80 STRENGTH OF THE PIKE. 



talons being too deeply embedded in the body of his intended 

 prey. Giving utterance to the most dismal cries, king 

 eagle floated with outspread wings on the surface, a pitiable 

 living wreck. Nevertheless, no one of his subjects in the 

 air came to his assistance. A man, however, standing on 

 the shore, who had witnessed the scene, hurriedly launched 

 his skiff, rowed to the place of conflict and with determined 

 will and strength of arm plunged his fish-spear into the 

 eagle's breast, thus capturing both him and his intended 

 booty. 



" The eagle, nailed up in front of a stable-door, near to 

 Morvik foundry, is still to be seen; but the pike, which 

 weighed fifteen pounds, supplied a good meal to the family 

 of the bold fisherman, instead of being borne off to the eyrie 

 of the royal bird." 



It was farther stated, in my former work, as not of unfre- 

 quent occurrence for the pike to be found, not only dead, 

 but living, with the skeleton of the eagle or the osprey still 

 attached to its back. This story has not, I fear, found much 

 credence in England ; so at least it is to be inferred from the 

 notes of admiration attached to it when quoted by the late 

 talented author of " Wild Sports of the West," a work which, 

 to my regret, has only very recently come under my notice. 

 That it is a true tale, however, I myself doubt not, and 

 I subjoin statements furnished to me by friends and others, 

 which will go far, I imagine, to set all doubt upon the point 

 at rest. 



"The strength he possesses," says M. Ekstrom, when 

 speaking of the pike, " is not inconsiderable. On the back 

 of one of these fish, not exceeding twenty pounds in weight, 

 I myself have found the skeleton of an osprey (Falco Haliffi- 



