The body came to the ground at length--but at a considerable distance from where the other was lying--the eagle descending with it to the earth, and even remaining over it with wings and limbs extended, as if still clutching it in his talons! Why the bearcoot was thus retaining the ibex in his clutch was not quite so clear: for the animal was evidently dead; and apparently had been so long before reaching the earth.

There was something strange about this proceeding on the part of the bird--as there had also been in its mode of descent through the last forty or fifty yards of space.

From the manner in which it had extended its wings after striking its prey, and from the way in which it still kept exercising them, the spectators began to think that its singular descent, and its remaining over the carcass in that cowering attitude, were neither of them voluntary acts on its part.
The truth was soon made clear--proving the contrary to be the case: for as the bearcoot continued to flap its wings, or rather, flutter them in a violent irregular motion, it became evident that instead of desiring to remain by the fallen body of its victim, it was doing its very best to get away from it! This was all the more easily believed, when it commenced uttering a series of wild screams; not as before indicating rage or menace, but in tones expressive of the greatest terror! The spectators, who had already risen from their seats, ran towards the spot--surmising that there was something amiss.
On getting close up to the still screaming and fluttering bird, they were able to understand what had appeared so incomprehensible.
They saw that the bearcoot was in a dilemma; that its talons were buried in the body of the ibex, and so firmly fixed, that with all the strength of its sinewy legs, backed by the power of its elastic pinions, it was unable to free itself! In striking the ibex in his descent, the bird had buried its crooked claws deeply into the soft abdomen of the animal, but in attempting to draw them out again, had found--no doubt to its great chagrin--that the thick coating of "poshm" which covered the skin of the ibex, had become entangled round its shanks; and the more it fluttered to free itself, turning round and round in the effort, the stronger and tighter became the rope which it was twisting out of that celebrated staple--the shawl-wool of Cashmere! Beyond a doubt the bearcoot was in a bad fix; and, although it was soon relieved from its tether of _poshm_, it was only to find itself more securely tied by a stronger string taken out of the pocket of Ossaroo.
The other bearcoot having followed close after, seemed determined upon rescuing its mate out of the hands of its captors; and uttering loud screams, it flew, first at one, then at another of them--with its long pointed talons menacing each of them in turn.
As all of them had weapons in their hands, they succeeded in keeping the angry bird at bay, but it might not have fared so well with Fritz--who in turn became the object of its furious attack, and who had no weapon but his teeth.
These would scarce have been sufficient protection against the talons of an eagle; and Fritz would very likely have lost one of his eyes, or perhaps both of them, had it not been for an arrow springing from the bow of the shikaree; which, transfixing the great bird right through the gizzard, brought it down with a "flop" upon the surface of the earth.
It was not killed outright by the arrow; and the dog, on seeing it bite the dust, would fain have "jumped" it.

But perceiving the strong curving beak and the sharp talons extended towards him, Fritz was easily persuaded to remain at a prudent distance, and leave the shikaree to make a finish of the bearcoot with his long boar-spear..