y greatly resembled one. The cassiowary's wings were also small, and
seemed as though intended to help its progress when running; for it was
impossible to lift its huge body into the air with such puny ones.

The bird did not seem much alarmed at our presence, and by keeping
Rover at our sides, we were enabled to examine it at leisure. After
first stretching out its long neck, and uttering a peculiar whistle, the
bird, after a second glance at us, continued to feed, and seemed
disposed to let us continue our journey without further attention.

"It's a cassiowary," Murden said, in a low tone, "and I'll give five
pounds for its skin. I never saw a live one before, although I have
frequently seen the stuffed one at the government house, which is valued
so highly by Sir Charles Latrobe. What a prize it would be, if we only
had our rifles?"

The lieutenant was right; if we had only have taken our rifles with us,
we could have killed the bird from where we stood; but the distance was
too great to expect a fatal result with a revolver, and we knew that if
we advanced nearer it would take to flight. If we went back to Ballarat
after a rifle, it was not likely that the bird would stay there until we
returned, and under these circumstances we looked towards Fred for his
advice.

"Let us capture the bird alive," he said, and we laughed at his words,
thinking that he meant to ridicule us.

"I am serious," he said, "for I believe that it is possible."

"Let us know how," cried Murden; "and if your plan succeeds, the best
supper that can be obtained in Ballarat shall reward your ingenuity!"

"For how many?" inquired Fred.

"For the party, and Mr. Brown."

"That will cost you more than five pounds; but as you are anxious for
the bird, I will try and devise a way of relieving your purse."

Fred, as he spoke, uncoiled his long halter,--a rope that we used to
hitch the horses to during the daytime, so that they could wander over
considerable ground, and feed upon the dried grass,--and made a running
knot in one end, and thus formed a slip-noose, like the Mexican's
_reatta_.

"What next?" we asked.

"Why, I want both of you to follow my example, and if you get near
enough to the bird, to throw the rope over its neck, and see that one
end of it is made fast to the pommel of the saddle."

"Why, that is the way that the Spaniards capture ostriches," Murden
said.

"Precisely," returned Fred, "only they have to ride many miles