Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-01-28

tie spot drew from under thicket of
stunted. storm-twisted bushes not far
distant rude but strongly-made lad
der and 4 coil of knotted rope.
What are you going to do?' ex-
claimed both the girls in one breath.
Martin laughed. Il am going to get
you young eagle"
20 Martini" protested Grace, 1.-The
tree is so high-what if you should
fall? You must not think of such a
thing
And" urged Clara, ''you know what
will happen if anyone NEEDLES with
the nest Pray. Martin, let it be-" and
she gave little shudder.
''Pooh.'' with a contcmptuous snap
of his fingers; what do you suppose 1
care for an old Indian superstition?
Besides, I'm not going to kill the
eagles or hurt them; wouldn't do that
for anything. If there is only one
bird in the nest 1 won't touch it; but if
there are two, as l hope there are, 1
am going to take one. We can take
good care of it and feed it fish, and
just think what a grand thing it will
be to have an eagle for a pet"
The possession of a pet eagle was a
tempting possibility that easily over
came the little girls fears and scruples,
while as TO danger, Martin scoffed the
idea ''Many trees as I've climbed!
and then see herev' and he displayed a
pair of old shoes he had fitted with
sharp pointed nails to serve as elm bers.
The old eagles had been seen to
leave the nest shortly before they ar
rived, and, taking advantage of their
absence, Martin set up his ladder and
with bag fastened around him to
hold his prize and with a stout rope
on his arm, began the ascent. In the
meantime the light wind that had
helped them over had died away and
been succeeded by an almost I'M
natural hush, with hardly ripple to
break its surface. The lake stretched
before them as far as the eye could
reach, and up the sandy beach the
little waves crept softly towards the
great trees bare and knotted roots.
while overhead the leaves hung mo-
tionless in the still sunshine. Up the
great bole pressed the young climber,
higher and higher; the branches were
reached. and he was lost to the gaze of
the eager watchers below; higher,
still higher, and then loud, exultant
shout told that the goal was reached.
Soon Martin was on his downward
way, carefully picking his steps with
his iron-shod feet, and swinging and
steadying himself by the aid of his
rope till he reached the ladder, and
then the ground, with his proud and
hardly-w trophy, not one bird, but
two. for, having found three feeble lit
tie eaglets in the nest, he had deter
mined to bring Grace and Clara each
one. For. you see," he explained,
"that leaves the old birds one, just as
intended
At that moment steps were heard,
and turning, they saw Mackworth. the
old hunter, who had repeated the In
dian tradition to the Van Fleets, an d
who from a not distant field had seen
enough of the movements at the old
oak to rouse his suspicious. AS he saw
the eaglets in the children's bands his
face darkened with anger. Martin
Van Fleet, what have you been guilty
off" he demanded, sternly. 'In all the
years l have lived here never before
has a soul, boy or man, disturbed the
you had, and if you have brought a
curse on yourself, it is no more than
you deserve"
But have left one in the nest for
the eagles" protested Martin, his high
spirits over his success suddenly fall
ing under this sharp arraignment
Il don't care if you have; you have
broken the prohibition; you have tam
pered with the nest. But yonder,"
pointing to a black speck in the sky,
''comes one of the old eagles; if she
eats you up to pay for what you have
done, shan't care" and turning on his
heels he strobe wrathfully away.
With the old eagle SO near, the chill
dren did not dare to escape, but hastily
hid under the low thicket where Mar
tin had concealed his ladder. Wheel
ing round and round in great circles,
the mother bird drew near her nest
There was moments silence after she
reached it, and then a hoarse cry of
disappointment and rage told the
trembling listeners that she had dis
covered the robbery; then. stretching