rface of the water, and then suddenly check himself, and
mount upward again. These manoeuvres were no doubt caused by the fish
which he intended to "hook" having suddenly shifted 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 himself
for an instant in the air, then suddenly closing his wings, he shot
vertically downward. 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 marked by a patch of foam. Only a single
moment was he out of sight. The next he emerged, and a few strokes of
his broad wing carried him into the air, while a large fish was seen
griped in his claws. As the voyageurs had before noticed, the fish was
carried head-foremost, and this led them to the conclusion that in
striking his prey beneath the water the osprey follows it and aims his
blow from behind.

After mounting a short distance the bird paused for a moment in the air,
and gave himself a shake, precisely as a dog would do after coming out
of water. He then directed his flight, now somewhat slow and heavy,
toward the nest. On reaching the tree, however, there appeared to be
some mismanagement. The fish caught among the branches as he flew
inward. Perhaps the presence of the camp had distracted his attention,
and rendered him less careful. At all events, the prey was seen to drop
from his talons; and bounding from branch to branch, went tumbling down
to the bottom of the tree.

Nothing could be more opportune than this, for Francois had not been
able to get 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 fr