The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-08
RACED FOR HIS LIFE.
AN EXCITING ADVENTURE WITH A
WILD OSTRICH.

a Thrilling Chase ON an African
veldt That Was Interrupted by a
Katslr, Who Was Then Kicked to
Death by the Infatuated Bird.
The open veldt lay before us bathed in
the dew and the lingering shades of carly
morning as We mounted our horses for
ride across country. Before we had gone
far, however, my companion was sum
moned back, and continued my ride
alone. AS advanced mile by mile tho
scenery grew wilder, and the great rocks,
just tinged with the purple of the sunrise,
rose majestically on either side. When
the road divided, my Basuto pony turned
off into bride path which led through a
wild gorge and eventually lost itself among
the rocks at tho foot Of u hill. The sure
footed little creature started up the side of
the mountain and eventually landed me Mt
the top. Here dismounted and left him
to Craze. We had been out some hours.
Remounting, we followed half beaten
track on the opposite side from which we
had come, and in "A 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 tho 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 q 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 canpa hen sitting on her nest, and,
knowing only too well tho danger was
in, paused to consider what l should do.
A short distance in front the road ran
close to the fence, and know it would be
impossible to pass that way. There was
nothing for it but to retracc my steps and
follow the road back round the mountain
till it joined tho one by which had come.
was not afraid, for it WIS by no means
an uncommon position in which to find
oneself in tho 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 II
strange sourd made me look around 10
my hcrrcI ! saw that in ono of his wild
charges the enormous bird had caught
sigh Of Us and was making frantic dashes
along the fence which was unusually low,
and was not of barb wire. In n few sec
onds he would be over, and then it meant
race for dear life. My pony, knew,
was one Of the quickest in the country
and, rs we had good start, possibly for
short time we should keep ahead, but in
the end | knew tic ostrich must easily
catch us
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 u crash behind u.s.
followed by II measured beating which al
most made tho ground vibratc aid set my
heart humping. II you have never heard
the tramp of IN infatuated ostrich, no
words viii adequately drocribc it, The
nearest approach to it that can think of
is the sound of the regular 'thud, thudt'
of soldiers On the march. There was no
mistake We were being pursued by
furious coci. ostrch-a formidable foe IN
oSCN' w" II was Si'I. u l'.N''i'il u tIil'.
The pony's feet seemed scarcely to touch
the ground, and bent forward, urging
him on favcrishy us had never done be
fore. Nearer and nearer came he beating,
the distance between us and our strange
pursuer growing less and less every sec
ond. I was powerlcss to do anything but
hold on to my flying horse. We were
miles away from any farm in the direc
tion we were going, aud those behind
knew nothing Of the terrible danger wns
In. Could there be no help Alone on the
boundless veldt l locked vaguely up into
the blue sky.
There was IA distant shout, and | was
dimly conscious thar short, heavy kerre
whizzcd past me. dared not stop, for
the ostrich was now but Il few yards be
hind, and could almost ferl he vibration
OF its great wings as it skinned, half fly
ing, half racing, over the earth. Present
ly another kerrie came Whiz2!ng past ard
this time il must have int.rfered in some
way with the progress OF the great bird,
for could tell it had stopped short, and
as the chase was not resumed | vcntured
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 ut n hattir who
was coming up from the camp in pursuit
The man snT his danger and excl rdly
throw kcrris after kerric, which passed
wide Of the mark Vague ideas flashed
through my mind Of going 10 hi7 help
an absurd idea, Of course, and nov inipns-
siblc, for the pony had become Thoroughly
Yriub pNpfl and hDltjru - hard n, ltn
could go There was more shouting now,
and hoped that Others had come To tho
rescue; but, slancing back agar, saw il
was too late. Ostrich and man had met
The kaf,ir made II tremendous spring al
the long noe, at jhc bird, but be- was 700
slow and M awful Kick sent the poor
wretch upon lhr earth. Before he had
time to recovcr--if ildeed he ever GoHd--
the bird was literally dancing upon him
and shut my eyes to hide the ghastly
sight by this time several kattirS and .
Dutchmun had come up, and with u l0rg
lasso they caught the sensitive part Of the
birds neck and s;ranglcd it, dragging il
oil the PROSTATE kaf,ir at the same time
l never knew how reached home that
day. For days and nights that CHASTITY
fight haunted me and was troubled by
tho thought that tho man had prarticAlly
given his life for mine, while had dunn
nothing even to attempt to save him His
master, u hard, lnerccnary Horr was more
fllCd with annoyance AZ the loss Of hr
valuable ostrich than with pity iwr the
man The unfortunate hatl!r had only
lived i'll he reached the farm, and tibet,
he succumtca to his terrible iniurias.
Wide World Magazine.
{
Greenwich Time.
The clock Vt Greenwich Lnelalhi, which
records "tire'nwich TINA Usrd hy ray.
gators-and IA this country ny the rail
roads, with allowances for differences in
ln..t iItIIIu L ~ L