a short distance, the head was lowered to
the ground, for there were the head, neck, and feathers, and that seemed
enough for the birds.

Thus accoutred, then, the General moved out of camp, laughingly asking
that no one should follow and shoot him by mistake for one of the birds.

The three boys followed, Dick carrying a glass; and poor Coffee
wistfully watched their departure.

They could not, however, go far, lest they should scare the birds, so
they kept in the cover of the wood for nearly a mile, and then stood
watching the proceedings of Chicory's father.

The General went steadily on, with the ostrich's head held well erect;
but every now and then he paused, lowered the long neck, and seemed to
be engaged in feeding; and at such times he walked side-wise and away
from the little group of three ostriches, which were feeding about a
mile away.

As the Zulu got to be more distant, his motions had a very natural
appearance; so much so that Dick and Jack began to feel that had they
seen him without being prepared, they would certainly have had a shot at
him, believing him to be the real thing.

He took advantage of every bit of cover he could see, passing amongst
the trees and bushes, and whenever he was out of sight, hastening his
steps till he was nearly abreast of the ostriches, when he came into
sight again.

As he did so the three birds paused in their feeding, ran together, and
for a moment it seemed as if all the labour was about to be lost. It
was very plain that they were diligently scrutinising the new comer; and
this was the critical time. A moment's haste, the slightest false move,
and the three birds would have gone off like the wind. But as they saw
the stranger turn a little away from them, lower its head, and
apparently make a dart at some great beetle or locust amongst the
herbage, and then hunt out another and another, their timidity passed
away, they troubled themselves no more about the new comer, and went on
feeding.

It was very interesting to watch the disguised Zulu, apparently feeding
away from the ostriches, but all the time softly edging himself nearer
and nearer.

"Oh, I say! what stupids they are!" said Jack. "Look at his legs. They
arn't a bit like ostrich legs, and yet they don't see."

"All 'toopids," said Chicory delightedly. "Wait a bit."

From where they stood the General now seemed to be touching the wary
birds; but this could not be the case they knew; and they