The rivers of Texas are subjected to violent rises, often as great as twenty feet in an hour or less. Such sudden floods play havoc5 with the bridges along the bank, but I noticed in riding into New Braunfels an ingenious arrangement of the wooden structure by which, no matter how high the stream may rise, the bridge accommodates itself, and floats on the surface, while securely held from being carried away by the current.
But I set out to tell you a true incident of what happened a few years since, to a bright, lively youngster, sixteen years old, who lives in New Braunfels, and is brimful of pluck. His name is Lee Hemingway; he is an orphan6, and if his life is spared, he is certain to be heard from when he reaches man's estate.
Prof. McInery, the well-known naturalist7, spent several weeks last spring in the neighborhood of New Braunfels, hunting ornithological8 specimens9 for his collection, and he offered fifty dollars to any one who would bring him an eagle's nest, with living eaglets or with eggs in it.
When Lee Hemingway learned of the offer, he determined10 to earn it. It was rather early in the season for our emblematical11 birds to hatch their young, but, by carefully watching a pair, he succeeded in finding where their nest was made. It was on the summit of an almost insurmountable bowlder, rising nearly a hundred and twenty-five feet in the valley of the Guadaloupe.
The bravest man might well shrink from attempting to scale the perpendicular13 sides of this mass of rock, but as young Hemingway gazed longingly14 up the side to the nest, he noticed that the stone had become coated, in the course of time, with earth, which was covered with tangled15 vines and stunted16 vegetation.
"I believe I can climb that," thought the sturdy lad, after scrutinizing17 the herculean task, and watching one of the eagles soaring far above the summit. "I think there is enough foothold, and I can use the vines to help pull me up; but, if the eagles should catch me at it, they would make music."
It was the birds that caused him more dread18 than the forty odd yards of rock. We knew their fierce nature, and, if they discovered his designs against their home, as they were almost certain to do, they would assail19 him with a fury that must be resistless in his cramped20 position.
The professor advised him not to make the attempt, but the daring youth had to earn his own living, and the prize of fifty dollars was too tempting12 to be resisted.
"I'll do it!" he exclaimed, after considering the question, "if you will keep watch with your gun for the eagles."
"Of course I'll do that," replied the professor, delighted with the prospect21 of securing that which he had sought so long in vain.
The preparations for the work were simple. With a basket, furnished with a lid, slung22 to his back, in which to secure the eggs or eaglets, young Hemingway began his laborious23 and dangerous ascent24, while the professor, gun in hand, watched him from the ground below.
The boy quickly proved the possession of unusual skill as a climber. With the help of the vines he went steadily25 upward, hunting secure places for his feet and testing every support before trusting his weight to it. Once or twice, the professor thought the lad had made a mistake and was on the point of paying the penalty, but he never faltered27 nor slipped. Higher and higher he ascended28 until at last the feat29 was accomplished30, and the very summit reached.
His heart throbbed31 with pleasure when he discovered two young eagles in the nest. They were no more than a couple of days old, and he had no trouble in placing them and a portion of the nest in the basket, which was again strapped32 to his back, and, after a brief rest, he started to descend33.
Nothing was seen of the parent eagles, and he was congratulating himself on his good fortune, when bang went the professor's gun. At the same moment a shadow flitted over his head, and looking up he saw that instead of one, both of the eagles had arrived.
The lad had not descended34 half-way and the professor's shot did not harm either of them. They landed on the summit of the rocks, and, if a bird can feel astonishment35, they must have felt it when they looked around and discovered nothing of their home.
But the great American bird is not the one to submit tamely to such an outrage36. They began an immediate37 investigation38, and, when they caught sight of a boy scrambling39 down the side of the rocks with a basket strapped to his back, from which came a number of familiar squeak-like chirpings, they had no trouble in understanding matters.
The style in which they went for that same boy was a sight to behold40. There was no hesitation41 or maneuvering42; but, with outstretched wings and hoarse43 screeches44, they dashed toward him like a couple of cyclones45. The youth saw that he was caught in a desperate fix, for he had no weapons, and had to cling to the vines with one hand to save himself from being dashed to the ground below.
He ducked his head to ward26 off their beaks46 and talons47 from his eyes, and tried hard to beat them back with his free hand.
This was impossible. Their beaks struck him repeatedly in the head, bringing blood, which flowed over his face and almost blinded him, while they savagely48 buffeted49 him with their great wings, until he was in danger of being knocked from his position.
Meanwhile, the alarmed professor could do nothing for his young friend. The eagles kept so close to him, that, if he tried, he was as likely to hit one as the other. He walked back and forth50, on the alert for such a chance, and fortunately had not long to wait. One of the furious birds, circled off a few feet, as if to gather impetus51 for a decisive charge, when, taking a quick aim, the gentleman fired.
The shot was unerring and killed the female. She fluttered into a large sapling that sprouted52 from a large crevice53 in the rocks, about eight feet above the boy's head, and lay motionless. Although nearly blinded by blood, young Hemingway now attempted a feat which he was convinced offered the only means of saving his life.
He drew himself up to the foot of the tree, and once there, braced54 himself firmly with his feet, and tied his handkerchief around his forehead, to keep the blood out of his eyes. Seizing the dead bird by the feet, he swung it around with might and main and struck the male, which had continued beating him incessantly55.
It was a strange weapon—a dead eagle against a live one, and the boy's constrained56 position prevented his using it with much effect. So lacking, indeed, were the blows in force, that the male flew directly at his face. The sorely beset57 lad dropped the dead bird and fastened both hands around the throat of his assailant. The latter fought desperately58, but the young hero never released his grip, until it ceased its struggles. Then he flung it from him, and it tumbled downward to the professor's feet.
This gentleman had done his best to help his young friend, but was unable to do so. The lad, after resting awhile, picked his way down to the ground, where his feet had hardly touched when he fainted in the professor's arms. He soon rallied, however, though his wounds were so severe that he was obliged to keep his bed for several weeks.
The two eaglets were found uninjured, and were safely carried to the professor's home, as were the bodies of the dead birds. They were mounted by Professor McInery, who, in consideration of the danger undergone by the boy, and the two extra birds, presented Lee with $100, and no one will deny that the money was well earned.
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1
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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thrift
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| adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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ordinance
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| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
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havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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ornithological
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| adj.鸟类学的 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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emblematical
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| adj.标志的，象征的，典型的 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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28
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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32
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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39
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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40
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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maneuvering
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| v.移动，用策略( maneuver的现在分词 )；操纵 | |
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43
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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screeches
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| n.尖锐的声音( screech的名词复数 )v.发出尖叫声( screech的第三人称单数 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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45
cyclones
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| n.气旋( cyclone的名词复数 )；旋风；飓风；暴风 | |
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46
beaks
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| n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者 | |
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47
talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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48
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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49
buffeted
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| 反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续猛击； 打来打去； 推来搡去 | |
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50
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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51
impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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52
sprouted
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| v.发芽( sprout的过去式和过去分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
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53
crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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54
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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55
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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