62 AMID THE HIGH HILLS 
much smaller combatants. Once I saw an eagle 
soaring placidly along when from a range of 
precipices immediately below him a falcon shot 
up into the air. Without a moment's hesitation he 
attacked the giant bird. The eagle at once joined 
combat, and through the telescope I could see 
his efforts to hit his adversary with beak and wing. 
One blow from either and it would be all over with 
the falcon ; but the latter evidently realised this 
and regulated his tactics accordingly. The move- 
ments of the eagle were slow and cumbrous com- 
pared to the rapid action and lithe activity of his 
adversary. Every time he dodged the eagle's 
stroke and, wheeling rapidly, got in his blow 
before the huge bird could recover himself. That 
the eagle was in a great rage was evident, for I 
could hear him emitting sounds that resembled 
notliing so much as the bark of a terrier. Finally, 
realising the hopelessness of the contest, he took 
to flight. I previously knew that the eagle was 
fast on wing, but the speed he now exhibited was 
a revelation to me. With half-extended, half- 
curved wings, showing never a tremor, he cleft 
the air straight as a bullet. The falcon pursued, 
but, being left hopelessly behind, soon gave up 
the chase." 
