into the air once more. He would not give up the fight! Russ and Rose
saw the flashing eyes, the hooked beak parted, and every other evidence
of the creature's putting forth a last remaining effort to reach a
secure resting place for his feet.

And he made it! He beat his powerful wings for the last time and shot up
over the rail of the steamship. The children shouted with delight. Other
passengers had been attracted to the place. The officer who had made
himself the friend of Russ and Rose was prepared for the bird's coming
inboard. He ran with a piece of strong netting in his hands, and as the
bird came thumping down on the deck, the man cast this net about the
creature.

Then what a flapping and croaking and struggling there was! A sailor ran
forward with a boat-stretcher and wanted to hit the bird; but Russ and
Rose screamed, and the officer sent the man away.

"We're not going to kill the bird. These little folks want it alive,"
said the officer. "And so we are going to make a prisoner of it and mend
that wing if we can."

"Aye, aye, Quartermaster," said the sailor who had tried to interfere.

"See if you can find a big poultry cage," said the officer. "We had live
turkeys aboard for the Thanksgiving run, and what would hold a turkey
ought to hold a sea-eagle. Lively now!"

"Aye, aye, sir," said the man, and hurried away.

While they waited for the cage the quartermaster warned the two Bunker