The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-04-19

4 since, as that cock ostrich made as he
| sped over the ground, each flying foot
| step marked by a far-flung scatter OF
dust. / can only describe it as sort
i of grooming, blended with peculiarly
malignant note-a cry which lent ter
/ ror to my emotions and additional
speed to my feet.
Presently, as I peeped over my
shoulder, saw that the bird had
altered its line of fight-it was after
me, and nobody else! The monstrous
bird came EDWARDS like feathered
| rocket. with neck outstretched and
wings braced tightly back against its
| plumed sides, and my knees trembled
at the sight
The next instant, as l turned my
head fearfully, saw great purple
air. l ducked, more by instinct than
design, and received a buffet on the,
hip which sent me rolling over and
over on the ground dazed and sick.
What prompted me to lie PROSTATE
1 don't know. Still uttering its queer
grooming the huge bird darted at me
/ again Had l attempted to rise at
that moment my brains would prob
ably have been dashed out by the
powerful legs which fell like hammer
strokes upon my, sdefenceless carcass.
Crouching upon the scrub lay half.
| stunned, while the brute deliberately
proceeded to trample the life out of
me, fiuttering its wings in frenzy
of rage, covering me with dust, and
all the while 3uttering its horrible
whinny.
I gave myself up for lost knew
there was no possibility of help from
human agency, and unconsciously
tried to postpone the end by sdueez-
ing my body as far as possible into
the sun-baked soil. AS in a dream,
almost as if I were a spectator in
some uninteresting street quarrel,
saw the terrible legs striking vainly
above me in an attempt to rip me
open. For this, as subsequently
learned, is the effect of fair blow
from an ostrichs foot.
The end was not far off, but fate
/
my end Into my brain leaped de-
sire for life and action. I rolled over
on my face, getting as I did so a
severe glancing blow on the ribs
which tore clothing to the bare flesh,
and sent buttons flying in every direc-
ton. Crash! came the birds terrible
feet on my thighs as did so, and my
q 10 ,fi rfh on.
rage him, for he pecked savagely at
me with his beak.
Then rage such as have never be-
fore experienced-apd, trust, shall
never know again-thrilled every fibre
in me, My trembling fingers closed
on the little leather sheath in which
lay the patent knife wear on my hip.
With a wrench 1 drew it forth and
touched the spring Click! The blade,
shot out. Protecting my face as well
as possible against the blows from
above, watched an opportunity. Pres
emily the ostrich attacked me again
with it's beak, and swung my bruised
4 body upward with a superhuman eff
fort and grabbed blindly at the brute's
head.
Thanks to my good angel, who must
surely have been watching over me
in this extremity, my clutching fing-
ers did not miss their mark. They
sank deep into the short feathers COW
ering a neck which writhed under my
grip, as if made of india rubber rings.
A blow from the withdrawing wing
almost cost me my senses, but hung
on with a rage almost as furious as
that of my assailant The brute's
savage exertions dragged me off the
ground and jerked me to and fro
for a minute like marionette, my
helpless feet trailing and swinging
with the violence of the birds efforts
to loosen my hold. Another blow
from its formidable wing brought
tears to my eyes, but still hung on,
though strength was beginning to fail.
Then, seeing an opportunity brought
my right hand round, and stabbed
blindIy and viciously at the 1.-THE, pal
plating neck above me. The next
moment gush of hot blood spurted
all over me. Again l stabbed at the
yielding flesh, and simultaneously tho
great bird fell away from my grasp,
uttering a horrible screaming cry. For
an instant 1 half knelt on the scrub
painting for breath, but prepared, If
necessary, to continue the fight.
Again the ostrich came at me, flap
ping it's wings and wagging it's head:
then, half way, the birds strength
failed The broad breast was dyed
with a sudden rush of crimson, and l
knew that the danger was over
For a few moments my foe reeled
and swayed like a drunken man, lurch-
ing round in circle, and then fell
with a soft plop to the ground. Its
feathery sides heaved convulsively,
the beak opened to give vent to final
squawk of defiance, pain, and rage,