Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/38

 towards the dread forest, which the Count did not choose foolhardily to tempt again, and accordingly he gave up his dear friend as lost. All of a sudden a mighty eagle rose above the forest trees, and pursued the falcon, which no sooner saw that it was threatened by an enemy so much stronger than itself, than it flew with the speed of an arrow back to its master to seek for protection. But the eagle darted down from aloft, and striking one of its vast talons into the Count’s shoulder, crushed the trusty falcon with the other. The Count, at once amazed and alarmed, endeavoured with his spear to free himself from the feathered monster, striking and thrusting fiercely at his foe. But the eagle seized the hunting spear, and having shivered it like a reed, screamed these words loud into his ear: “Audacious creature, how dar’st thou disturb my airy dominions with thy sport? Thou canst only atone for such an outrage with thy life.”

The Count at once guessing from the bird’s speech what sort of an adventure was likely to ensue, took courage and said: “Softly, Sir Eagle, softly! What harm have I done you? My falcon has paid for his sins, and I’ll make him over to you, to satisfy your hunger.”

“No! screamed the Eagle; “I happen just today to have a fancy for man’s flesh, and you seem a nice fat morsel.”