44 ON THE BEACH AT DAYTON A. 



not see it fall, and knew nothing of the 

 eagle's presence until he fluttered to the 

 beach. 



Some days later, I saw the big thief 

 emblem of American liberty play his 

 sharp game to the finish. I was crossing 

 the bridge, and by accident turned and 

 looked upward. (By accident, I say, but I 

 was always doing it.) High in the air were 

 two birds, one chasing the other, a fish- 

 hawk and a young eagle with dark lie: id 

 and tail. The hawk meant to save his din- 

 ner if he could. Round and round he went, 

 ascending at every turn, his pursuer after 

 him hotly. For aught I could see, he stood 

 a good chance of escape, till all at once 

 another pair of wings swept into the field 

 of my glass. 



" A third is in the race ! Who is the third, 

 Speeding away swift as the eagle bird ? " 



It was an eagle, an adult, with head and 

 tail white. Only once more the osprey cir- 

 cled. The odds were against him, and he 

 let go the fish. As it fell, the old eagle 

 swooped after it, missed it, swooped again, 

 and this time, long before it could reach 

 the water, had it fast in his claws. Then 



