WILD LIFE ON THE WING 
terror that there should be nothing but open 
bars between himself and this waiting thing. 
For two hours that cat squatted overhead, 
watching him as she watched at a rat hole, and 
until dawn he huddled in the darkness, wide- 
eyed with fear. 
Next day when Skerritt opened the door to 
give him food he flew at his hand, rejoicing 
vengefully to see the blood drip down, and, 
daring the man to touch him, cursed him for 
the night's torment. But Seumas Skerritt was 
not spiteful : he only grinned as he closed the 
door. 
" The eagle's daunted these two days," said 
he to the child who watched him. 
" Why is he daunted ? " asked the child, 
coming a little nearer. 
" Shure he's afeared o' ye. He wants to get 
out." 
" Let him get out," said the child, sucking 
his finger solemnly. 
The man laughed : " Faith, I will not. I'll 
have him sold to-morrow to a gentleman from 
Dublin that's after him, and thin you shall 
have a grand new cap and a pieceen of 
' Peggy's leg,' Mick, me boy." 
He went away whistling. lolar sat still 
and watched the child. He wished that it 
would go away too, and leave him in peace 
