FIGHT BETWEEN A TROUT AND EAGLE. 209 



with his bird. He soon, however, reappeared with his 

 talons still buried in the flesh of his foe, and again 

 made a desperate effort to rise. All this time the fish 

 was shooting like an arrow through the lake, carrying 

 his relentless foe on his back. He could not keep the 

 eagle down, nor the bird carry him up — and so now 

 beneath, and now upon the surface, they struggled on, 

 presenting one of the most singular yet exciting 

 spectacles that can be imagined. It was fearful to 

 witness the blows of the eagle as he lashed the lake 

 with his wings into spray, and made the shores echo 

 with the report. At last, the bird thinking, as they 

 say west, that he had " waked up the wrong pas- 

 senger," gave it up ; and loosening his clutch, soared 

 heavily and slowly away to his lofty pine tree, where 

 he sat for a long time sullen and sulky — the picture 

 of disappointed ambition. So might a wounded and 

 baffled lion lie down in his lair and brood over his de- 

 feat. Beach said that he could easily have captured 

 them, but he thought he would see the fight out. 

 When, however, they both staid under a half minute 

 or more, he concluded he should never see his eagle 

 again. Whether the latter in his rage was bent on 

 capturing his prize, and would retain his hold though 



