United States or North Macedonia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
On getting close up to the still screaming and fluttering bird, they were able to understand what had appeared so incomprehensible. They saw that the bearcoot was in a dilemma; that its talons were buried in the body of the ibex, and so firmly fixed, that with all the strength of its sinewy legs, backed by the power of its elastic pinions, it was unable to free itself!
When all was ready, the bird was stripped of his other fastenings; and then all retired to a distance to give him space for the free use of his wings. Fancying himself no longer under restraint, the bearcoot sprang up from the rock on which he had been placed; and, spreading his broad wings, rose almost vertically into the air.
Now that the bearcoot had been "weighed and found wanting," you might suppose that the creature would be no longer cared for excepting to furnish them with a meal. This was the reflection of Karl and Ossaroo; but Caspar thought differently. He was impressed with a belief, that the bird might still do them a service the very one which he had undertaken so unsuccessfully.
Beyond a doubt the bearcoot was in a bad fix; and, although it was soon relieved from its tether of poshm, it was only to find itself more securely tied by a stronger string taken out of the pocket of Ossaroo.
It was to Caspar the party was indebted for this happy change of feeling. An idea had occurred to the young hunter or rather a new scheme which was at once communicated to his companions. Strictly speaking, Caspar's scheme could not be termed a new one. It was only supplementary to that already set before them by Karl; and the bearcoot, as before, was to be the chief actor in it.
There was something in it, however; and, as the drowning man will clutch even at straws, Karl caught at a singular conception, and after examining it a while, communicated it to the others. It was the bearcoot that had brought forth this conception. The bird was a true eagle, strong of wing and muscle like all of his tribe, and one of the strongest of the genus.
This was the same place, where the ladders had been set, and where they had unsuccessfully endeavoured to send up the bearcoot. They had already ascended one of the isolated cairns of rock, that stood within the valley nearly opposite this part of the cliff; and from its top they had been able to get a view though not a very good one of a portion of the sloping declivity of the mountain above.
As he beheld their immense wings, extended in slow but easy flight, it occurred to him that one or other of the great creatures might have the power to perform that task which had proved too much for the bearcoot; and for which the "kite" had been "flyed" in vain.
The first of these difficulties was, that the bearcoot, notwithstanding his great strength of wing, might not be able to carry up a rope, which would be strong enough to carry one of themselves. A cord he might easily take to the top of the cliff, or even far beyond; but a mere cord, or even a very slender rope, would be of no use.
If your scheme succeed, we shall not require to make any more cord. What we have will be sufficient. Let us make trial at once!" "Where is the bearcoot?" asked Caspar, looking around to discover the bird. "Yonner be he, young sahib," answered Ossaroo, pointing towards the precipice; "yonner sitee he ober da rock."
Word Of The Day