302 ON THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS 
about. Though he could see it, he could not esti- 
mate so well as the osprey its distance from the 
surface. He grew impatient that the osprey did 
not strike. ‘Then the fish became clearer;. the 
great hawk dropped like a plummet, his talons 
buried in the water with unerring aim as his big 
wings went out like brakes and instantly he rose 
again, the fish held fast, and started for the woods 
above the rocky shore. Then another bullet fell. 
Baldy tore at him through the air, almost collid- 
ing in his passage, and with a precision of aim no 
less marvelous than the hawk’s when he struck the 
fish in the water, the eagle shot past his feet and 
snatched the fish away. The hawk, who had 
caught the wind of his coming, and put on steam 
to get away, was screaming angrily as the great 
black bird tore by, and struck at him with his 
beak. But the blow was vain. With a cac-cac- 
cac of shrill triumph, Baldy was off with his 
stolen feast, rising on mighty wing beats toward 
the crest of the eastern range. Unto the victor’s 
children belong the spoils. 
There were other food quests of Baldy’s which 
were less spectacular, but perhaps almost as satis- 
