om the spot, for the effluvium arising
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 salmon of not less than six pounds
weight, 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 hawks made a considerable noise while the fish was being carried
away; but they soon gave up their squealing, and, once more hovering out
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 much difficulty about it. I should think they get as
much as they can eat. See! there again! Another, I declare!"

As Francois spake the male osprey was seen to shoot down as before, and
this time, although 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 themselves," remarked
Lucien. "For instance, the bald eagle--"

Lucien was interrupted by a cackling scream, which was at once
recognised 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 from the top of a tall tree, was the great enemy
of the osprey--the white-headed eagle himself!

"Now a chase!" cried Francois, "yonder comes the big robber!"

With some excitement of feeling, the whole party watched the movements
of the birds. A few strokes of the eagle's wing brought him near; but
the osprey had already heard his scream, and knowing it was no use
carrying the fish to his nest, turned away from it, and rose spirally
upward, in the hope of escaping in that direction. The eagle followed,
beating the air with his broad pinions, as he soared after. Close
behind him went the female osprey, uttering wild screams, flapping her
wings against his very beak, and endeavouring to distract his attention
from the chase. It was to no purpose, however, as the eagle full well
knew her object, and disregarding her impotent attempts, kept on in
steady flight after her mate. This continued until the birds had
reached a high elevation, and the ospreys, from