(原版)澳大利亞語文第六冊 LESSON 2

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LESSON 2 THE FAWN AND THE EAGLES

THE FAWN AND THE EAGLES

Some years ago a party of soldiers, while scouting [1] , saw a huge eagle soaring in the air over a distant ridge. As they watched him he darted down, and then flew back again with angry shrieks and flapping wings, to repeat the dashes from time to time.

As they got near the spot over which the eagle was hovering [2] , the soldiers saw a second bird on the ground. When the one in the air darted down this one joined in the attack, and then returned to its place in the high grass as the first soared upward.

I knew it was a deer they were at, said the guide, as at a trot the party ran up to the summit of a ridge and saw a fine full-grown doe standing at bay [3] before the eagles. She was so busy watching her winged enemies, that she paid no heed to the presence of the men, although they took no care to hide themselves from her, and were indeed only two or three hundred yards away.

She is wounded, of course, said the guide, as they halted to view the proceedings. "These eagles know well enough not to waste their time on a full-grown deer that is unhurt."

Even the eagles did not notice the presence of the party, but prepared for another attack.

The one on the ground came hopping along first, with arched neck and spread wings, like a fighting cock in the barnyard. When within ten or fifteen feet of the deer it began circling round, the doe facing the eagle from whatever quarter it made its attack. Meantime the eagle in the air slowly approached to within a foot or two, striking with its wings and pecking at the doe's head.

This troubled the deer so much that she rose on her hind-feet and struck at the bird with her fore-hoofs. As she rose, the eagle on the ground rushed rapidly towards her. Down came the deer in a second, striking at the eagle with her fore-feet blows that could be plainly heard a long way off.

The eagle at first seemed to be killed. It lay like a bundle of rumpled feathers in front of the doe. But it was only "shamming," to get the deer to follow it up. This was a temptation so great that the angered beast made one or two savage leaps and struck it again with its fore-feet; but the bird, suddenly rising, flew off a yard or two and escaped.

As the deer rushed forward, the eagle in the air swooped [4] downward on the spot where it had been standing. Quick as a flash the doe wheeled and made for the new enemy. There was no doubt of her success this time.

Feathers went flying into the air and the eagle flew screaming away, while the other hopped off to a safe distance.

There is the whole thing made clear, Captain, said the guide, who had eyes like a hawk. "She has got a little fawn with her, and the eagles are after it. There is the little one under her—that thing that looks like a small rock or bit of wood."

THE DOE ATTACKED BY EAGLES

The field-glasses of one of the party soon verified [5] this and they then saw the plan of the eagles. It was the part of one to stay on the ground, while the other hung in the air right over the doe. If she attacked the one in the air, the other was to try to get the young one and, not succeeding, was to tempt the mother to follow it, and thus leave the fawn open to the attacks of the one above.

These attacks were kept up until both birds were well tired, or the doe struck one of them. Then they would retreat to regain their breath or straighten out their feathers. How long they had been contending [6] there was no means of knowing, but all three looked well tired out.

After the first battle had ended with the doe's success, the eagles saw the party of soldiers and at once flew away. The guide, however, was too quick for the male, and a bullet from his rifle soon brought the fierce bird to the ground dead. The doe watched the proceedings from the top of a ridge hard by. She offered a splendid mark, but not a shot was fired at her. In a few minutes she trotted away, followed by the little fawn.

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[1] scouting: Watching for the movements of an enemy, and trying to get information about the enemy's plans.

[2] hovering: Fluttering in the air, ready to dart down on an object.

[3] standing at bay: Standing so as to face the enemy.

[4] swooped: Darted suddenly.

[5] verified: Proved to be true.

[6] contending: Fighting, struggling.