STOEIES ABOUT BIEDS. Ill 



rode together on the back of the larger of the 

 two birds. No sooner did the ostrich feel the 

 weight of the burden, than he began to run as 

 fast as possible. He carried the two boys sev- 

 eral times round the village; and it was im- 

 possible to stop him, except by placing some 

 obstacle in his way. This sight pleased the 

 French gentleman so much, that he wished it 

 to be repeated. So, to try the strength of the 

 birds, he directed a fall-grown negro to mount 

 the back of the smaller ostrich, and two others 

 the larger one. This burden did not seem at 

 all to trouble the birds. At first, after they 

 had received their load, they went off at a 

 pretty brisk trot ; but soon they expanded their 

 wings, as if to catch the wind, and moved so 

 swiftly that they hardly seemed to touch the 

 ground. 



