THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 187 



of ambusli, which, as I had to climb up there in the 

 dark, was not exactly very agreeable. At four o'clock 

 the eagle came, wheeled around for a time, and then 

 alighted exactly as he did yesterday, and peered down 

 towards me for full an hour. Then he flew away with 

 great rapidity; and I thought, "Now he fancies him- 

 self safe, he is gone to fetch food, and will most cer- 

 tainly soon be back." However, five long hours passed 

 without my seeing anything. I was so overpowered by 

 sleep, it was hardly possible to resist it ; for to sit thus 

 hour after hour in expectation, and always ready to 

 fire, is very tiring ; but excitement conquered my 

 drowsiness, and at last, at half-past eight, I heard the 

 much wished-for rush of the eao-le's wino-s. I aimed 

 quickly, without seeing him as yet, at the spot I had 

 noted ; pulled the trigger at the moment when, rushing 

 past the eyrie, as yesterday, flinging in the food, he 

 made two quick strokes with his pinions, in order with 

 folded wings to drop below, and saw him happily go 

 tumbling downwards. During the many hours which 

 since eight days I had passed up here, I had occupied 

 myself, in the quiet moments, with cutting my name 

 in the trunk of the yew tree, as well as the date : a 

 memento for those who perhaps at some future time 

 may again lie in ambush here for an eagle. I nov/ 

 descended, fetched the eagle, and hastened with my 

 prize to Eohrmoos, to make arrangements for getting 



