64 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



and vermin. Finally, he lowered into my " csikel " one by 

 one the four young birds, which were rather small and 

 covered with light grey down. 



When the taking of the nest was happily accomplished, I 

 got Ferencz to fetch me from my very unpleasant position, and 

 we began to retrace our way to the boat on the open water. 



Some hours still remained at our disposal, and as it would 

 have been too early to return to the steamer, we determined 

 to go back again to the Sea-Eagle's nests, although a storm 

 was threatening in the west. This time we hurried straight 

 up to the second nest in the " csikel/' and halted below it, 

 intending to drive out the bird by clapping our hands should 

 it chance to have returned. 



Had I done this on the first occasion I should have bagged 

 it, for the outlook towards the nest was much more open from 

 the water ; but now the eagle was not at home, so we at once 

 sent back the crafts and, betaking ourselves to our former 

 ambush, sacrificed another hour. 



At times I heard the eagles screaming, and occasionally 

 saw them gliding over the low wood a long way off, but they 

 had now become quite shy. 



During the time so spent I had leisure to observe the Moor- 

 hens, and even a very beautifully coloured Hen-Harrier, as 

 it passed along the arm of the river with its wavering flight. 

 Meanwhile a pretty strong wind had risen, the sultry air had 

 become still more oppressive, the sky had grown very dark, 

 and the mosquitoes, with all the other heralds of bad weather, 

 had made their appearance. At first light grey storm-clouds 

 towered up, followed by heavy black rainy masses, which 

 spread themselves more and more over the heavens. The 

 gusts of wind then kept increasing in violence, bending the 

 trees, and some thunder-claps plainly announced the bursting 

 of the storm. 



In a few minutes the rain descended in torrents, and we 



