222 THE ADIRONDACK. 



relieved from their unwelcome visitor, concluded, 

 before they proceeded on with their journey, to take 

 an observation from the high grounds where they 

 were, with a view to examine the country to the 

 south and east, and discover, if possible, the position 

 of the lake, which was the object of their search. To 

 accomplish this purpose, the knight of the pistol 

 volunteered his services to climb a tall spruce that 

 stood near by ; and accordingly flung aside his pack, 

 pulled off his boots, and depositing them with his 

 armor, at the foot of the tree, commenced the ascent. 

 After climbing some fifty or sixty feet, his ears were 

 suddenly pierced by the screams of a huge eagle, and 

 his face at the same time brushed by her wings, 

 and torn by her claws. As the enraged bird passed 

 round her airy circuit, repeating her sharp and threat- 

 ening notes, the eye of the adventurer fell upon a 

 deep, black lake below him, and he for the first time 

 discovered that the tree he had ascended stood iipon 

 the brink of a precipice of fearful height, overhanging 

 the dark abyss where the jealous bird of liberty had 

 planted her nest, and secured her young. By this 

 time the gathering foe had again made her circle, 

 and coming like an arrow through the air, pounced 



