SHOT AT AN EAGLK. 133 



his skull. No wonder he performed those sudden 

 evolutions ! 



At length Mitchell having finished his pipe, called 

 to the hounds, " Come, Rover, come Maj," and with 

 shouldered- rifle moved down to the shore. The night 

 before, as we sat around the camp fire, we bid for the 

 first fire at the deer we should start in the morning. 

 I outbid the rest, when Mitchell dryly remarked, " I'll 

 take you in my boat." He had not forgotten his 

 promise, or rather the reward, and so beckoning to me, 

 we started off. After rowing a mile or two, we 

 landed the old hunter and the dogs, who soon disap- 

 peared in the forest. Just then, Mitchell pointed to a 

 lofty pine tree, towering above the surrounding forest, 

 on an upper limb of which sat a grey eagle in her 

 nest. " I believe I'll try to get a shot at her," said 

 he, and started off. With the stealthiness of his race, 

 he crept and dodged through the woods till I thought 

 he never looidd shoot. I watched the noble bird 

 through my glass, and could see her head ever and 

 anon turn quickly as she heard the snapping of a 

 stick, or rustling of a leaf, which Mitchell with all his 

 care could not prevent, till, at length, rising on her 



