In a moment the aspect of the bird was changed; with his
sight returned all his savage instincts, he flapped his wings, raised
his head, darted to the full length of his chain, and before anyone
could prevent him seized the unfortunate parrot which stood near, and
tore it to pieces. Fritz's anger rose at the sight, and he was about to
put an end to the savage bird.
`Stop,' said Ernest, `don't kill the poor creature, he is but
following his natural instincts; give him to me, and I will tame him.'
Fritz hesitated. `No, no,' he said, `I don't want really to kill the
bird, but I can't give him up; tell me how to tame him, and you shall
have Master Knips.'
`Very well,' replied Ernest, `I will tell you my plan, and, if it
succeeds, I will accept Knips as a mark of your gratitude. Take a pipe
and tobacco, and send the smoke all round his head, so that he must
inhale it; by degrees he will become stupefied, and his savage nature
from that moment subdued.'
Fritz was rather inclined to ridicule the plan, but knowing that
Ernest generally had a good reason for anything of the sort that he
proposed, he consented to make the attempt. He soon seated himself
beneath the bird, who still struggled furiously, and puffed cloud after
cloud upwards, and as each cloud circled round the eagle's head he
became quieter and quieter, until he sat quite still, gazing stupidly
at the young smoker.
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