At all events he had stepped forward upon the projecting point of the rock--to the very spot so lately occupied by his adversary.
The cry, however, which had been heard in the valley below had reached his ears at the same time, and perhaps a little sooner: for as the spectators looked up, they saw that he had been startled by it, and was looking around him with evident alarm.

In the air above and not many yards distant from him, were two dark objects, easily recognisable as birds upon the wing.

They were of large size, nearly black in colour, and with that peculiar sharpness of outline and sweep of wing that distinguish the true birds of prey.

There was no mistaking their kind-- they were eagles--of a species known in the Himalayas and the steppes of Thibet as the "bearcoot." They were swooping in short, abrupt curves, at intervals repeating their shrill screams, both crying out together, and from their excited mien, and the character of their movements, no doubt could be entertained as to the object of their noisy demonstrations.

They were about to assault an enemy, and that enemy was no other than the ibex.
The animal appeared to be fully aware of their intent; and seemed for a moment to be irresolute as to how it should act.