River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-09-21

HOiu on. Wait. ne cfieu, uon &c
afraid-I'm coming. just keep where
you are
"oa. the eagles!" answered Walt.
"One of them has just knocked my cap
off! Hurry up, Art-oh, come quick"
Some of the rest of rs attempted to
Chamber up, but made wretched work 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 and saw the stair
so fearfully high, there was very little
encouragement in the prospect.
I've got him clear.n Arthur shouted
down to us at length, as we were strung
along the face of the cliff. some high
and some low; ''but / wish the eagles
would keep away. Only see! there are
four of them now!"
1t seemed as if second pair had
come to assist the first, and, embold-
ened by their numbers, the whole be-
came startlingly 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 num-
Der of blows.
As Walter, after all, had no broken
bones. he was still quite active, though
dreadfully cowed and frightened. lie
crouched into as small a space as pos
sible, while Arthur, knowing 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 with his
arms, and heard a terrified yell from
Walter.
In another moment our hearts stood
still with horror. Arthur Clifford had
gone completely off the rock, in midair,
over 800 feet from the ground.
What a spectacle it was! Such a
shock as we then experienced could
never be forgotten by any of us.
But the next instant, what was our
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 rea.-
lied what had happened. Two of the
enormous eagles had fastened their
| talons 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 cal
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?
"Oh, if they should unlock 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, ano
the screams of the royal birds couio
have been heard for miles. Faster anc
faster, however, they settled with theil
load, while the two that were still free
circled around the others, shrieking a.
loud as they.
The descent may have occupied min
ute; for those huge wings, IL or i
feet from tip to tip, had immense re
sisting power.
| Then Arthur struck the earth, an6
the magnificent birds, making las
desperate effort, tore away from him
taking long strips of his blue shirt il
| their terrible talons as they soarec
screaming aloft.
The brave boy knew better than Il
make any effort at OBTAINING them; and
indeed, he was already badly wounded
by their claws and out of breath from
his exertions, although wonderfully
cool in mind.
where's Waltz" he asked. They
hyen't thrown him off, have they?'
And the noble little fellow glanced
anxiously up at the high rock.
He had saved his companion at thu
risk of his own life; for Walter, seeing
the way clear, at once recommended hi!
descent, and soon got down to where
two of us were able to assist him. Hi
lower limbs were much injured wher'
they had been wedged in the crevlce
but he could still use them. Once NOR
upon the ground, he staggered up t.
Arthur and seized his hand.
st was you that saved me" he said
You are the bravest fellow ever saw
The eagles would have killed me whert
| was if you hadn't come. just lool
at my head and shoulders! See wher'
they hit and pecked met
They couldn't quite hold up my 9
| pounds" said Arthur, laughing, "ant
| | guess they would have let you dowl
too fast if they had got you off, for yol
are little heavier than | am"
We were soon on board the ship
where the boys, after few days, recov
cred from their injuries. And it die
one good to see what bosom friend
they became. Walt was not a bad fel
low at heart, and his terrible experience
had an excellent effect upon him.
Both he and Arthur are now prom
inent shipmasters, but undoubtedl.
both entertain a vivid recollection o
the one great adventure of their boy
hood.-Golden Days.