The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-12-31
. HE EAGLES EYREE.

Inish better evidence of the trnthfulness
of this assertion than the hardy peas
ants one meets in the Alps. The
steadyeye, the firm foothold. and the
knowledge Of the weather and noun
tain passes, have not been the only
possessions these men have acquired
by years of exposure, for their hair
breadth escapes alone constitute rich
fund of story. It Is from that fund
drawn by strong and ruddy-cheelted
fellow, whose blanched hair, we are
told, contrasts strangely with an ap-
pearance still youthful in other re-
speets, that we borrow the following
tale;
! Isis, perhaps, twenty-five years ago
that lived yonder in the 1yrol with
my relations. | was then n vigorous,
powerful man, for when there was no
greater pleasure than to climb mp the
mountains with my rifle ON my back.
No chamois track was too steep then
no eagles nest too high Ny two
cousins, likewise strong, nimble lads,
shared with me the passion for the
chase. When n chamois had been
tracked, or an eagles nest discovered,
we three cousins were always sure TO
be not far off. All the valley knew
this. too, and brought us word when
anything appeared. One day n shep-
herd hoy informed us that on the
ledge Of precipice there was lodged
an eagles nest, in which, as near as
+ lie could determine, two young caglet8
were iuttering. The precip:cc led
I into the depths Of a flightful abyss and
the ledge was only 10 be reached from
above by descending on n rope. The
I danger of the pursuit, when such Il
noble booty was at stake, could not
deter as from attempting the haz-
Iardous enterprise, and / even prom
Used 10 take the nest myself. The
next morning We proceeded, well
loaded with strong ropes, up tho
mountains. ] had provided myself
with al Alpine staff, whose iron point
had am unusual length, and might
serve uie as n powerful weapon Of de-
Ifense il case of necessity. Besides
this, wore my great chamoig knife in
my belt.
Arrived at The summit Of the rock. I
/ lay down, with half my body over the
Iprecipite. and gazeI into the depths
/ 10 disco Yer the lelces. 1t was ter
rible sight. However sharp my eye
was otherwise, il dil not reach the
/ bottom OF the abyss tha. stared at me
only Ii lie black chaos The ledge
with tn = eagles nest was easily found,
land lay about seventy or eighty feet
below the summit on which wa stood
There were Nesting, as thc lad had
seen quite rightly, two young caglels,
| in their knotty, hard BED Of t"igs, tho
older Posscssors Of which, male and
female, IN al probability, had flown
away in search Of food. Since it was
Istil early IN the morning, We might
iexpect that they would not return
soon, and determined to set to work
az once
| Ny two cousins now put one end Of
ithe rope around the thick stamp Of
tree that stood upon the summit Of the
Iprecipide, while at the other end was
/ fastened a firm. wooden cross-piece,
by the middle, aud in such way that
/ j could use it as seat in the danger
Gus descent. Besides this, I wound
about 1ay body short rope, which,
however,, was fastened to the longer
lone, 50 that / should not be embar-
rasaed In ascending aad descending.
This was measure Of precaution, in
case 1 should slide from the cross
piece.
When everything was in readiness,
| lay ca ltiously down upon the rocks,
with nay feet 70 the prccipice, ;Snd ex-
tended upon my belly, pushed myself
slowly with both hands from the
Verge, and hung over the ABYSS, whose
terrible depth I now overlooked. It
was the first time ] had ever attempted
such an exploit and it IS a pec;iliar
feeling TO hover thus IN the air, high
aloft, on slender rope, that may slip
off or break any moment, and under
you a black, ugly chasin, whose i'm
measurable depth yawns awfully mp
ward. Had not the pleasure Of the
chase thrilled all my members, and
/ the fear OF my cousins 1idicule re-
strained me, / should almost have
begged to be drawn up again. / did
not, however, but only asked for my
hat and staff, and slowly sank into the
abyss.
You viii spare the description Of
this descent-it is not. associated with
the most agreeable "reminiscences of
my hunting life. Suffice to say that,
after a journey through the air of
about five minutes. I arrived at the
ledge, beside which, to my great Joy,
II deserted smaller ledge, upon
whose surface / could find foothold.
When the young, still almost un-
fedged brood perceived me, they
lopened their bills wide, and lifted
their wings as il they would fly away.
Without paying further attention to
them, / clenched a cleft OF the rock,
planted my foot upon the ledge, and
stood now, freely breathing and sue.
cessful, ON my feet again, knowing
that teri'G Jirma was undei. me.
Silently, and with the least noise, ]
made my preparations. The side
pockets of my coat were SO large that
q a young eagle had ample room in each
of them. not to be hindered In taking
them from the nest, / made q signal tc
my companions above to slackea the
rope, and was just on the point o.
! stretching out my arm and seizing one
of the eagles, when peculiar CRY
sounded shrilly in my ears Tn The
FL midsto OF q rustling that sounded like
: the tapping of wings, there rams
. II II L. I q 4