"But he will want to see his relations," said the little girl. "Maybe
he's got a wife and children. He will be dreadfully lonesome away down
here."

"Maybe you had better take him back with you on the _Kammerboy_," said
Russ thoughtfully, to the quartermaster.

But the officer could not do that. There had been some objection made
already to the big sea-eagle caged on deck. Besides, the bird's wing was
better, and if he was kept much longer confined, the quartermaster said,
he might forget how to fly!

So they all gathered around (but at a good distance from the cage you
may be sure), and the eagle was released. He had to be poked out of the
cage, for it seemed as though he could scarcely believe that the door
was open and he was free.

He stalked out upon the deck, his great claws rattling on the planks. He
turned his head from side to side, and then opened his beak and, so Vi
said, he hissed at them!

"At any rate," admitted Russ afterward, "he did make a funny noise."

"He was clearing his throat," said Laddie, with scorn of his twin. "How
could an eagle hiss? He isn't a goose."

Laddie knew all about geese, for Grandma Bell had geese. But he did not
know all about eagles, that was sure! Whether Red Eye hissed, or
growled, or whatever he did in his throat, he certainly showed little