Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-02

of it, for the risk appeared frightful. 1t
was enough to shake very stout heart
to cling to bare rock in the air, where
the hold was so slight and doubtful, and
when We looked up and saw the stair so
fearfully high, there was very little en-.
couragement in the prospect.
"I've got him clear Arthur shouted
down to us at length, as we were strung
along the face Of the cliff, some high
and some low; "but l wish the eagles
would keep away. Only see! there are
four of 'em now"
1t seemed as if "a second pair had come
to ass st the first, and, emboldened by
their numbers, the whole became start
lingly ferocious. Seeming to know that
the two boys were attempting to retreat,
they pressed the attack with frantic
rage. Arthur's cap shared the fate of
his companions, and both lads got a
number of blows. As Walter, after all,
had no broken bones, he was still quite
active. though dreadfully cowed and
frightened. He crouched into as small
a space as possible, while Arthur, know
ing him to be severely bruised, took the
more exposed position.
Suddenly there was more than usual
thunder of the sail.like wings. All four
of the birds seemed to swOop down at
once; their tails were broadened, and
their beaks and talons looked like hooks
of steel. We saw Arthur strike out
wi h his arms, and heard a terrified yell
from Walter. In another moment our
hearts stood still with horror. Arthur
Clifford had gone completely OFT the
rock, in midair, over three hundred feet
from the ground f! What spectacle it
was Such shock as we experienced
could never be forgotten by any OF us.
But the next instant, what was onr
surprise to see that, instead of falling
like a stone, he was merely sinking
slowly. There was a prodigious flap
ping of wings about him, and we real
lied what had happened. Two OF the
enormous eagles had fastened their tai
ons in his stout flannel shirt and his
weight, dragging them down, prevented
them from getting clear. Probably they
had both struck him at the same time
with what Tennyson would call their
''hooked hands," and this had caused
him to lose his balance and fall.
Would their hold continue? Would
it not give way and permit him to be
dashed to shapeless mass?
20, if they should unhook them
selves!' cried the second mate. "But
there-see! see! He has got them by
the legs besides! Hold on, Arthur!
hold on hard!' he added, shouting with
all his might.
The beating of the broad wings was
like the Tapping of windmill arms, and
the screams Of the royal birds ooald have
been heard for miles. Faster and faster
however, they settled with their load,
while the two that were still free circled
around the others, shrieking as loud as
they. The descent may have occupied q
miaut; for III 8, huge wings, twelve or
fourteen feet from tip to tip, had i'm
mense resisting power.
Then Arthur struck the earth and
the magnificent creatures, making last
desperate effort, tore away from him,
taking long strips of his blue shirt in
their terrible talons as they scared
screaming aloft.
The brave boy knew better than to
make any effort at OBTAINING them; and
indeed, he was badly wounded by their
claws and out of breath from his exer-
tions, although wonderfully cool in
mind.
"Where's Walt 2" he asked. "They
haven't thrown HIM off, have they"
And the noble little fellow glanced
anxiously up at the high rock. He had
saved his companion at the risk OF his
own life; for Walter, seeing the way
clear, at once recommended his descent
and soon got down to where two OF us
were able to assist him. His lower limbs
were much injured where they bad been