THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 
269 
>ij f! >gle heeds them not ; they are at that time beneath 
Intention. The next moment, however, the wild. 
Pet-like sound of a yet distant hut approaching 
ijgh is heard. A shriek from the female eagle comes 
!l,'' Ss the stream, — for, kind reader, she is fully as 
^.as her mate. The latter suddenly shakes the whole 
v '' s body, and with a few touches of his hill, aided 
action of his cuticular muscles, arranges his 
in , a ?e in an instant. The snow white bird is now 
^ ®'ght : her long neck is stretched forward ; her eye 
the watch, vigilant as that of her enemy; her 
M ings seem with difficulty to support the weight 
i, l( ‘ r body, although they flap incessantly. So irksome 
v W exertions seem, that her very legs are 
>1 beneath her tail, to aid her in her flight. She 
{‘‘Caches, however. The eagle has marked her for 
Uk Prey. As the swan is passing the dreaded pair, 
from his perch, in full preparation for the chase, 
^alo bird, with an awful scream, that to the swan’s 
i .“rings more terror than the report of the large 
^ gun. 
v, « OW is the moment to witness the display of the 
‘C, s powers. He glides through the air like a falling 
V au< *> like a flash of lightning, comes upon the 
iv?rou s quarry, which now, in agony and despair, 
V v> by various manoeuvres, to elude the grasp oi his 
x | 
H,, talons. It mounts, doubles, and willingly would 
Of?e into the stream, were it not prevented by the 
C ! > which, long possessed of the knowledge that by 
l» il stratagem the swan might, escape him, forces it 
t^ ( “'''ain in the air by attempting to strike it with his 
0* from beneath. The hope of escape is soon given 
tt,,, \ the swan. It has already become much weakened, 
vu' ts strength fails at the sight of the courage and 
tj^b'ess of its antagonist. Its last, gasp is about to 
i|^P*. when the ferocious eagle strikes with his talons 
fe Sutler side of its wing, and with unresisted pow er 
W es the bird to fall in a slanting direction upon the 
shore. 
n is then, reader, that you may see the cruel spirit 
