A PAIK OF EAGLES 75 



it crosswise to the tree about five feet from the ground. 

 Clambering upon this board by the aid of climbing irons 

 strapped to my feet, I stood and nailed another cleat in 

 like manner five feet above the first. A rope thrown over 

 one shoulder and tied around the tree aided me in holding 

 my position as I nailed. The strips of wood were drawn 

 up with a cord as they were used, my companion on the 

 ground setting the nails in each beforehand. 



By this slow method I reached the nest at the end of an 

 hour and a half. Being on the underside, however, was by 

 no means equivalent to being in a position to see into the 

 nest. Above my head was a cart load of sticks and rotting 

 twigs which had yet to be passed. In order to climb up one 

 of the large limbs against which the nest rested I was 

 obliged to tear away several armfuls of the material. The 

 dust from the decaying wood showered continually upon 

 me as I worked, getting into my eyes, ears and hair. As 

 I proceeded slowly upward, layer after layer of decaying 

 twigs and green stained fish bones were uncovered, show- 

 ing where the floor of each season's nursery had been. 



At length I raised my head above the level of the nest 

 and beheld lying flat upon their breasts two eaglets. They 

 were near the size of half grown chickens, and had bodies 

 covered with whitish down. They offered no resistance to 



