Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-10-20
Guuprr's GlurkHbura Raglstar
ATALE OF MID AIR.

~
his son, Jehan, who was gone to fetch a
physician. Atlength horses tread was
heard, and soon after the doctor entered.
He examined the patient closely, felt his
pulse, looked at his tongue, and then
said, patting the old mans cheek:
1t will be nothing. my friend" But
he'made a sign to the three lads, who
open-mouthed and anxious. stood group
ed around the bed. All four withdrew to
distant corner the doctor shook MS
head, thrust out his lower lip and said:
"Sir, serious attack-very serious
of fever. He is now in the height Of the
fit, and as soon as it abates, he must have
sulphate of quinine."
"What is that, doctor?''
"Quinire, my friend, is very expen-
sive medicine, but which you may pro-
cure at Sallanches. Between the two fits
your father must take at least three francs
worth. will write the prescription
You can read. Guillsume."
Yes, doctor"
sc And you will see that he takes it?'
/" Certainly"
When the physician was gone, Gull
laume and Pierre looked at each other IN
silent Perplexity. Their whole stock OF
money consisted of but franc, and
half, and yet the medicine must be pro-
cured Immediately.
LISTEN" said Pierre, "I know me.
thod of getting from the mountains before
night, three or four FIVE franc pieces"
From the mountain ?"
Il have discovered an eagles nest in
= cliff of a frightful precipice. There is
gentleman at Sallanches, who would glad
ly purchase the eaglets, and nothing made
them; but that is nothing, when our faith
er'S life is concerned. We may have
them now in two hours
Z" | will rob the nest" said Guillaume.
mo. no, let me, said Jehan;. '' am
the youngest and lightest."
g have the best right to venture"
said Pierre, " as it was l who. discovered
it,
" Come" said Pierre, "let US decide
by drawing lots. Write three numbers,
Guillaume, put them into my hat, and
whoever draws number one will try the
venture"
Guillaume blackened the endof a wood
en- splinter in the fire; tore an old card
into three pieces; wrote on them. one.
two, three, and threw them into the hat.
How the three hearts beat Old Ber-
uard lay shivering in the cold fit, and each
of his sons longed to risk his own life, to
save that of his father.
The lot fell on Pierre, who had discov-
cred the nest; he embraced the sick man,
tenderly.
1--WE shall not be long absent" he
said, land it is needful for us to go to-
gether."
what are you going to do 2"
eve will tell you as soon as We come
back
Guillaume took down from the wall an
old sabre which had belonged to Bernard
when he served as a soldier; Jehan got
thick cord which the mountaineers use
when cutting down trees; and Pierre went
towards an old wooden cross, reared near
the cottage, and knelt before it some min
utes in fervent prayer.
They then set out together, and soon
reached the brink of the precipice. The
danger consisted not only in the possibility
of falling several hundred feet, but still
more in the probable aggression of the
birds of prey, inhabiting the wild abyss.
Pierre, who was to brave the perils,
was uuC dIhlCuS SOuuss hinh VI S"SA"y
two. Having measured with his eye the
distance he would have TO descend. his
brothers fastened the cord around his
waist. and began to let him down. Hold
ing the sabre in his hand, he safely reach
ed the nook that contained the nest. In
it were four eaglets, of light yellouish-
brown color, and his heart beat with Joy
at the sight of them. He grasped the
nest firmly with his left hand, and shout
ed joyfully to his brothers,
Al have them; draw me up"
Already the first upward pull was Civ
en- to the cord, when Pierre felt himself
attacked by two enormous eagles, whose
furious cries proved them to be the pa
rents of the nestlings.
Courage brother defend myself do
not fear %
Pierre pressed the nest to his bosom.
and with his right hand made the sabre
play round his head.
Then began terrible combat. The
eagles shrieked, the little ones cried shril
ly, the mountaineer shouted and bran
dished his sword. He slashed the birds
with his blade, which flashed like light
ming, and only rendered them still more
enraged. He struck the rock and sent
forth a shower of sparks.
Suddenly he felt jerk given to the
cord that sustained him. Looking up he
discovered that. in his evolutions he had
cut it with his sabre, and that half the
strands were severed
Pierre's eyes dilated wildly, remaining
for moment immovable, and then closed
with terror. A cold shudder passed
through his veins, and he thought of let
ting go both the nest and the sabre.
Upwards, still upwards mounted the
cord; friendly voices eagerly uttered words
e 4