ave
the pleasure of knocking over one of 'em, after what they have done to
me. Oh! you put it to that gay old robber of honest fish-hawks, sure
you did! And he's gone down below-decks for good. Give me your gun,
Toby; I _must_ have it, I tell you!"

And the guide, understanding, as well as sympathizing with, the spirit
that caused the other to cry out in this fashion, did thrust his
repeating rifle into the hands of Step Hen, after throwing the
discharged shell out, and sending a fresh one into the firing chamber.

With a satisfaction that words could never paint, Step Hen followed
the swinging form of the remaining eagle as it flew around so as to
get in line for another swoop. And just as the great bird started to
come down at them, the boy pulled the trigger.

His aim was true, and the second eagle pitched forward, whirling over
and over as it went tumbling down the face of the descent, just as
its mate had done.

"Hurrah!" shouted Step Hen, tremendously pleased with the final
outcome of the fight with the pair of fierce pirates of the upper air
currents; "that's what they get for tackling me, ain't it, Toby? We
gave 'em what they needed, didn't we? But say, I'm just thinkin' that
it's going to be a tough old job for me to get back up where the boys
are; and that p'raps we'll have to keep on climbin' down, after
shoving the big-horn off the shelf."

And the guide, after recovering his breath, which had been used up in
his recent hasty movements in coming to the rescue, looking over the
edge, admitted that he believed such a course was the only one left to
them.

CHAPTER XVI.

DOWN THE SLOPE.

"The first thing, then, is to toss this feller overboard," remarked
Step Hen, as he proudly touched the dead big-horn with the toe of his
shoe, and tried to assume the air of a conquering hero; but his face
was so sore, and his appearance so remarkable, that apparently his
manner did not impress the guide very much.

"The sooner you get to water, and wash them scratches, the better,"
said Toby. "I've knowed more'n one feller have a bad time from gettin'
clawed by eagles; and the doctor said as how 'twar blood
poisonin'-like. But seems to me most of that might a kim from you
bein' hit by their wings."

"Just what it did," replied Step Hen, though he looked a bit anxious.
"And goodness gracious! how they could hit with 'em, though. Felt like
you'd run against an electric fan, or something like that. Busted th