heard all this, and pronounced that it
could not be; and for a long while every report of the kind was treated
with contempt. Now every one knows, and every one is fully satisfied of
the fact, and not the least surprise is expressed when they are told of
the circumstance. As Shakespeare makes Hamlet observe very truly--'There
are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your
philosophy.'"

CHAPTER XXIII.

There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the
oxen and changed their course to the northward. The whole of the cattle
had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed
before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile
country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find
either pasturage or water. They had not left the river more than three
miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance. As far as
the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared,
and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common
of which were the quaggas. As our travelers were in the advance, they
started six or seven ostriches which had been sitting, and a ball from
the Major's rifle brought one to the ground, the others running off at a
velocity that the fastest horse could scarcely have surpassed.

"That was a good shot, Major," said Alexander.

"Yes," replied Swinton; "but take care how you go too near the bird; you
have broken his thigh, and he may be dangerous. They are very fierce. As
I thought, here is the nest. Let Bremen kill the bird,--he understands
them, Major. It is the male, and those which have escaped are all
females."

"What a quantity of eggs!" said Alexander. "Is the nest a joint
concern?"

"Yes," replied Swinton. "All those which are in the center of the nest
with their points upward are the eggs for hatching. There are, let me
see, twenty-six of them, and you observe that there are as many more
round about the nest. Those are for the food of the young ostriches as
soon as they are born. However, we will save them that trouble. Bremen
must take the eggs outside the nest for us, and the others the people
may have. They are not very particular whether they are fresh or not."

"This is a noble bird," said the Major, "and has some beautiful
feathers. I suppose we may let Bremen take the feath