They knew from this that it was descending towards the earth, and, to all appearance, directly over the spot occupied by themselves and the vultures.

As they had all three grown very curious to know what sort of a creature it might be, they were expressing their hopes that it would continue its descent.

They knew that _it_ must have seen _them_ already; and it would, therefore, be useless for them to attempt concealing themselves.

In fact, there was no cover for them, had they wished to do so.
As they stood watching and waiting, an exclamation, uttered by all three at the same moment, announced that _another white bird_ was in sight! It was still high up, like a spot of snow upon the sky; but it, too, was making downward, in the track of the former, and appeared to be of the same species.

This soon became evident; for the one last seen, descending more vertically, soon overtook the other; and both together continued to sail downward upon a spiral curve.
In a few moments they had arrived within two hundred yards of the earth; and now they circled slowly around, looking down as they flew.
They were directly over the spot occupied by the vultures; and as the day was one of the brightest, the boys had an opportunity of beholding two of the most beautiful birds they had ever seen.