ances of the big
bird's landing on the craft were very slim. The children raced along the
deck toward the bows, believing that the big bird would alight there.
Their friend, the lookout officer, however, remained at his post.

The big wings of the great sea-eagle beat the air heavily. They were
covered with almost black feathers above while the feathers on the under
side of the wings were pearl-gray, a contrast that Rose said was
"awfully pretty."

"I don't see anything pretty about that poor, struggling bird," said
Russ shortly. "He's hurt bad. I hope he gets here all right, but--Oh!
There he goes!"

It was a fact that the big bird almost fell into the sea, being
weakened. The bow of the _Kammerboy_ swept past the struggling creature.
Russ and Rose lifted a joined complaint:

"Oh, he's drowned! He drowned!"

It was true that the bird was not a water-fowl and, as the officer had
told the children, could not "roost" on the sea. It was not web-footed,
so could not swim. And with an injured wing it was wonderful that it had
kept up as long as it had, for it was now far, far from the shore.

But the bird had wonderful courage. Although plunged into the water and
suffering one wave to break and pour over him, the great bird sprang
into the air once more. He would not give up the fight! Russ and Rose
saw the flashing eyes, the hooked beak parted, and every other evidence
of the creature's putting forth a last remaining effort to reach a
secure resting place for his feet.

And he made it! He beat his powerful wings for the last time and shot up
over the rail of the steamship. The children shouted with delight. Other
passengers had been attracted to the place. The officer who had made
himself the friend of Russ and Rose was prepared for the bird's coming
inboard. He ran with a piece of strong netting in his hands, and as the
bird came thumping down on the deck, the man cast this net about the
creature.

Then what a flapping and croaking and struggling there was! A sailor ran
forward with a boat-stretcher and wanted to hit the bird; but Russ and
Rose screamed, and the officer sent the man away.

"We're not going to kill the bird. These little folks want it alive,"
said the officer. "And so we are going to make a prisoner of it and mend
that wing if we can."

"Aye, aye, Quartermaster," said the sailor who had tried to interfere.

"See if you can find a big poultry cage," said the officer. "We had live
turkeys aboard