THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



bility to most people, as there is but one way of carrying them 

 with any degree of safety : it is by placing the enormous crea- 

 ture under your arm, and holding his legs, immediately above 

 the huge claws, firmly in your hand. As long as you walk 

 steadily, and do not shake him roughly, the eagle will remain 

 still, and make no effort to escape. But if you stumble, or 

 turn sharply round, it is ten to one that he fixes his talons to 

 the bone in your thigh. Eobertson was carrying the two birds 

 in this manner, and, having come a long way, his arms became 

 cramped, and he was trying to relieve them by leaning upon a 

 stone- dyke, when one of the savage creatures struck its claw into 

 his leg. The pain was great, but he knew that if he attempted 

 to extricate himself he would lose both birds. So, Spartan-like, 

 he patiently waited till some assistance should turn up. On 

 looking down the road he saw a packman slowly padding along ; 

 but in trying to accelerate the man's professional pace by a loud 

 shout, he shook the hen-bird and she immediately repeated the 

 attack on his other thigh. He was now fairly pinioned, and 

 the pain scarcely bearable. At last the pedlar came up, but 

 his horror was so great at poor Peter's predicament, that he 

 only stared in blank dismay. " Toot, man, tak' ma knife oot 

 o' ma pocket, and cut open this beast's claw." This was done 

 with some difficulty. " Noo, gang roond on the ither side, an' 

 ye'll fin' anither job." The man, who had no idea that Peter 

 was grappled on both sides, quickly obeyed, muttering, " Saw 

 I ever sic sorrows o' birds in a' ma life ! " Both eagles were 

 brought safe home, but Peter assured me that he was unable 

 to walk for many a day. 



Another story of a prisoned eagle vindicating his dignity 

 has so much of the comic about it, that we forgive the savage 

 revenge. A raw-boned Highlandman came to Eobertson's 

 house : " Is your faither at hame ? " " No," said one of his 

 children. " Hasna he a tame aigle ? " The little girl pointed 

 out the place where it was confined. There was a hole cut at 

 the bottom of the door, where its food was thrown in. Donald 



