stood watching
attentively, taking the greatest of care not to show themselves, lest
they should alarm the ostriches, for experience had shown them that they
would dash off if they saw any one a mile away.

"Now look," cried Dick excitedly. "Look!"

For the biggest bird of the group had suddenly seemed to take umbrage at
the appearance of the stranger, and stalking straight up to it darted
its head sharply, evidently giving a vicious peck.

The next instant it was seen to make a bound forward, and fall over upon
its side, apparently kicking feebly.

The other two raised their heads and seemed alarmed; but one began
feeding again, and the other stalked gravely up to continue the
punishment the first had commenced.

This time, by the help of the glass, Dick saw the Zulu stoop down, and
deliver a thrust with an assegai, and this bird toppled forward and
fell.

The third seemed alarmed, but it did not take flight, only stood still
while the General, imitating the gait of the other birds, ran up
alongside it, and seemed to be staring like the other at the fallen
birds.

This time they saw no motion on the General's part, only that the third
he struck suddenly took to running at a tremendous rate, but dropped
like a stone before it had gone a quarter of a mile, and the General rid
himself of what must have been a very hot and uncomfortable disguise,
and mounting an ant-hill signalled to them to come.

"Three ostriches," cried Dick delightedly; "their feathers ought to be
worth a great deal. Run back and fetch my father, Chicory."

But there was no need, for Mr Rogers had seen the manoeuvres of his
follower, and now came out of the camp, followed by Dinny.

"Ah," said the latter to the boys, "it was moighty well done, and I've
come to help pick the big birds. They tell me that some of the payple
here kape the horse-stretches like chickens in Connaught, and that they
lay beautiful foine new-laid eggs. Bedad, one of them ladies ought to
lay a dacent-sized egg, and I wouldn't mind having one for breakfast by
way of a change."

It was with no little delight then that Dick pointed out the fact to
Dinny that they were all cock-birds, when they got up and found each had
been pierced through the heart with an assegai.

Their plumage was splendid, and after a great deal of tough, hot work
several bundles of the valuable feathers were made up and carried to the
camp, to spread out and dry and then store away, to help