large patch of trees. 
Ferenez whispered to me that this was the abode of the 
second pair of eagles, and with my gun ready I approached 
the edge of the wood. The tree on which the nest was built 
did not stand quite on the margin of the clump, but a few yards 
within it, where there was a group of huge black poplars 
still higher than the one at the previously described nesting- 
place. To our horror we noticed that everything was under 
water; so I went in the “ esikel”’ right under the nest, which 
was much smaller than the first, and was placed in the upper part 
of a leafy black poplar, being pretty well screened by branches. 
The eagle was not at home, and as we were discussing the 
possibility of concealing ourselves under the very unfavour- 
able circumstances, the pair of birds, already disturbed by our 
presence, were sailing about over the tree-trops, screaming 
loudly. For a moment all seemed to be lost, tor they mounted 
in ever-widening circles up to the highest regions, closely 
following all our movements. All at once we remarked a large 
old oak lying prone, with only some parts of it projecting above 
the surface of the water. To this tree we got the “ csikel” 
as near as we could, and, with my gun on my back, I crept 
along on all fours to its driest part. It was not a very com- 
fortable seat, and it required some exertion to maintain my 
position on the sloping surface. Moreover ants and insects 
of all kinds were using the place as a refuge from the rising 
waters, and showed very plainly how unwelcome my yisit 
was to them. 
Hodek had gone off some distance with the crafts, and 
when the eagles noticed this they sank towards the nest ; but 
my position was unfortunately too evident, for the shy birds 
again rose high inthe air, sounding their cries of alarm. I now 
quickly called for the “ csikeln,’ and getting into one of them 
looked about for another place ; anda hundred yards from the 
