The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-08-01
Continuation of
CHAPTER XII

we NOW, lOl q SAAOA IlhiSI oS&h
turned our +. attention to u du
ties about the house.
Thinking that the verands
would be greatly improved by
some creepers, l sowed, round the
foot of each bamboo pillar, va
nilla and pepper-seed, as we'll as
hat Of other creeping plants,
which would not only give the
house a ~pleasanter aspect, but al
80 afford us shade during the
summer months.
constructed a couple of hen
eOops too, for the hens and their
little chicks which We had brought
from Woodlands, for | knew that
if l left them unprotected, the in
oufsitive dispositions of Knips and
Fangs might induce them to
make anatomical experiments
which would be detrimental to
the welfare of the youngsters.
Ernest's rat skins were voted
a nuisance within doors, and were
tied together and hung up out
side; so powerful was the odor
they emitted, that ever then Jack
would pretend to faint every time
he passed near them.
The museum received its addi-
lions; the condor and vulture
were placed there, to be stuffed
when we should find time during
the rainy season. The mica and
asbestos, too. were brought in
for the present, not to lie there
idle. but to wait until | could
use them as l intended, for china
and lampwicks.
Having - occupied two days in
this way. we turned u attention
to other duties: the cultivation
of a wheat, barley, and maize
field. the management of the os-
trich's eggs, and the tanning of
the captives.
AS agriculture was, though the
least to our taste, the most i'm
portant of these several duties,
we set about it first. The animals
drew the plow, but the digging
and hoeing taxed our powers OF
endurance to the utmost.
We worked two hours in the
morning and two in the evening.
Fully did we realize the words
of Scripture: "In the lsweat of
thy face shalt thou eat bread"
In the interval we devoted Il
attention to the ostrich. But our
efforts on behalf of his education
seemed all in vain. He appeared
as untamable as ever. / determin-
ed, therefore, to adopt the plan
which had subdued the refractory
The effects of the tobacco
fumes almost alarmed me. The
ostrich sank to the ground and
lay motionIess. Slowly, at length,
he arose, and paced up and down
between the bamboo posts.
He was subdued, but to my dis
may resolutely refused all food.
feared he would die; for three |
days he pined, growing weaker 7
md weaker each day. {
Food he must have !" said
my wife; food he must have!"
The mother determined to at f
empt an experiment. She prepar- I
ID balls of maize flour, mixed with f
,utter. One of these she placed {
within the birds beak. He swal-
owed it, and stretched out his {
ong neck, looking inquiringly for ,
second mouthful. A second, {
bird, and fourth ball followed I
he first. His appetite returned, 2
nd his strength came again. {
All the wild nature of the bird c
lad gone, and I saw with delight 7
hat we might begin his education q
soon as we chose. Rice, guavas,
maize. and corn he ate readily
washing it down, as Jack eX- L
,ressed it, with small pebbles, to c
he great surprise of Franz, to
yhom l explained that the ostrich a
vas merely following the instinct c
common to all birds; that he re- a
iuired these pebbles to digest his :
God, Just as smaller birds require {
Tavel. S
After a month Of careful train S
ng, our captive would trot, gal
Oh. obey the sound of our voice, r
eed from our hand; and, in fact, 7
.howed himself perfectly docile. Y
Tow our ingenuity was taxed to c
he utmost. How were we to sad a
lie and bride a bird? First, for I
bit for his beak. Vague IDEAS s
,assed through my mind, but eY- Z
ry one l was obliged to reject. p
plan at length occurred to me. t
recollected the effect of light a
nd it's absence upon the ostrich, f
.ow his movements were checked p
sudden darkness, and how, il
With the light, power returned to il
is limbs. il
Immediately constructed a e
sathern hood, to reach from the t
eek to the beak, cutting holes
4 it for the eyes and ears. Il
Over the eyeholes I contriyed b
quare flaps or blinkers, which n
ere SO arranged with whalebone IL
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