Part 14 (1/2)

After this had gone on for soer one, and therefore the fe and return to the nest There she sat only for a few seconds, when, to the astonishainst the young ones, as if she was endeavouring to force the Perhaps her late unsuccessful atteet them a fish had led her to a train of reflections, and sharpened her determination to make them shi+ft for themselves However thatthe, and half beating thes, one after the other--two of the, and soar away out over the lake

At this ain into the air, bearing a fish, head-fore, andas it hovered in the air, turned suddenly over and held out the fish to it The latter clutched it with asfor years, and then turning away, carried the fish to a neighbouring tree, and co it

The action had been perceived by the other youngster, who followed after, and alighted upon the sa in the meal In a few minutes the best part of the fish was eaten up, and both, rising from the branch, flew back to their nest There they were , that was intended, no doubt, to congratulate them upon the success of their first ”fly”

CHAPTER XXI

THE OSPREY AND HIS TYRANT

After re with the others, the old ,” and with this intent he shot out fro above the water The boys, having nothing better to engage the his motions, while they freely conversed about his habits and other points in his natural history Lucien informed them that the osprey is a bird common to both Continents, and that it is often seen upon the shores of the Mediterranean, pursuing the finny tribes there, just as it does in Ale,” because its sudden heavy plunge upon the water is fancied to rese of a piece of lead

While they were discoursing, the osprey was seen to dip once or twice towards the surface of the water, and then suddenly check hiain These manoeuvres were no doubt caused by the fish which he intended to ”hook” having suddenly shi+fted their quarters Most probably experience had taught them wisdom, and they knew the osprey as their most terrible enemy But they were not to escape him at all times

As the boys watched the bird, he was seen to poise hi his wings, he shot vertically doard

So rapid was his descent, that the eye could only trace it like a bolt of lightning There was a sharp whizzing sound in the air--a plash was heard--then the smooth bosom of the water was seen to break, and the white spray rose several feet above the surface For an instant the bird was no longer seen He was underneath, and the place of his descent was le ed, and a few strokes of his broad wing carried hiriped in his claws As the voyageurs had before noticed, the fish was carried head-fore his prey beneath the water the osprey follows it and ai a short distance the bird paused for a ave hi out of water He then directed his flight, now so the tree, however, there appeared to be so the branches as he fleard Perhaps the presence of the camp had distracted his attention, and rendered him less careful At all events, the prey was seen to drop fro fro down to the botto could be et a ”nibble” during the whole day, and a fresh fish for dinner was very desirable to all Francois and Basil had both started to their feet, in order to secure the fish before the osprey should pounce down and pick it up; but Lucien assured them that they need be in no hurry about that, as the bird would not touch it again after he had once let it fall Hearing this, they took their time about it, and walked leisurely up to the tree, where they found the fish lying After taking it up they were fain to escape fro from a mass of other fish that lay in a decomposed state around the tree was more than any delicate pair of nostrils could endure

The one they had secured proved to be a very fine salht, and therefore much heavier than the bird itself!

The track of the osprey's talons was deeply marked; and by the direction in which the creature was scored, it was evident the bird had seized it from behind The old hawkscarried away; but they soon gave up their squealing, and, onceout over the river, sailed about with their eyes bent upon the water below

”What a number of fish they must kill!” said Francois ”They don't appear to have et as ain! Another, I declare!”

As Francois spoke the male osprey was seen to shoot down as before, and this tih he appeared scarcely to dip his foot in the water, rose up with a fish in his talons

”They have sometimes others to provide for besides thele----”

Lucien was interrupted by a cackling screanised as that of the very bird whose name had just escaped his lips All eyes were instantly turned in the direction whence it came--which was from the opposite side of the river--and there, just in the act of launching itself froreat enele himself!

”Now a chase!” cried Francois, ”yonder co, the whole party watched thebrought him near; but the osprey had already heard his screa the fish to his nest, turned away fro in that direction The eagle followed, beating the air with his broad pinions, as he soared after Close behind hi her wings against his very beak, and endeavouring to distract his attention frole full well knew her object, and disregarding her iht after her h elevation, and the ospreys, froeurs could see that the eagle was on the point of overtaking the one that carried the fish

[Illustration: THE OSPREY AND WHITE-HEADED EAGLE]

Presently, a glittering object dropped down froe upon the water It was the fish, and alle, as the great bird shot after it Before reaching the surface, however, his white tail and wings were seen to spread suddenly, checking his doard course; and then, with a scream of disappointment, he flew off in a horizontal direction, and alit upon the same tree from which he had taken his departure In a onal line, to their nest; and, having arrived there, a loud and apparently angry consultation was carried on for so birds bore as noisy a part as either of their parents

”It's a wonder,” said Lucien, ”the eagle ive his body enables hi object before it can reach the earth Perhaps the female osprey was in his way, and hindered him

”But why did he not pick it up in the water?” demanded Francois

”Because it went to the bottom, and he could not reach it--that's clear”

It was Basil who ned was the true one

”It's too bad,” said Francois, ”that the osprey, not half so big a bird, reat robber-tyrant by his industry”