t when they thought no one was looking
at them, the greyhound took up the iron ring in his mouth, and carrying
it, they set off to the hills, and began to search for hares as usual.
They were followed, and it was discovered that whenever the pointer
scented the hare, the ring was dropped, and the greyhound stood ready to
pounce upon the poor little creature the moment the other drove her from
her form, but that he always came back to help his friend after he had
caught his prey.

[Illustration]

L

OSTRICH RIDING

A gentleman tells how, during the time he was living at Podor, a French
factory on the banks of the river Niger, there were two ostriches,
though young, of gigantic size, which afforded him a very remarkable
sight. "They were," he says, "so tame that two little blacks mounted
both together on the back of the largest. No sooner did he feel their
weight, than he began to run as fast as possible, and carried them
several times round the village, as it was impossible to stop him
otherwise than by putting something in the path. This sight pleased me
so much, that I was anxious to have it repeated, and to try their
strength, directed a full-grown negro to mount the smaller and the two
boys the larger. This burden did not seem at all too much for their
strength. At first they went at a fairly sharp trot, but when they
became heated a little, they expanded their wings as though to catch the
wind, and moved with such fleetness that they scarcely seemed to touch
the ground. Most people have, at one time or another, seen a partridge
run; and therefore know that there is no man whatever able to keep up
with it; and it is easy to imagine, that if this bird had a longer step,
its speed would be much greater. The ostrich moves much like the
partridge, with this advantage; and I am satisfied that those I am
speaking of, would have distanced the fleetest racehorses that were ever
bred in England. It is true they would not hold out as long as a horse;
but they would undoubtedly go over a given space in less time. I have
often seen this performance, and it gives one an idea of the wonderful
strength of an ostrich, and shows of what use it might be, did we but
know how to break and manage it as we do a horse."

[Illustration]

LI

RETRIBUTION

A fawn that was drinking in a park, was suddenly pounced upon by one of
the swans, that pulled the animal into the water, and held it under till
it was drowned.