yard-measure about with me, which I applied to the steps, so
that I could make no mistake. There were exactly thirty of those
gigantic paces between the two bushes. This multiplied by six gave 180
steps, or 2,520 feet in one minute, which resulted in 151,200 feet, or
50,400 yards, or very nearly thirty miles in the hour.

"No wonder I only knocked his tail off," said Peterkin.

"On the contrary," said I, "the wonder is that under the circumstances
you hit the bird at all."

On further examination of the place where we had seen the ostrich before
it was alarmed, we ascertained that his ordinary walking pace varied
from twenty to twenty-six inches in length.

After this unsuccessful hunt we returned to our comrades, and proceeded
to the rendezvous where we expected to find Jack; but as he was not
there, we concluded that he must have wandered farther than he intended,
so, throwing down our packs, we set about preparing the camp and a good
supper against his return. Gradually the sun began to sink low on the
horizon; then he dipped below it, and the short twilight of those
latitudes was rapidly merging into night; but Jack did not return, and
the uneasiness which we had all along felt in regard to him increased so
much that we could not refrain from showing it.

"I'll tell you what it is, Ralph," cried Peterkin, starting up suddenly:
"I'm not going to sit here wasting the time when Jack may be in some
desperate fix. I'll go and hunt for him."

"Me tink you right," said our guide; "dere is ebery sort ob ting here--
beasties and mans. P'raps Massa Jack am be kill."

I could not help shuddering at the bare idea of such a thing, so I at
once seconded my companion's proposal, and resolved to accompany him.

"Take your double-barrel, Ralph, and I'll lend our spare big gun to
Mak."

"But how are we to proceed? which way are we to go? I have not the most
distant idea as to what direction we ought to go in our search."

"Leave that to Mak. He knows the ways o' the country best, and the
probable route that Jack has taken. Are you ready?"

"Yes. Shall we take some brandy?"

"Ay; well thought of. He'll perhaps be the better of something of that
sort if anything has befallen him. Now, then, let's go."

Leaving our men in charge of the camp, with strict injunctions to keep
good watch and not allow the fires to go down, lest they should be
attacked by lions, we three set forth on our nocturnal search. From
time