seen far out on the plain, which the hunters at once
pronounced to be ostriches. Dick would have started in pursuit, but Mr
Harvey checked him.

"They can run," he said, "faster than a horse can gallop. They can
indeed be ridden down, as they almost always run in a great circle, and
the pursuit can be taken up with fresh horses, but this is a long
business. We will send the hunters out first, to get on the other side
of them, and when they are posted we will ride out. Going quite slowly
the attention of the birds will be directed to us; this will give the
hunters an opportunity of creeping up on the other side and shooting or
lassoing them. If I am not mistaken they have a good many young ones
with them--this is about the time of year when this is usually the case.
If we could catch a dozen of them, they would be prizes, for they fetch
a good sum down in the colony, where ostrich-farming is carried on on a
large scale. They are very easily tamed, and would soon keep with the
caravan and give no trouble."

After remaining quiet for some little time, to give the hunters time to
make a wide circuit, Mr Harvey and Dick rode quietly forward towards
the birds, who stood on a slight swell of ground at a distance of about
half a mile, evidently watching the caravan with great interest.

By Mr Harvey's instructions Dick unrolled the blanket which he always
carried on his saddle, and taking an end in each hand held it out at
arm's length on a level with the top of his head. Mr Harvey doing the
same.

"They are silly birds," Mr Harvey said, "and their attention is easily
caught by anything they don't understand. Like all other wild creatures
they are afraid of man; but by holding the blankets out like sails they
do not see our outline, and cannot make out what the strange creatures
advancing towards them can be."

At a foot-pace they advanced towards the ostriches; these made no signs
of retreat until the horsemen approached to within about seventy yards.
Then from the brow behind the birds the three hunters suddenly rose up,
and whirling the balls of their lassoes round their heads launched them
among the ostriches. Three birds fell with the cords twisted round
their legs, and two more were shot as the startled flock dashed off at
full speed across the plain. Mr Harvey and Dick dropped their
blankets, and started at full gallop.

"Bring down an old bird if you can, Dick, and then let the rest go, and
give your a