The Boy Scouts of the Geological Survey | Page 6

homeward way," he added. "So long! Come over and see me on the
farm, if you're ever along that way. I'll show you my traps and perhaps
we can go out on a little hunt--er---that is, if you-----"
"Thanks; we will," said Tom. "But we don't hunt animals to kill; it's
against scout rules in our troop."
"We hunt 'em with a camera," Arthur explained.
"Oh, I see. Well, so long."
The three lads shook hands.
"So long! Hope we'll meet again soon."

Ralph then took his leave of Denmead and Doctor Kane, and went on
his way, with a new idea buzzing in his mind: so they were going to
make a survey of that locality! He could invite them to investigate his
land, and---what if his father's hopes and beliefs should prove to be
founded on bed-rock? Bed-rock, rich in ore? Could it be more than a
dream? If they should discover any iron, anything---they were nice
fellows---he could trust them. Very decent chaps to know, perhaps to
have as friends. And they didn't approve of trapping or shooting!
Against scout rules, eh? And was he---oh, well, it was fair play, and he
needed whatever extra money he could earn. Those eagles! Yes, he
must not lose any more time. The eagles would have to be the prize of
his marksmanship, even though he winged them against his will.
* * * * * * *
At the end of that week he told himself that he would have to get the
birds that day, or give up the hunt for them, and devote his entire time
to the gardens. He resolved to spend the whole day in the neighborhood
of Eagle Cliff, as he called it; for get them he would, then or never,
before going back to the presence of his patient, pathetic, brave little
mother.
Accordingly, about five o'clock in the morning, he led the faithful Keno
from his stall, and rode slowly down the dusty road until he came to a
point where the narrow bridlepath branched off the road and wound
upward into the silent woods. Following this path until it became
indistinguishable on a thick carpet of moss and leaves and coarse fern,
he reached the big boulder at last; there he left Keno safely tied and
hidden in a clump of alders. Then he went on, several rods down the
trail, and took up his position directly across the stream from Eagle
Cliff.

CHAPTER III
THE COMBAT ON THE CLIFF

Lying on his back in the narrow trail, with his eyes continually roving
over the jagged side of the cliff, Ralph became drowsy, in spite of his
desire to catch sight of the eagles when they rose to stretch their wings
in the first flight of the day. Along the eastern rim of the hills the sky
was paling into a yellow glow without a cloud to mar its perfect clarity.
How long the young hunter dozed he could not tell, but he roused with
a start, and sat bolt upright, glancing around him impatiently. Directly
over his head, soaring high over the trees, was one of the great birds,
evidently in search of prey: perhaps an unwary rabbit, squirrel, or fat
woodchuck, for breakfast.
Catching sight of the bird as it hung poised in mid air, Ralph muttered:
"If that's the male, hunting alone, the female must be on the
nest---which will make matters twice as difficult for me."
Even as he watched it, the solitary bird made a sudden swoop
downward, sailed closer over the tops of the highest trees, and then
suddenly dived into their midst, emerging after a few minutes with a
small limp form seized in its talons. With this prize the eagle now flew
swiftly and silently to a ledge on the side of the cliff, and uttered a
curious loud whistle of invitation. In response, the larger bird, the
female, appeared on the ledge, and the pair forthwith began their meal.
Very cautiously, so that his slow movements might have the least
possible chance of being observed, Ralph reached out for his rifle,
and---shifting his position by crawling forward until the feasting eagles
were within range---fired. At the report, one big bird toppled over the
precipice to a ledge not ten feet above the foaming water, on the other
side of the stream. Its mate, with a harsh scream of alarm, darted up
into the air, circled once over the spot where Ralph crouched, and flew
hastily away. It was so swift in its flight from the place that Ralph was
unable to get a second shot.
Nevertheless, even in his vexation at apparently losing it, Ralph could
not refrain from giving a shout of triumph. Hurriedly securing his pony,
he made a detour of