er. He was upon his back--for these birds
fight best in that position. The serpent, on the other hand, was trying
his best to bite the bird; and for this purpose at intervals extended
its jaws, showing the double rows of sharp conical teeth. At one of
these intervals, while its mouth was open, the kite struck quickly
upward, and seized the lower jaw of the reptile in his beak. The latter
closed its mouth on the instant; but the horny mandible was impervious
to its sharp teeth, and the bird regarded them not.

The kite continued to hold fast with his powerful beak. He had now
gained the advantage, for which he had been all the while contending.
He had got a "fulcrum for his lever," and he was not slow in using it.
Suddenly turning back upward, with the aid of his wing and one of his
claws, he held himself fast to the ground, while with his strong neck he
drew the head of the serpent close under him until it lay within reach
of his other claw. Then with a quick fierce stroke he planted his
talons, so as to encircle the throat of his adversary, clutching and
holding it like a vice.

This manoeuvre put a period to the contest. The red coils were seen to
loosen, then fall off; and, although the reptile still writhed, it was
only in its death-struggles. In a few moments its body lay along the
grass, powerless and without motion.

The kite after a short rest drew his beak from the jaws of the serpent,
raised his head, extended his wings--to assure himself they were free--
and, with a scream of triumph, rose upward, the long carcass of the
reptile trailing after him like a train!

At this moment another scream reached the ears of the young hunters. It
might have passed for the echo of the first, but its tones were wilder
and louder. All eyes were turned to the direction whence it came. The
boys knew very well what sort of a creature had uttered it, for they had
heard such notes before. They knew it was the _white-headed eagle_.

They caught sight of him the moment they turned. It was not difficult
to see him soaring upward--his great tail and broad wings expanded,
seven feet in extent, against the light blue sky.

When first seen his flight was nearly in a straight line, slanting up in
the direction of the kite--for that was the object that had started him.
He was evidently bent upon robbing the latter of his late-gotten booty.

The kite had heard the cry that echoed his own; and, knowing its import,
at once