68 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



afterwards its broad shadow was gliding over our heads. 

 There was unhappily no chance of a safe shot at the bird as it 

 went into the nest, although there was an opening in the 

 branches just above me which allowed of my seeing that it 

 was carrying a pretty large fish in its claws. 



Directly we heard the noise made by the huge bird as it 

 folded its wings and hopped inside from the edge of the nest 

 I crept out of our ambush, stepped quietly to the opposite 

 side of the tree to look for a place where I could get a per- 

 fectly open shot, and as soon as I had been lucky enough 

 to find one I sent Hodek to tap the stem. 



The eagle was so busy feeding its young that it did not hear 

 our steps as we splashed through a deep water-hole, and it 

 was only after the trunk of the tree had been repeatedly struck 

 that I distinctly heard movements in the nest. The boughs 

 bent, some small twigs fell from its edge, and with a loud 

 bustle the great Sea-Eagle slowly spread its wings, and glided 

 quickly through the topmost branches of the trees in a slanting 

 direction close past me. I had for an instant a clear sight of 

 it between the two trees, and, availing myself of that moment, I 

 fired, and the bird, contracting its wings, crashed through the 

 twigs and foliage and fell with a sharp thud to the ground. 



In a few strides we got up to it, and dragged it into our 

 hiding-place. It was another very fine specimen, with the 

 pale-yellowish plumage, bleached beak, and wax-coloured feet, 

 which plainly showed great age. 



As the other bird had not witnessed the death of its spouse, 

 Hodek advised me to repair to my ambush, and wait for it at 

 least an hour ; nor was it long before the very large powerful 

 female appeared on the outskirts of the wood, flying slowly 

 up low over, the water. 



The Ducks and Moorhens which had been scared by the 

 shot were still fluttering about and making a great noise. 

 This seemed to rouse the suspicions of the eagle, for it took 



