44 ON THE BEACH AT DAYTONA. 
not see it fall, and knew nothing of the 
eagle’s presence until he fluttered to the 
beach. 
Some days later, I saw the big thief — 
emblem of American liberty — play his 
sharp game to the finish. I was crossing 
the bridge, and by accident turned and 
looked upward. (By accident, I say, but I 
was always doing it.) High in the air were 
two birds, one chasing the other, — a fish- 
hawk and a young eagle with dark head 
and tail. The hawk meant to save his din- 
ner if he could. Round and round he went, 
ascending at every turn, his pursuer after 
him hotly. For aught I could see, he stood 
a good chance of escape, till all at once 
another pair of wings swept into the field 
of my glass. 
‘¢ A third is in the race! Who is the third, 
Speeding away swift as the eagle bird ? ” 
It was an eagle, an adult, with head and 
tail white. Only once more the osprey cir- 
cled. The odds were against him, and he 
let go the fish. As it fell, the old eagle 
swooped after it, missed it, swooped again, 
and this time, long before it could reach 
the water, had it fast in his claws. Then 
