48 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



I could scarcely believe my senses. The strange 

 spectacle presented by this curious mode of fishing 

 made me feel as if in a dreaui, Avhen Mayne Reid 

 whispered, " Look out ! Jonathan's off again." 



Once more the fishing-eagle had sighted his prey 

 in the wake of our boat, and in a moment he was 

 fifty feet above our heads. For a short time he 

 hovered in space, and then, as before, came down 

 with incredible swiftness, and an enormous salmon 

 was fighting in his clutches, which, obedient to the 

 call of Mayne Reid and Sandy Hair, he presently 

 deposited at the bottom of the boat. Five times did 

 the brave Jonathan renew this extraordinary per- 

 formance, and five times did he obtain a victor}^ over 

 the prey, Avhich vainly struggled against him in the 

 liquid element. 



On the sixth occasion, alas ! whilst Jonathan was 

 hovering above the lake, a shot was heard from the 

 shore in the direction of the log-cabin which has 

 been already mentioned, and what was our dismay 

 when we saw our osprey wheel round and drop an 

 inert mass upon the surface of the water, never 

 more to rise ! A few words will sferve to explain the 

 accident. The inhabitant of the log-cabin was fish- 

 ing quietly in front of his hut when he saw the bird, 

 and without suspecting that we were lurking near 

 (for our boat was concealed beneath the shadow of 

 the island), but taking Jonathan for one of those 

 wild depredators whom all sportsmen make war 



