THE "DESOLATER DESOLATE." 13 



" The swan made a vain attempt to escape ; but his 

 enemy, striking him under the belly and under the wings, 

 with restless eagerness, contrived in four or five minutes 

 to fling him downward, with his back upon the earth. 



"The most hideous spectacle possible was then pre- 

 sented to our horrified gaze. The fierce bird clasped the 

 bleeding body of the beautiful northern pilgrim with his 

 greedy talons ; he muttered with a terrible delight, as if 

 enjoying the sight of the last convulsions of his victim. 

 Meantime the female remained perched upon her tree, 

 calm and indifferent, trusting to the strength of her lord 

 and master for the successful issue of their stratagem. 



" But from the moment the swan ceased to move, she 

 understood that the banquet was ready for her partici- 

 pation; and flinging herself into the air, she crossed 

 the river in the twinkling of an eye, descended on the 

 shore like an aerolite, and took her seat at the board 

 without being invited and without inviting permission. 



" I had waited until now to act on my own behalf," 

 continued my Philadelphian friend ; " and I ordered my 

 negroes to row softly in the direction of the spot where 

 the two birds of prey thought themselves entirely free 

 from danger. Without taking heed of our approach, they 

 gorged themselves with blood and fragments of flesh, 

 and we were able to drop down within range. My car- 

 bine was loaded with deer-shot. I raised it, took aim, and 

 fired. My dear sir, it was a splendid shot. The female 

 never stirred; she had been struck dead. As for the 

 male, it was quite another affair. I had broken his two 

 wings, but not hit his body ; and we had to finish him 

 off with a blow or two from our oars. This coup de 

 yrrtce we gave with all possible care, for I wanted to 



