Cloud Wings the Eagle. 89 



the old pine? Better drop him peacefully; you can 

 catch another. — Drop him ! I say." 



Up to that moment the eagle had merely bothered 

 the big hawk's flight, with a gentle reminder now and 

 then that he meant no harm, but wanted the fish 

 which he could not catch himself. Now there was a 

 change, a flash of the king's temper. With a roar of 

 wings he whirled round the hawk like a tempest, 

 bringing up short and fierce, squarely in his line of 

 flight. There he poised on dark broad wings, his 

 yellow eyes glaring fiercely into the shrinking soul 

 of Ismaquehs, his talons drawn hard back for a deadly 

 strike. And Simmo the Indian, who had run down 

 to join me, muttered: "Cheplahgan mad now. Isma- 

 quehs find-um out in a minute." 



But Ismaquehs knew just when to stop. With a cry 

 of rage he dropped, or rather threw, his fish, hoping 

 it would strike the water and be lost. On the instant 

 the eagle wheeled out of the way and bent his head 

 sharply. I had seen him fold wings and drop before, 

 and had held my breath at the speed. But dropping 

 was of no use now, for the fish fell" faster. Instead 

 he swooped downward, adding to the weight of his fall 

 the push of his strong wings, glancing down like a 

 bolt to catch the fish ere it struck the water, and rising 

 again in a great curve — up and away steadily, evenly 



