. The hunter and the trapper in North America ; or, Romantic adventures in field and forest. From the French of Bénédict Révoil . pended above the abyss ofwater, oscillated little Ben,—wavering to and fro like areed,—while a formidable eagle, with open talons and THE BOY AND THE EAGLE. 27 greedy beak, with wings ex- (gpanded and ferocious eye,flung itself upon him. I felt myself tremble fromhead to foot; I shut myeyes that I might not see;but presently opening themagain, I discovered two ofBens brothers endeavouringto haul in the rope, whilea third threatened the eagle with a huge stone, thoug
. The hunter and the trapper in North America ; or, Romantic adventures in field and forest. From the French of Bénédict Révoil . pended above the abyss ofwater, oscillated little Ben,—wavering to and fro like areed,—while a formidable eagle, with open talons and THE BOY AND THE EAGLE. 27 greedy beak, with wings ex- (gpanded and ferocious eye,flung itself upon him. I felt myself tremble fromhead to foot; I shut myeyes that I might not see;but presently opening themagain, I discovered two ofBens brothers endeavouringto haul in the rope, whilea third threatened the eagle with a huge stone, though unable to reach it. What part to take in theaffair, I knew not ■ to fire atthe eagle was impossible, fora shot might hit poor open mouth I stood^rooted to the spot, equallyunable to stir or his arms the courageouslad clasped firmly a coupleof eaglets, but just as theeagle was about to fly at hisface, he suffered one of themto escape. My anguish wasindescribable, but throughmy half-closed eyelids I sawthe king of air dash head-long downwards to arrestin its fall his fluttering littleone. o- ;^?-:. WAVERING TO AND FRO. 28 THE HOME OF THE EAGLE. Then I breathed again; and the two lads, with alltheir might, hauled on the rope. Ben drew near theedge of the cliff, and his eldest brother saluted the eaglewith a shower of stones. Swift as lightning, the angry bird returned to thecombat; but alarmed by the open beak of his enemy,Ben let go the second eaglet and clung to the tree, whilehis brothers drew him towards them. At the same moment, securing a good aim at the for-midable bird, I fired at him both barrels, and stretchedhim dead at my feet, still holding in his talons the littleeaglet. A few minutes later I clasped in my arms the youngrobber of eagles-nests, while Scolding him for risking hislife to please a fancy of mine. It was on purpose to gainthis trophy that Ben and his brothers had stolen awayfrom the hut at early dawn, without informing any o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectg, booksubjecthunting
