After four hours’ sleep we rose refreshed and eager to examine our two captives.  Attached to Tomerl’s cottage was a diminutive barn, from which we removed the door, and nailing strong laths across the aperture, managed to improvise a large and roomy cage.  A couple of rabbits furnished a luxurious breakfast, which was devoured with extraordinary voracity.  The hen-bird, as is the case with all birds of prey, was considerably larger and stronger than her brother, though the latter had the finer head and eyes.

A week after their capture they were “feathered” for the first time.  This process consists in pulling out the long down-like plumes situated on the under side of the strong tail-feathers.  These plumes, which, if taken from a full-grown eagle, frequently measure seven or eight inches in length, are highly prized by the Tyrolese peasants, but still more by the inhabitants of the neighboring Bavarian Highlands, who do not hesitate to expend a month’s wages in the purchase of two or three with which to adorn their hats or those of their buxom sweethearts.  The value of a crop of plumes varies somewhat.  Generally, however, an eagle yields about forty florins’ ($16) worth of feathers per annum.

Six weeks after this incident I again wended my steps into the secluded Brandenburg valley, and found the eagles thriving and much grown.  Being curious to see if their confinement had subdued their wild and ferocious spirit, I removed one of the laths and entered the barn.  An angry hiss, similar to that of a snake, warned me of danger, but too late to save my hands some severe scratches.  With one bound and a flap of their gigantic wings they were on me, and had it not been for Tomerl, who was standing just behind me armed with a stout cudgel, I should have paid dearly for my incautious visit.

I know of no instance where human skill has subdued in the slightest degree the haughty spirit of the free-born golden eagle.  An untamable ferocity is the predominating characteristic of this noble bird, more than of any other animal.  Circling majestically among the fleeting clouds, he reigns lord paramount over his vast domain, avoiding the sight and resenting the approach of man.

W.A.  Baillie-Grohman.

THREE FEATHERS.

By William black, author of “A princess of Thule.”

CHAPTER XXIX.

Mabyn dreams.

“Yes, mother,” said Mabyn, bursting into the room, “here I am; and Jennifer’s down stairs with my box; and I am to stay with you here for another week or a fortnight; and Wenna’s to go back at once, for the whole world is convulsed because of Mr. Trelyon’s coming of age; and Mrs. Trelyon has sent and taken all our spare rooms; and father says Wenna must come back directly, for it’s always ‘Wenna, do this,’ and ‘Wenna, do that;’ and if Wenna isn’t there, of course the sky will tumble down on the earth—­Mother, what’s the matter, and where’s Wenna?”