e destructive
propensities of the goblin and a vicious old hen or two; and lastly,
some kind of epidemic, which they dubbed ostrich chicken-pox, carried
the young birds off wholesale.

Then Dyke began to be damped, and grew dull, and soon his brother became
low-spirited too, and for a whole year matters had gone on from bad to
worse; Emson often asking himself whether it was not time to make a
fresh start, but always coming to the same frame of mind that it was too
soon to be beaten yet, and keeping a firm upper lip in the presence of
his brother.

The morning after the finding of the ostrich's nest, they started again,
taking the net, and keeping a keen lookout in the hope of discovering
another.

"There's no reason why we should not," said Emson. "I've been too easy
with Jack; he has not disturbed the birds around for months."

"I think we can find the nest again," said Dyke.

"Why not? We'll find it by the footmarks, if we cannot any other way.
But I think I can ride straight to it."

They kept a sharp lookout, but no ostrich sprang up in the distance and
sped away like the wind. About six miles from home, though, something
else was seen lying right out on the plain, to which Dyke pointed.

"A bird?" cried Emson. "Yes, I see it. No; a beast. Why, Dyke, old
chap, there are two of them. What shall we do? Creep in and try a
shot, or let them go off?"

"I should try a shot," said the boy excitedly. "Why, one is a big-maned
fellow."

"Then perhaps we had better let them alone."

"What! to come and pull down one of the oxen. No: let's have a shot at
them."

"Very well," said Emson quietly; "but see that you have a couple of
bullets in your rifle. Make sure."

He set the example by opening the breech of his piece, and carefully
examining the cartridges before replacing them.

"All right," he cried. "Now, look here, Dyke. Be ready and smart, if
the brutes turn upon us to charge. Sit fast, and give Breezy his head
then. No lion would overtake him. Only you must be prepared for a
sharp wheel round, for if the brutes come on with a roar, your cob will
spin about like a teetotum."

But no satisfactory shot was obtained, for when they were about a
quarter of a mile away, a big, dark-maned lion rose to his feet, stood
staring at them for nearly a minute, and then started off at a canter,
closely followed by its companion.

Dyke looked sharply round at his brother, as if to say, "Come on!" but
E