et, which
was again strapped to his back, and, after a brief rest, he started to
descend.

Nothing was seen of the parent eagles, and he was congratulating
himself on his good fortune, when bang went the professor's gun. At
the same moment a shadow flitted over his head, and looking up he saw
that instead of one, both of the eagles had arrived.

The lad had not descended half-way and the professor's shot did not
harm either of them. They landed on the summit of the rocks, and, if a
bird can feel astonishment, they must have felt it when they looked
around and discovered nothing of their home.

But the great American bird is not the one to submit tamely to such an
outrage. They began an immediate investigation, and, when they caught
sight of a boy scrambling down the side of the rocks with a basket
strapped to his back, from which came a number of familiar squeak-like
chirpings, they had no trouble in understanding matters.

The style in which they went for that same boy was a sight to behold.
There was no hesitation or maneuvering; but, with outstretched wings
and hoarse screeches, they dashed toward him like a couple of cyclones.
The youth saw that he was caught in a desperate fix, for he had no
weapons, and had to cling to the vines with one hand to save himself
from being dashed to the ground below.

He ducked his head to ward off their beaks and talons from his eyes,
and tried hard to beat them back with his free hand.

This was impossible. Their beaks struck him repeatedly in the head,
bringing blood, which flowed over his face and almost blinded him,
while they savagely buffeted him with their great wings, until he was
in danger of being knocked from his position.

Meanwhile, the alarmed professor could do nothing for his young friend.
The eagles kept so close to him, that, if he tried, he was as likely to
hit one as the other. He walked back and forth, on the alert for such
a chance, and fortunately had not long to wait. One of the furious
birds, circled off a few feet, as if to gather impetus for a decisive
charge, when, taking a quick aim, the gentleman fired.

The shot was unerring and killed the female. She fluttered into a
large sapling that sprouted from a large crevice in the rocks, about
eight feet above the boy's head, and lay motionless. Although nearly
blinded by blood, young Hemingway now attempted a feat which he was
convinced offered the only means of saving his life.

He drew him