192 FOREST CREATURES. 



would one of ttiem venture to climb up that ladder. 

 When I saw that of these six young fellows not one had 

 the courage, nor the necessary confidence in his own 

 dexterity to make the attempt, I replied, "Well, if 

 that is the case, I must needs go up myself, for I will 

 not let the eaglet starve after having shot the parent 

 birds ! Down he must come, happen what may !" The 

 six young men looked at each other abashed : their 

 faces showed, however, that they thought to themselves, 

 " He'll take good care not to go up either ! " I now 

 ordered what was to be done in case of an accident : 

 above all, I, with all emphasis, required of them that as 

 long as I was on the ladder no one was to speak a word ; 

 and that even should they see me, with ladder or without 

 it, precipitated and dangling at the end of the rope, 

 they were on no account to call to those above, but on 

 the contrary, to await quietly my instructions. It was 

 only at the express desire of the men that I consented 

 to fasten a second rope to my body which was let down 

 for this purpose from above, in case of the ladder's 

 breaking, or of my falling down without it. It would, 

 however, have availed but little, as it could not be drawn 

 '^ taut," on account of the overhanging rock above, with- 

 out pulling me off the ladder. Altogether, this rope 

 was a great hindrance to me in mounting, and an3rthiug 

 but a security; as, in case of a fall, it would doubt- 

 less have broken with the jerk, being half worn out 



