10 
WIIITE-TAI L E D EAGLE. 
up. Eor several moments I was unable to realize the situation or collect my scattered senses ; at last I 
comprehended the state of affairs, and crawling to the entrance of my burrow the first object that met my eyes 
was the ever watchful Sandy, in the same position that I had last seen him during the height ol the storm. 
The sun was now shining brightly, the air was cool and pleasant, and all signs of the tempest had passed away. 
As soon as I made my appearance the forester crept stealthily forward, and stated that the male Eagle, carrying 
a lamb in his claws, had once been in towards the rock, but whether he had proceeded as far as the nest he had 
been unable to discern, as an angle of the cliffs shut out the view in that direction. The female had not shown 
herself, and we at once decided that not a moment should be lost for fear she took her departure in search of 
food. Hastily snatching up the gun we made our way, as rapidly as the roughness of the track would allow us, 
to the lower part of the pass ; and having selected a position with firm standing-ground from which I could 
shoot, Sandy proceeded a yard or two further and gave a low whistle and, after waiting a second or two, a 
loud shout, neither of which had the effect of starting the bird. A small stone was next pitched on to the 
ledge, hut still no signs ; and I was beginning to think she must have slipped away unperceived, when, with a 
mighty spread of wing, out she swept, presenting a magnificent chance. IS'o sooner had I pressed the first 
trigger than it flashed across my mind that I had omitted to replace the cartridges extracted during the stoiun 
of the previous night. Two dull clicks were the sole response ; and the Eagle sailed away without appearing to 
have taken the slightest notice of our presence.” 
