{"product_id":"2940013300798","title":"The Eagle Cliff","description":"CHAPTER ONE.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBEGINS THE TALE--NATURALLY.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom the earliest records of history we learn that man has ever been\u003cbr\u003eenvious of the birds, and of all other winged creatures.  He has longed\u003cbr\u003eand striven to fly.  He has also signally failed to do so.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe say \"failed\" advisedly, because his various attempts in that\u003cbr\u003edirection have usually resulted in disappointment and broken bones.  As\u003cbr\u003eto balloons, we do not admit that they fly any more than do ships;\u003cbr\u003eballoons merely float and glide, when not otherwise engaged in tumbling,\u003cbr\u003ecollapsing, and bursting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis being so, we draw attention to the fact that the nearest approach\u003cbr\u003ewe have yet made to the sensation of flying is that achieved by rushing\u003cbr\u003edown a long, smooth, steep hill-road on a well-oiled and perfect\u003cbr\u003eball-bearings bicycle!  Skating cannot compare with this, for that\u003cbr\u003erequires exertion; bicycling down hill requires none.  Hunting cannot,\u003cbr\u003eno matter how splendid the mount, for that implies a certain element of\u003cbr\u003ebumping, which, however pleasant in itself, is not suggestive of the\u003cbr\u003esmooth swift act of flying.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe introduce this subject merely because thoughts somewhat similar to\u003cbr\u003ethose which we have so inadequately expressed were burning in the brain\u003cbr\u003eof a handsome and joyful young man one summer morning not long ago, as,\u003cbr\u003ewith legs over the handles, he flashed--if he did not actually fly--down\u003cbr\u003eone of our Middlesex hills on his way to London.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUrgent haste was in every look and motion of that young man's fine eyes\u003cbr\u003eand lithe body.  He would have bought wings at any price had that been\u003cbr\u003epossible; but, none being yet in the market, he made the most of his\u003cbr\u003ewheel--a fifty-eight inch one, by the way, for the young man's legs were\u003cbr\u003elong, as well as strong.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArrived at the bottom of the hill the hilarious youth put his feet to\u003cbr\u003ethe treadles, and drove the machine vigorously up the opposite slope.\u003cbr\u003eIt was steep, but he was powerful.  He breathed hard, no doubt, but he\u003cbr\u003enever flagged until he gained the next summit.  A shout burst from his\u003cbr\u003elips as he rolled along the level top, for there, about ten miles off,\u003cbr\u003elay the great city, glittering in the sunshine, and with only an\u003cbr\u003eamber-tinted canopy of its usual smoke above it.","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47068740583664,"sku":"2940013300798","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013300798_p0.jpg?v=1763579582","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013300798","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}