Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-01

I
that moment my brains would prob
ably have been dashed out by the
powerful legs which fell like hammer
strokes upon my defenceless carcass
Crouching upon the scrub lay half
stunned, while the brute deliberately
proceeded to trample the life out Of
me, fluttering its wings in frenzy
OF rage, covering me with dust, and
all the while uttering its horrible
whinny.
gave myself up for lost. / knew
there was no possibility of help from
human agency, and unconsciously
tried to postpone the end by squeez
ing my body as far as possible into
the sun-baked soil. AS in dream
almost as If were a spectator In
some uninteresting street quarrel, J
saw the terrible legs striking vainl,
above me in an attempt to rip m,
open. For this, as l subsequently
learned, is the effect of fair blow
from an ostrich's foot.
The end was not far off, but fate
had ordained that it was not to be
my end. Into my brain leaped a de
sire for life ana action. l rolled over
on my face, getting as l did 30 q
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 l did so, and my
movement seemed to still further en-
rage him, for he pecked savagely Of
me with his beak.
Then rage such as l have never be
fore experienced-and, 1 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 wrench l 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 its beak, and swung my bruised
body upward with 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 GOV.
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 frc
for 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
blindly 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 the
great bird fell away from my grasp
uttering horrible screaming cry. Fol-
an instant I half knelt on the scrub
painting for breath, but prepared, II
necessary, to continue the fight.
Again the ostrich came at me, flap
ping its wings and wagging its head;
then, half way, the birds strength
failed. The broad breast was dyed
with sudden rush of crimson, and ]
knew that the danger was over. rs
For a few moments my foe reeled
and swayed like a drunken man, lurch'
ing round in circle. and then fell
with soft plop to the ground. Its
feathery sides heaved convulsively
the beak opened to give vent to final
squawk of defiance, pain, and rage
and SO it expired. Shaking in every
limb, and bruised beyond belief, rose
from the earth and cautiously ap.
preached my late enemy from behind
I found my hat, wiped my knife
and with a last glance at the evil
bird whose strength and ferocity had
So nearly ended my globe-trotting, re-
sumed my journey. The ostriches
had first espied were still feeding as II
nothing had happened.
Sore and bleeding made by way
from the spot and coming shortly af.
ter to spruit, cleansed my clothes
and body from the marks of the con
f1ict, and effected some very neces.
sary repairs to my tattered garments.
Needless to say, did not advertise
this adventure so long as was in the
! neighborhood. Ostrich farmers are
generally hasty when they suspect
wayfarers of meddling with their
birds, and it is difficult to explain un-
der such circumstances Wide
World Magazine.