Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-06-24

Backing down, [ saw that this fork
was the support of the bulge which
had given the nest it's lopsided appear
anee. A few large timbers had been
rested across it, small loose pieces had
gradually lodged upon these and thus
in time brought about the big bulge.
Pushing off this loose stuff and the
few heavy timbers, I discovered that
the fork would bear my weight. 1t
now projected little way from the
wall of the nest. I got firm hold on
and drew myself up between them.
After lively scramble, | got care
fully to my feet, and clutching the
sticks protruding from the side, stood
up, with my eyes almost on a level
with the rim Of the great nest. This
was better than cutting channel, GER
tainly, at least for the ascent.
cover the protruding sticks Of the
rim looked, and caught glimpse Of
large dull-white eggs.
Eggs of shining gold could not
have so fascinated me. There were
thousands of people who could have
gold eggs if they cared. But eagles
eggs! Money could not buy such a
sight as this.
81 was more than ever eager now
to get into the nest. Working my
fingers among the sticks of the rim
for firm grip, I stuck my toes into
the rough wall and began to climb. At
some considerable hazard AMI many
rents in my clothing wiggled up over
the edge into the hollow of the nest
where the coveted eggs lay!
"The eagles were wheeling and
screaming overhead. The weird cac-
cac-cac! of the male came down from
far above me, while the female, circl-
ing closer, would swoop and shrill
her menacing, maniacal half-laugh al
most in my ears.
Their wild cries thrilled me.
seized the eggs, rose to my feet, and
stood upright in the nest. AS the
eagles lowered and swept over me
came perilously near trying to fly my
self. iaev5R NJ
'The level marsh, the blue, hazy
bay, the far-off, unblurred horizon roll
ed wide and free about me. The wild,
free winds from the sea blew on my
face until / screamed with joy at the
screaming eagles.
"The sound of my voice seemed to
infuriate the birds The male turned
suddenly in his round and swooped
directly at me. The movement was
instantly understood by his mate, who
thus embollened, cut under him and
hurled herself downward, passing with
a vicious grab at my face. I lodged,
or she would have hit me.
"For the moment I had forgotten
where I stood, and in lodging the
eagle I almost stepped over the edge
of the nest. I caught my balance and
dropped quickly to my knees, COM
plete1y unnerved.
Fear like panic took instant mold
on me- Only one desire possessed me
to get down / crept to the edge AMI
looked over. The sight made me
dizzy. Sixty feet of almost empty
air! Far down a few small limbs in
tervaned between me and the ground.
But there was nothing by which to
descend.
II was dismayel, and my express
sion, my posture-something betrayed
my confusion to the eagles. They
Immediately lost all dread of me.
While I was looking over, one of them
struck me singing blow on the head,
knocking my cap Off into the air.
"That started me. I must climb
down or be knocked over. If only
had continued with my channel to
the top! If only that forked branch
by which I assembled were within
reach But how could 1 back over the
fiaring rim of my whole length and
swing my body under against the in
ward slanting nest until my feet could
touch it? But if I ever got down that
was what must do, for the eagles
gave me no chance to cut channel
now.
Laying the eggs back for the time
in the hollow, / began tearing away
the rim of the nest in order TO clear
place over which to back down.
ct was momentarily in danger Of
being hurled off by the birds, for /
could not watch them and work, too.
And they were growing holder with
every dash. One Of them, driving
fearfully from behind, f1attened me
out on the nest. Had the blow been
delivered from the front should have
been knocked headlong to the ground.
"I was afraid to delay longer. A
good sized breach was opened in the
rim of the nest by this time. And
now, if the, sticks would not pull out,
l might let myself over AMI reach the
fork. Once my feet touched that |
could manage the rest, knew.
Digging my hands deep into the
nest for firm hold, | began cautiously
to back over the rough, stubby rim,
reaching with my feet toward the
fork
"The eagles seemed to appreciate
tha onnortunity nv awkward and hui