The usual silence which succeeds a disappointment was for some time
preserved by the three individuals who had been spectators of the
unsuccessful attempt of the eagle. Caspar seemed less cast down than
the others; but why it was so, neither of them thought of asking him.
It was not a silence of very long duration, nor was the chagrin that had
caused it of much longer continuance. Both were evanescent as the
summer cloud that for a moment darkens the sky, and then glides off--
leaving it bright and serene as ever.
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.
While calculating the length of rope it would take to reach to the top
of the cliff, Caspar had already bethought him of a way by which it
might be shortened--in other words, how it might be arranged, that a
shorter rope would suffice. He had for some time carried this idea in
his mind; but had declined communicating it, to the others, until after
witnessing the test of the eagle's strength. 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.
Caspar reflected, and very correctly: that it was the extra weight that
had hindered the eagle from ascending. It was not so much beyond his
strength neither. Perhaps had it been only half as heavy, or even a
little more, he might have succeeded in carrying it over the cliff.
What if the weight should be reduced?
To make the rope more slender did not enter into Caspar's calculations.
He knew this could not be done: since it was a point already discussed
and decided upon.
But how if the rope were to be _shorter_, than that which had been
theoretically considered? How if it were to be only fifty yards,
instead of one hundred and fifty? Of course, then the eagle might fly
with it, to whatever height its length would allow.
Caspar felt satisfied of this fact; nor did either of the others
question its truth--but what then?
"What," inquired Karl, "would be the use of a rope of fifty yards,
though the eagle might carry it up to the moon? Even at the lowest part
of the cliffs--should the bearcoot take one end over, the other would be
fifty yards above our heads?"
"Not a yard, brother--not a foot. The other end would be in our hands--
in our hands, I tell you."
"Well, Caspar," calmly rejoined the philosopher, "you appear to be
confident enough; though I can't guess what you are driving at. You
know this hideous precipice is at no point less than a hundred yards in
sheer height?"
"I do," replied Caspar, still speaking in the same tone of confidence;
"but a rope of only fifty--ay, of not more than half that length--may be
held in our hands, while the other end is over the top of the cliff."
Karl looked perplexed; but the shikaree, on this occasion quicker of
perception than the philosopher, catching at Caspar's meaning, cried
out:--
"Ha, ha! young sahib meanee from top ob da ladder! Dat meanee he."
"Exactly so," said Caspar; "you've guessed right, Ossy. I mean just
that very thing."
"Oh! then, indeed," said Karl, in a drawling tone, at the same time
lapsing into a reflective silence.
"Perhaps you are right, brother," he added, after a pause. "At all
events, it will be easy to try. 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."
The eagle was perceived, perched, or rather crouching, on a low ledge of
the cliff,--upon which it had dropped down after its unsuccessful
attempt at flight. It looked crestfallen, and as if it would suffer
itself to be caught by the hand. But as Ossaroo approached it with this
intention, the bird seemed to fancy itself free, and once more rose,
with a bold swoop, into the air.
It was only to feel the check-string tighten afresh upon his leg. It
came fluttering down again, first drawn back by the weight of the log,
and afterwards by the strong arm of the shikaree.
The log was now removed; and the whole rope they had on hand--a length
of rather more than fifty yards--was knotted in its place.
The bearcoot was again set free--Ossaroo taking care to keep the leash
well in hand; and now the beautiful bird of Jove rose into the air, as
if not the summit of the cliff, but the proud peak of Chumulari, was to
be the limit of its flight.
At the height of fifty yards its soaring ambition was suddenly curbed,
by the check-string of Ossaroo, reminding it that it was still a
captive.
The experiment had proved successful. Caspar's plan promised well; and
they at once proceeded to take the necessary steps for carrying it into
practical effect.