116 Hills and Lakes. 



out from the clefts midway up the rocks, and shot up- 

 ward towards the sky, like the mast of a tall ship. 

 Sticks and dry brush had been carried up, forming a 

 nest larger than a corn basket. We watched for days, 

 while we were there, and saw the mother bringing 

 food for her little ones. Sometimes it would be a 

 duck ; sometimes a wood-rabbit ; and now and then a 

 fish, that she'd plundered from a hawk. She always 

 seemed to be busy; but the he one we never saw, 

 and, in my opinion, he took no charge of the family." 



