Evening journal., 1899-10-03

"a lAdNt 10 tloHof anu Nhtu we Andill
did SO, Arthur had almost accomplished
the ascent.
Hold on, Waltz" he cried; don't be
afraid-1m coming. Just keep where
you are"
"Oh, the eaglesl" answered Walt. |
zone Of them has just knocked my cap |
Of Hurry up, Art--oh, come quiclSl" |
Some Of the rest Of US attempted to
Chamber up, but made wretched work Of
II, for the risk appeared frightful. It
was enough TO shake a very stout heart |
TO cling TO a 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 clearl" Arthur shouted
down 10 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 nowi"
IL seemed as IL a 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.
Arthurs cap shared the fate of his
companions, and both lads got NUM-
ber OF blows.
AS Walter, after all, had no broken
bones, he was still quite active. though
drcadfully cowed and frightened. He
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 An four
of the birds seemed to swoop down at
once; their tails were broadened, and
their bcaks and talons looked like hooks
Of steel.
We saw Arthur strike out with his
arms, and heard terrified yell from
Walter.
In another moment our hearts stood
still with horror. Arthur Clifford had
gone completely of the rock, ia midair.
over 300 feet from the groundl
What n spectacle II wasl Such
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 real
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 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 a shapeless mass?
"Oh, if they should unhook them
selvesl" cried the second mate. But
there-seel seel He has got them by
the legs besidesl Hold on, Arthur! hold
on hardl" he added, shouting with all
has might.
The beating Of the broad wings was
like the tapping of windmill arms. and
the Screams of the royal birds could
have been heard for miles. Faster and
faster, however, tray 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 min
ute; for those huge wings, IL or ID
feet from tip 70 tip, had immense re-
sisting power.
Then Arthur struck the earth, and
the magnificent birds, making a 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 tc
make any effort at OBTAINING them; and
indeed, he was already badly wounded
by their claws and out Of breath from
his exertions, although wonderful,
cool in mind.
"Where's Waltz" he asked. "The,
haven't thrown him off, have they?'
And the noble little fellow glance'
anxiously up at the high rock.
He had saved his companion at tn
risk of his own life; for Walter, seeini
the way clear, at once recommended hi
descent, and soon got down to wher
two Of us were able TO assist him. Ri
lower limbs were much injured wher
they had been wedged in the crevice
but he could still use them. Once NOR
upon the ground, he staggered up 4
Arthur and seized his hand.
at was you that saved me- he sac
''You are the bravest fellow ! ever saw
The eagles would have killed me wher
was If you hadn't come. just lool
ut my head and shouldersl See wher
I, they hit and pecked mel"
7 "rhey couldn't quite hold up my 3
+ pounds" said Arthur, laughing, "an
1 guess they would have let you dow
v too fast IL they had got you on, for 70
. are a little heavier than l am
We were soon on board the shI
? where the boys, after a few days, reco'
cred from their injuries. And it di
e one good TO see what bosom friend
d they became. Walt was not a bad ie
g low at heart, and his terrible experienc
n IA -. r-,,rfnrs ,pracf un0n I.t m