THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 199 



then tried to find the holes in the e}Tie which I had 

 bored with my hands when climbing up. 



This was a difficult and fatiguing affair, and lasted 

 terribly long ; because, my head being pressed close up 

 against the side of the nest, I could see nothing, and 

 was only able to feel my way with my hands and 

 feet. The top of the uppermost ladder inclined back- 

 wards more and more as I descended, making full two 

 feet at each round. It was only after a long search, and 

 after snapping many a dry branch, that I succeeded in 

 finding again the holes in the nest; but I found them 

 at last, and thus, by care, perseverance, courage, and 

 presence of mind, I descended the three ladders and 

 came back again to my men; and, except that my hands 

 were much torn by the brambles, quite unhurt. Those 

 below believed that they had seen the accomplishment 

 of an impossibility : and they confessed that several 

 times they were unable to look up, so giddy had the 

 sight made them. As long as I was standing on the 

 ladder I was in a complete perspiration ; so that literally 

 the moisture ran down into my shoes ; and, on coming 

 below, I for a long time was unable to hold my hand and 

 arm quiet, so much did they tremble from the great 

 exertion. But now all was happily over, and the whole 

 troop — those above as well as those below — burst forth 

 into a loud and long " Hurrah ! " making the surrounding 

 mountains re-echo witli their shout. When the others 



O 4 



