all ready, and when
the bird was near enough, I whirled it over my head _a la Mexicano_, and
let it fly at the long neck that was stretched out to its fullest
extent.

The cord fell directly upon the bird's body, but was shook clear in an
instant, and its course was changed; and instead of seeking to pass me,
it turned and ran towards the lieutenant, who was laughing most heartily
at our attempts to imitate the cattle drivers of Spanish climes.

"Look out!" shouted Fred, but the warning was unheeded, and before the
lieutenant could command his presence of mind the bird charged upon him,
startled his horse, and the next moment the officer was thrown to the
ground directly in the path of the cassiowary.

Luckily Murden struck the ground face downwards, and before he could
turn over the bird was upon him. With one vigorous jerk of its beak on
that portion of his anatomy where the flesh is supposed to be firmest,
he tore away cloth, and perhaps an inch or two of skin; for at any rate
we saw the lieutenant clap his hand upon his wound, and when he withdrew
it, blood dripped from his fingers.

"D----n the cassiowary!" Murden roared, struggling to his feet, and
rubbing his bruised limbs; but we did not stop to hear his complaints,
for the bird was going off like a frightened deer, and if we expected to
make a prize, there was no time to lose.

We struck our animals, and they followed the object of pursuit at the
top of their speed, yet for the first five minutes we did not gain an
inch; and even Rover, who had joined in the chase with renewed vigor
found that he had got his match for once.

At length we got clear of the dried grass and bushes, and entered upon
the prairie, that was as smooth and level as a house floor, and then we
began to gradually gain upon the huge bird in spite of its immense
strides.

Our course led directly towards the main road, and we could see a dozen
teams leisurely pursuing their journey, and we hoped that the drivers
would head the bird and cause it to turn towards us, when an opportunity
would offer for a shot, for we began to give up all hope of making the
capture alive.

We flew over the ground as fast as the horses could stretch, and the
animals seemed to enjoy the sport equally as well as ourselves; in a few
minutes we saw that the teamsters were watching the chase, and that a
number of them had got their guns in readiness to give the bird a shot
in case it went near enough to their