CHAPTER TWELVE.
THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.
Basil returned, bringing with him the great bird. It was a female--asLucien knew--and one of the largest, being over twelve pounds in weight,and measuring seven feet between the tips of the wings when expanded.The bird of this species rarely exceeds eight pounds in weight, and isproportionately small in other respects.
The white-headed eagle (_Falco leucocephalus_), or "bald eagle," as heis generally called because his white head gives him somewhat of a baldappearance--has been adopted by the United States as the emblem of theirRepublic. If his disposition be considered, he would be a more fitemblem for a band of robbers--for a more absolute robber and tyrant doesnot exist among the feathered races. He robs the osprey of his fish,and the vulture of his carrion; in short, lords it over every creatureweaker than himself. Now this is not the character of the nation herepresents--far from it. It is true they have shown a desire to extendtheir territory, and have made conquests to this end. But what is themotive of these conquests? Is it to enslave and render tribute? No.They conquer not _to enslave_, but to _make free_! There are twomotives for Anglo-American--I may say Anglo-Saxon, conquest, for _true_Englishmen feel these motives as much as Americans do. They wish tobring the whole world under a liberal form of government--one that willbear the scrutiny of reason--one that in time may extinguish crime, andrender poverty a thing of the past--one that is not a patent usurpationand a robbery--a robbery perhaps more criminal in the eyes of God thanwaylaying on the highroad, or piracy on the high seas--more criminal,because more extensive in its fatal effects. Anglo-Saxons wish todestroy despotism, lest they or their descendants might again becomewhat their ancestors once were--its victims. This, then, is one motiveof their conquests, and it is nothing more than the naked instinct ofself-preservation. But there is another motive--a nobler and moregenerous one. They have drunk from the cup of Liberty--the draught haspleased them, has given them happiness and joy; and, urged by thatbetter part of our nature, they wish to share that sweet cup--ample forall--_with all men_. This is the true motive of the conquest ofcivilisation; and under the banner of such a cause, it is a questionwhether war and anarchy and confusion be not preferable to the deceptivepeace and _apparent_ prosperity of despotism, that, like thedeath-dealing vampire, soothes while it destroys.
I do not say that _all_ Americans nor _all_ Englishmen are entitled tothe glory of such a holy motive for conquest. No. Too large aproportion, alas! are actuated only by the ignoble idea of selfish ornational aggrandisement. The robber is often found in the same camp,and fighting under the same banner, with the soldier of Freedom. It isnot strange, therefore, that the _true_ sons of Liberty should sometimesbe associated with its _bastard_ children of the shackle and the whip.
But, I shall not weary you with any more political science. Not that Iconsider it of small importance to you. On the contrary, I deem thatscience the _most important of all others that have ever occupied theattention of men_. Its influence extends to almost every object aroundyou. It shapes the carriage in which you ride, and the ship in whichyou sail. Its knowledge modifies the nature of your soul, and decideswhether you shall be a slave or a freeman. It even extends to the formof your body, giving it the abject attitude and gloomy aspect of slaveryand guilt, or the bold, upright carriage and joyous look of virtue,which God gave to the first man when He made him after His own image.
But come, boy reader! I have promised not to weary you with thesethings. Such teachings I must reserve for a future opportunity; when,God willing, I shall present them to intellects older than yours.Perhaps you yourselves may then be old enough to take an interest inthem; and if so, you may learn some truths that for long years have beenthe study of your friend--the author.
Now let us return to the eagle. I am thinking what a pity it is thatthe Americans should have chosen this tyrant-bird as the emblem of theirliberty; for, although he is _most appropriate_ for _one portion_ oftheir people, he is far from being a fit emblem of the principles of thegreat republic. So thought the wise Franklin. There are many otheranimals, peculiar to the territory of the United States, far moredeserving of the distinction. There is the bold but harmless buffalo,the stately elk, and the industrious beaver; or if a bird must needs beupon the banner, where could one be found better suited to that end thanthe wild-turkey, possessing as he does a combination of good qualities--grace, beauty, courage, and usefulness? Thus reasoned Franklin; and itmight be yet worth the while of the American people to giveconsideration to his reasoning, and discard the eagle; or, at allevents, change the species--for peculiar to the United States territorythere is another bird of the kind, far nobler, as well as larger andmore beautiful.
It is curious to observe how many countries have adopted this rapaciousbird for their emblem; and it forms a sad index to the motives that havehitherto actuated nations. In ancient times it was seen upon thebanners of Persia and Rome. In modern days Napoleon spread its wingslike black shadows over France. It is the emblem of Russian despotismand American freedom. Austria, Prussia, Poland, Sicily, Spain,Sardinia, and many of the small governments of Germany, look up to theeagle on their standards; while, upon the other side of the Atlantic, itwaves over the great nations of the United States and Mexico, as well asseveral of the smaller republics. Why, a general war among the nationsof the world would be almost exclusively a war among the eagles! It isnot improbable that the _lion_ would insist upon having a claw in thequarrel; although his honesty and nobility of disposition are very muchdoubted, particularly by the jackal and some other animals. He is,therefore, no better qualified to act as the representative of a pacificpeople than the very worst of the eagles; but he fortunately has a wisekeeper, called Public Opinion, who of late has held him under somerestraint.
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"What a chain of destruction!" exclaimed Lucien. "One creature preyingupon another."
"Ay," added Francois; "and how curious it should begin with a bird andend with a bird. Look at the two together. Ha! ha!"
As Francois made this remark, he pointed to the little humming-bird andthe great eagle--which had been laid side by side upon the grass, and,sure enough, presented in size and appearance a most singular contrastto each other.
"You forget, Francois," said Lucien, "there were two other links to thechain, and perhaps many more."
"What other links?" demanded Francois.
"The humming-bird, you remember, when attacked, was himself a destroyer.He was killing the little blue-winged fly."
"That is certainly another link, but--"
"Who killed the eagle?"
"Ah, true! Basil, then, was the last link in the chain of destruction."
"Perhaps the most criminal, too," said Lucien, "because the leastnecessary. The other creatures were but following out their instinctsto procure food, whereas Basil's only motive was one of wantondestruction."
"I beg to differ with you, Luce," said Basil, interrupting his brother,sharply, "it was no such thing. I shot that eagle because he killed thekite, and robbed him of his prey, instead of using his industry andgetting food for himself. That's why I added a link to your chain."
"In that sense," replied Lucien, smiling at his brother--who seemed alittle ruffled at being thus charged with unnecessary cruelty,--"in thatsense you were, perhaps, justifiable; though it is difficult tounderstand why the eagle was more guilty than the kite himself. He tookonly one life, and so did the kite."
"But," rejoined Basil, "in addition to taking away the life of hisvictim, he robbed him. Robbery and murder both. Now the kite wasguilty only of the latter."
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Lucien and Francois together. "There _is_ adistinction with a difference!"
"But, brother Luce," inquired Francois, "what did you mean when you saidthere might be many more links to this chain?"
"Why, who knows but the blue-winged fly was preying upon some otherc
reatures smaller than himself? And these again, upon others stillless; who, though invisible to our eyes, possess life and organisationas well as we. Who knows to the contrary? And who knows the reason whya mysterious Providence has created those beings to be the food of eachother? That is a question about which we can arrive at no satisfactoryconclusion."
"Who knows, brother," said Francois, "since you are speculating--whoknows but there may be an extra link at the other end of the chain? Ho,Basil! what say you? Suppose we fall in with grizzly bears." AndFrancois laughed as he put the question.
"And supposing we do," replied Basil, "_you_ are as likely to form thatlink as anybody else."
"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Lucien. "I hope that in all our travels weshall see neither a grizzly bear nor an Indian."
"And I hope for nothing of the sort," rejoined Basil. "I long to have acrack at a grizzly; and as for Indians, I haven't the least fear ofthem, so long as I carry this."
As Basil made this remark, he drew out the little beaded case from hisbosom, held it up a moment, and then returned it to its place again.
"Now, brother," cried Francois, "tell as about that pouch, and how it isto save us from Indians. I am really curious to know."
"Not now, my boy," replied Basil, with a patronising air. "Not now. Wemust prepare our supper, and get to sleep. We have lost half a daydrying our rags, so we must make up for it by an early start in themorning. Then for the prairies!"
"Then for the prairies!" echoed Francois,--"the prairies--the wildhorses--the big-horns--and the buffalo!"