oop was quite big."

"No; the ribs are crushed in," said Emson, feeling beneath the beautiful
plumage. "Another loss, Dyke. We shall find out all his good qualities
now."

"Breezy kick and killum," said the Kaffir sententiously. "Bird kick,
horse kick; killum--shouldn't kick."

"Here, you go back to your kraal, and set up for a wise man of the
south," cried Dyke pettishly. "How long did it take you to find out all
that?" "Yes, killum dead," said the Kaffir, nodding. "Bosh!" cried
Dyke, turning impatiently away. "Well, we must make the best of it,"
said Emson then. "His feathers will be worth something, for they are in
fine condition. Let's get them off at once."

The heat of the sun was forgotten, and so was Dyke's want of energy, for
he set to work manfully, helping his brother to cut off the abundant
plumes, tying them up in loose bundles with the quill ends level, that
they might dry, and carefully carrying them into the room used for
storing feathers, eggs, and such curiosities as were collected from time
to time; Dyke having displayed a hobby for bringing home stones,
crystals, birds' eggs, and any attractive piece of ore, that he found
during his travels. These were ranged in an old case, standing upright
against the corrugated iron wall, where, a few boardings nailed across
for shelves, the boy had an extremely rough but useful cabinet, the lid
of the case forming the door when attached by a pair of leather hinges
tacked on with wire nails.

"There," said Emson, when the last plumes had been removed; "what do you
say to having the skin off? It will make a mat."

Dyke nodded, and the Kaffir now helping, the bird's tough skin was
stripped off, and laid, feathers downward, on the roof to dry.

"Jackals can't reach it there, can they?" said Emson.

"No, I think not. Leopard might come and pull it down."

"Yes: don't let Duke be out of a night; there has been one hanging about
lately.--But what are you going to do?"

"Dissect him," said Dyke, who was on his knees with his sharp
sheath-knife in his hand.

"Nonsense! Leave it now."

"I want to see the poor old goblin's gizzard, and open it. I know he
has got knives and all sorts of things inside."

"Then you may look," said Emson. "I'm going to feed the horses and have
a wash; they haven't been unsaddled yet."

He went to the thorn-fence and disappeared, while, hot and tired now,
Dyke made short work of opening the great bird, and draggin