The Portland daily press., 1899-04-15
RACED FOR HIS LIFE.
An Exciting Adventure with wild
Ostrich.

The open veldt lay before us bathed IN
the dew and the lingering shades Of early
morning as we mounted our horses for 4
ride across country. Before we had gon,
far, however, my companion was sum
moned back, and / continued my ride
alone. As / advanced mile by mile the
scenery grew wilder, and the great rocks
just tinged with the purple Of the sunrise
rose majcstically on either side. When
the road divided, my Basuto pony turned
off into a bride path which led through a
wild gorge and eventually lost itself among
tho rocks at tho foot of hill. The sure
footed little creature started up the side OF
the mountain and eventually landed me at
the top. Here dismounted and left him
to Craze. We had been out some hours.
Rcmounting, we followed half beaten
track on the opposite side from which we
had come and in short time we were at
the foot of the hill and on the level veldt
once more Going forward into the main
road, which wound round the base OF the
mountain, started off at quick canter
toward home.
For some time we went along at good
pace, when suddenly was startled by the
sight, not far ahead of cock ostrich rush
ing wildly backward and forward, with its
black and white wings tapping and quiv-
ering with rage pulled up with a jerk,
for at first thought the bird was loose on
the veldt, but on closer inspection found
that wire fence was between us. just
at this moment saw on the other side of
the camp hen sitting on her nest, and,
knowing only too well the danger / was
In, paused to consider what l should do.
A short distance in front the road ran
close to the fence, and l knew 1t would be
impossible to pass that way. There was
nothing for it but to retrace my steps and
follow the road back round the mountain
till it Joined the one by which had come.
was not afraid, for it was by no means
an uncommon position in which to find
oneself in the center Of an ostrich farm
ing country, and, besides, felt sure OF
getting away. Accordingly turned the
pony's head In the opposite direction and
walked quietly back, hoping to escape no.
tice. A few moments passed, and began
to think we were safe, when suddenly a
strange sound made me look around. To
my horror l saw that in one of his wild
charges the enormous bird had caught
sight of us and was making frantic dashes
along the fence, which was unusually low
and was not of barb wire. In few sec
onds he would be over, and then it meant
a race for dear life. My pony, knew,
was one of the quickest in the country,
and, as we had good start, possibly for a
short time we should keep ahead, but in
the end l knew the ostrich must easily
catch us Va 5eM tG9t9f
AS If by instinct my faithful friend
scented danger, and after one whispered
word in his ear he was off like the wind.
There was suddenly crash behind us,
followed by measured beating which al
most made the ground vibrate and set my
heart humping. If you have never heard
the tramp" of an Infatuated ostrich, no
words will adequately describe it. The
nearest approach to it that can think of
is the sound of the regular 'thud, thudp'
of soldiers ON the march. There was no
mistake We were being pursued by a
furious cock ostrich-a formidable foe in
deed Now it was only question of time.
The pony's feet seemed scarcely to touch
the ground, and 1 bent forward, urging
him on feverishly as 1 had never done be-
fore. Nearer and nearer came the beating,
the distance between us and our strange
pursuer growing less and less every Sec
ond was powerless to do anything but
hold on to my flying horse. We were
ton we were going, and those behind
knew nothing of the terrible danger / was
in. Could there be no help? Alone on the
boundless veldt, I looked vaguely up into
the blue sky. 7eea
There was distant shout, and 1 was
dimly conscious that a short, heavy kerrie |
whizzed past me. dared not stop, for |
the ostrich was now but "A few yards be- |
hind, and could almost feel the vibration |
of its great wings as it SKINNED, half fly |
ing, half racing, over the earth. Present |
1y another kerrie came whizzing past and |
this time it must have interfered in some |
way with the progress of the great bird, |
for could tell it had stopped short, and |
as the chase was not resumed ventured |
to look back. My heart seemed suddenly |
to stand still. My head swan, and had |
the greatest difficulty to keep my seat in |
the saddle The infatuated ostrich had |
turned and was charging at Kaffir who |
was coming up from the camp in pursuit. |
The man saw his danger and excitedly |
threw kerrie after kerrie, which passed |
wide Of the mark. Vague ideas flashed |