TWELFTH DAY. 193 



springless carts and the deep ruts, we managed to get some 

 very hard knocks. 



We were soon out into the " puszta/' and could already see 

 in the distance the outlines of the large wood which was to 

 be our shooting-ground of to-day. Turtle-Doves were sitting 

 on the trees close to the road, and I also shot from the cart a 

 Roller, which was sulkily puffing out its bedraggled plumage. 

 Crows, Magpies, and smaller birds were flying about the 

 fields, and the nearer we got to the wood the more the birds 

 of prey, which were out foraging, showed themselves. A 

 splendid Imperial Eagle sailed along with its majestic flight, 

 and another, which was sitting upright on an acacia tree by 

 the roadside, singularly enough allowed the leading cart to 

 come close up to it, and if that vehicle had not halted we 

 should certainly have got a shot. 



After an hour's drive we reached the beginning of the 

 woods, the road running along the southern fringe of this 

 extensive forest, and only separated from it by a few fields of 

 Indian corn. 



Hodek, who was in the first cart, now stopped and pointed 

 out an Imperial Eagle's nest at the edge of the wood, a few 

 hundred yards away ; so I quickly jumped out, took my 

 gun and cartridge-bag, and began to approach the dwelling 

 of this great bird of prey, while my "brother-in-law went on 

 to another Imperial Eagle's nest, which was waiting for him 

 more towards the interior of the forest. 



A few minutes brought me quite close to the nest, and then 

 a bustle took place inside it, and a magnificent Imperial 

 Eagle darted out, covered by the stem of the tree ; but I did 

 not wish to fire a doubtful shot at the noble bird, and pre- 

 ferred to wait for its return. I therefore concealed myself 

 in an ambush which was rapidly put together under a thick 

 hawthorn, and sat down in the wet grass wrapped in my 

 Alpine cloak. This was a very damp amusement, for the 



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