copiously. The
horse took the bit in its teeth, and ran.

Hans Marais was very strong, but fear was stronger. The horse fairly
ran off, and the ostrich pursued. Being fleeter than the horse, it not
only kept up with ease, but managed ever and anon to give it another
kick on flank, sides, or limbs. Hans vainly tried to grasp his
assailant by the neck. If he succeeded in this he knew that he could
easily have choked it, for the ostrich's weak point is its long slender
neck--its strong point being its tremendous leg, the thigh of which,
blue-black, and destitute of feathers, resembles a leg of mutton in
shape and size.

At last Hans bethought him of his stirrup. Unbuckling it, he swung it
by the leather round his head, and succeeded, after one or two attempts,
in hitting his enemy on the head with the iron. The ostrich dropped at
once and never rose again.

Returning to the nest with his vanquished foe strapped to his saddle, he
found Considine sitting somewhat confused among the egg-debris, much of
which consisted of flattened young ones, for the eggs were in an
advanced state of incubation.

"Why, Charlie, are you going to try your hand at hatching?" cried Hans,
laughing in spite of himself.

Considine smiled rather ruefully. "I believe my breast-bone is knocked
in. Just help me to examine; but first catch my horse, like a good
fellow."

It was found on examination that no bones were broken, and that, beyond
a bruise, Considine was none the worse of his adventure.

One egg was found to have survived the general destruction. This was
taken to the farm and handed to Mrs Marais, and that amiable lady
adopted and hatched it! We do not mean to assert that she sat upon it,
but having discovered, from mysterious sounds inside, that the young
ostrich contained in it was still alive, and, being a woman of an
experimental tendency, she resolved to become a mother to it. She
prepared a box, by lining it with a warm feather pillow, above which she
spread several skin karosses or blankets, and into this she put the egg.
Every morning and every evening she visited the nest, felt the egg to
ascertain its temperature, and added or removed a blanket according to
circumstances. How the good woman knew the proper temperature is a
mystery which no one could explain, but certain it is that she
succeeded, for in a few days the little one became so lively in its
prison as to suggest the idea that it wanted out. Mrs Marai