The sudden attack made by such strange enemies seemed to have completely disconcerted the ibex; and it remained as if still under the paralysis of fear.
After a moment or two had passed, the ibex appeared to recover self-possession; and then he, rearing up, struck out with his horns.
But the bearcoots were on the alert; and each time that the animal attempted a forward movement, they easily avoided the blow by shying to one side or the other; and then quickly wheeling, they would swoop back upon it from behind.
In this way was the conflict progressing, the ibex holding the ground upon which he had been first attacked, turning round and round, with his two fore hoofs held close together, or else rearing aloft on his hind-legs, and using them as a pivot.
It would have been better for the ibex had he kept to his fore-feet altogether; as in that attitude he might have held his ground a little longer--perhaps until he had either beaten off his winged assailants, or wearied them out by a prolonged defence.
But to fight on "all fours" did not chance to be his fashion.

It was contrary to the traditions of his family and race--all of whose members, from time immemorial, had been accustomed, when battling with an enemy, to stand erect upon their hind-legs.
Following this fashion, he had raised himself to his full perpendicular, and was about aiming a "butt" against the breast of one of the bearcoots that was tantalising him in front, when the other, that had made a short retrocession in order to gain impetus, came swooping back with the velocity of an arrow, and seizing the ibex under the chin, by a quick, strong jerk of its talons, it struck the head of the animal so far backward that it lost its balance, and went toppling over the cliff.

In another instant the ibex was in mid-air--falling--falling--through that same fearful space that had just been traversed by his own victim.
The spectators looked to see him strike the ground without receiving further molestation from his winged assailants.

Not so, however, did it result.

Just as the ibex had got about half-way down the face of the precipice, the second eagle was seen shooting after him with the velocity of a flash of lightning; and before he could reach the ground, the bearcoot was seen striking him once more, and causing him to diverge from his vertical descent.