294 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



out to meet us, uttering their shrill scream. Sometimes they 

 floated at an immense height, and then, cleaving the air in 

 their descent, flew round their eyrie, beating with their wings, 

 which made a hoarse growling noise, like (forgive the com- 

 parison) the paddles of a steamboat at a distance on a calm 

 day. 



Peter's great anxiety was to get me hidden as quickly as 

 possible ; and a speedy job we made of it. I had hardly time 

 to notice the terror of some deer springing into the water to 

 paddle across to the mainland, like Eobinson Crusoe's savages, 

 before I was ensconced under a heather and bracken screen. 

 A small aperture was made for my gun-barrel, and from seven 

 o'clock till one I was left alone on the island. 



Meantime my companions rowed away to the far end of 

 the loch, and having found a wild-duck's nest full of fresh 

 eggs, and kindled a fire, they soon, with the addition of our 

 basket of provisions, turned out a most comfortable breakfast. 

 The excitement of the moment quite kept down my hunger. 

 Every time I heard an uproar among the small black-headed 

 gulls, I was sure the royal pair were approaching ; and soon 

 their shadow passed over my ambush. They were generally 

 swimming slowly, at a great height, and seldom came near the 

 nest tree. Once or twice I heard the hollow rumbling, and 

 they dashed past at the distance of sixty yards ; but had I 

 wished to take this random chance, it was impossible, as I 

 only commanded the eyrie tree. 



The intervals of their visits became longer every time. 

 Once a pert kestrel lighted upon a twig only a few yards from 

 the mouth of my gun. Shortly after, its mate perched upon 

 the same branch, and both began to preen their wings without 

 the slightest suspicion that their dreaded foe was closely 

 watching all their motions. 



At last the female eagle returned alone. She soon took 

 her departure, and we saw neither of them any more. 

 Whether the sun glancing upon my gun-barrel had scared 



