88 THE WILDERNESS HUNTER. 



Twice this manceuvre was repeated ; then the 

 eagle made a quick rush, caught and over- 

 threw the quarry before it could turn, and in 

 another moment was sitting triumphant on the 

 quivering body, the crooked talons driven deep 

 into the soft, furry sides. 



Once while hunting mountain sheep in the 

 Bad Lands I killed an eagle on the wing with 

 the rifle. I was walking beneath a cliff of 

 gray clay, when the eagle sailed into view over 

 the crest. As soon as he saw me he threw his 

 wings aback, and for a moment before wheel- 

 ing poised motionless, offering a nearly station- 

 ary target ; so that my bullet grazed his 

 shoulder, and down he came through the air, 

 tumbling over and over. As he struck the 

 ground he threw himself on his back, and 

 fought against his death with the undaunted 

 courage proper to his brave and cruel nature. 



Indians greatly prize the feathers of this 

 eagle. With them they make their striking 

 and beautiful war bonnets, and bedeck the 

 manes and tails of their spirited war ponies. 

 Every year the Grosventres and Mandans from 

 the Big Alissouri come to the neighborhood 

 of my ranch to hunt. Though not good marks- 

 men they kill many whitetail deer, driving the 

 bottoms for them in bands, on horseback ; 

 and they catch many eagles. Sometimes they 

 take these alive by exposing a bait near which 

 a hole is dug, where one of them lies hidden 

 for days, with Indian patience, until an eagle 

 lights on the bait and is noosed. 



Even eagles are far less dangerous enemies 

 to antelope than are wolves and coyotes. 

 These beasts are always prowling round the 



