At the Water's Edge 



ter season, suddenly a bald eagle came upon the 

 scene. He was soon joined by another, even 

 larger than himself ; and, in broad evolutions, 

 now high, now low, at times the merest specks 

 in the blue distance, and then with majestic 

 dash quite close at hand, they swung from side 

 to side of the noble river, and far beyond its 

 edge. Their motive power, in their gigantic 

 circuits, seemed to be merely the force of their 

 imperial will, so slight was their exertion in 

 comparison with the energy in evident reserve. 

 Occasionally they moved their wings with state- 

 ly beat, but otherwise pursued their passage 

 broadly floating in sublime repose. Mingling 

 amicably with numerous gulls, this lordly 

 stranger still seemed distant from them, even 

 when most near, so profoundly different was he, 

 both in spirit and appearance. 



" Around him some mysterious circle thrown 

 Repell'd approach, and showed him still alone." 



Apparently it was only a case of kingly exercise 

 that morning — sportive, yet intensely dignified 

 — for I did not see either of the pair gather any 

 food firom the river, which they closely ap- 

 proached at times ; nor did they cause any con- 

 sternation among the ducks, and a hungry eagle 

 197 



