Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-09
RACED FOR HIS LIFE.
AN EXCITING ADVENTURE WITH A
WILD OSTRICH.
A Thrilling Chase on an African
Veldt That Was Interrupted by q
kafiir. Who Wns Then Kicked to
Death by the Infatuated Bird.

The open veldt lay before us bathed in
the dew and the lingering shades of early
morning as we mounted our horses for a
ride across country. Before we had gone
far, however, my companion was sum-
nIoned back, and l continued my ride
alone. AS l advanced mile by mile the
scenery grew wilder, and the great rocks,
just Hinged with the purple of the sunrise,
rose majestically on either side. When
the road divided, my Basuto pony turned
off into a bride path which led through n
wild gorge and eventually lost itself among
the rocks at the foot of a hill. The sure
footed little creature started up the side of
the mountain and eventually landed me at
the top. Here l dismounted and left him
to Craze. We had been out some hours.
Remounting, we followed Il half beaten
track on the opposite side from which we
had come, and in a short time we We're 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 a 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-
cring with rage. pulled up with jerk,
for at first l thought the bird was loose on
the veldt, but on closer inspection L found
that a wire fence was between us. just
ut this moment | saw on the other side of
the camp a Zen sitting on her nest, and,
knowing only too well the danger l was
in, paused to consider what | should do
4 short distance in front the road ran
close to the fence, and knew it 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 l turned the
pony's head in the opposite direction and
walked quietly back, hoping to escape no
tice. A few moments passed, and l began
to think we We're safe, when suddenly q
strange sound made me look around To
my horror 1 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,
onds he would be over, and then it meant
race for dear life. My pony, l 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
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, thudl"
Of soldiers on the march. There was no
mistake. We were being pursued by .
furious cock ostrich-s formidable foe in
deed! Now it was only a question of time.
The pony's feet seemed scarcely to touch
the ground, and L bent forward, urging
him on feverishly as l 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. l was powerless to do anything but
hold on to my flying horse. We were
miles away from any farm in the direc-
ton we were going, and those behind
knew nothing of the terrible danger 1 was
in. Could there be no help? Alone on the
boundless veldt, l looked vaguely up into
the blue sky
There was a distant shout, and l was
dimly conscious that a short, heavy kerrie
whizzed past Inc. l dared not stop, for
the ostrich was now but few yards be-
hind and could almost feel the vibrat ion
of its great wings as it skinned, half fly
ing, half racing, over the earth. Present
" another kerric came whizzing past, and
this time 1t 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 a katfir who
was coming up from the camp in pursuit.
The man saw his danger and excitcdlv
threw kerrie after kcrrie, which passed
wide Of the mark. Vague ideas flashed
through my mind OF going to his help
an absurd idea, of course, and now impos-
sibc, for the pony had become thoroughly
frightened and was boiling as hard as he
could go There was more shouting now,
and hoped that others had come to the
rescue; bat, CHANGING back again | saw it
was too late. Ostrich and man had met
The kaffir made a tremendous spring at
the long neck Of the bird but he was too
Slow, and an awful kick sent the poor
wretch upon the earth Before he had
time to rccOver-if indeed he ever could
the bird was literally dancing upon him.
and L shut my eyes to hide the CHASTITY
sight BY this time several Kaffirs and IL
Dutchnan had come up, and with q long
lasso they caught the sensitive part of the
! birds neck and strangled it, dragging it
of the PROSTATE Katlir at the same time
| never knew how reached home that
day For days and nights that CHASTITY
light haunted me, and l was troubled by
the thought that the man had practically
given his life for mine, while l had done
nothing even to attempt to save him. His
master, IA hard mercenary Boer was more
filled with annoyance at the loss Of the
valuable ostrich than with pity for the
man. The unfortunate kaffir had only
lived till he reached the farm, and then
he succumbed to his terrible injuries
Wide World Magazine.
Greenwich Time.