The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-08-25


away, and repeatedly returned close
10 IL; and eventually, having sue
ceeded in calming her fears, she ac-
tually, in front of our eyes, entered
the nest and sat down. We could, with
the glass, see her head peeping out
of IL.
Two of us were ardent bird nesters,
and you may imagine how this sight
fred our ambition. We had read OF
ospreys, and perhaps even seen one be-
fore, but never had the possibility OF
taking such prize as the eggs of an
osprey with our own hands entered
into our minds From that moment we
were resolved to get al that nest by
hook or by crook. Nothing, we de-
clarcd, should stop us
a careful survey OF the spot showed
rs that directly above the nest there
was grassy ledge, from which, il we
could reach IL, there seemed 10 be
possibility OF gaining a position close
20 the nest by means OF a rope
On the way back we discussed many
times how the thing was TO be done,
and who was 10 make the hnal descent
In the rope; and at last we agreed that
one Of the party, who was a sailor,
should do the rope work, and the re-
manning three OF us would let him
down and haul him up again.
Next morning broke calm and bright,
and, starting in small boat, we ar
rived in about half an hour at a sandy
spot, whence we hoped 90 reach the
ledge. Here we landed with two hun
bred feet OF rope, and commenced our
perilous ascent.
For time all went well. but, as we
got higher and higher, the ground be-
came more steep and broken, and hnal-
~. when huge bowlder, dislodged by
the leader OF the party from it's place,
where il had remained probably for
years in its unstable equilibrium, went
crashing past us and disappeared over
a precipice several hundred feet high,
we paused, and shuddercd TO think
what our fate would have been had we
used 70 as support on our upward
journey, or been in the line Of its de-
scent.
This proved too much for the nerves
of one Of as, who, wiping the perspira-
ton from his brow declared he would
not 60 foot farther for all the ospreys
ia the world. This seriously reduced
our lowering and pulling-up strength,
and we began 10 think we should have
10 give up the quest, but our enthusi-
astic leader would hear Of no such
proposition, and, leaving our friend
behind. we again pushed on 10 the
point whence we knew we should have
To descend some two hundred feet TO
reach the grass ledge.
1t was perilous work crawling like
flies along the steep. crumbly slope
which terminated only short distance
below MS in such an awful abyss
slip would have been fatal, but
Excelsior was our leaders motto
that day, and we clenched our teeth
and crawled on. Atlast and IL seemed
an age we reached the point FROM
which we hoped 10 turn downward,
and here rested for awhile.
Towering overhead until its crest
seemed almost 10 reach the sky rose a
tremendous beetling cliff, with moth
ing on It's face TO spoil its unbroken
grandeur.
The sea birds were screaming round
ms, indignant at their haunts being
visited by man, probably for the first
time in years An eagle was circling
overhead, and at our feet. six hundre d
feet below lay the placid waters OF
the Mediterranean, marked only by
the track OF some ocean tramp. Across
the strait the lofty mountain Of Jebel
Moosa. nanked by its smaller brethren,
shone purple in the morning sun. II
was worth gsing up if only TO see this
glorious view, hut our object was not
scenery.
, We had the hardest part OF our task
, yet TO accomplish. and the sight Of the
, osprey, which had doubtless been OBJ
, serving us, and had come 70 get a
, nearer view Of the intruders, filled u.
Z with fresh life.
! What was that "whsh." with noise
4 lilfe rocket going or? A percgrin,
4 swoops close past rs AZ a small kestrel
4 which has ventured too near his eyriC
E somewhere overhead IN the eliif What
i an astounding pace he goes at, anc
6 how near he goes to the ground IL,