84 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



the underground passageway. The animals live 

 a subterranean life, and appear above ground 

 only when, in the course of their work, they 

 break through the surface in order to push out 

 the earth that they have excavated. 



It was a gently rolling country, and the 

 only trees in sight were the scattering ones 

 along the edge of the river where our camp 

 was pitched. 



I had set one trap and was on my knees 

 digging into another mound. My gun bearer, 

 wondering, no doubt, what new kind of white 

 man I could be, stood by, watching my ac- 

 tions. Glancing up from my work, I noticed 

 the Kikuyu boy driving the flock of ostriches 

 from the enclosure and starting them off to 

 pasture. 



Presently I heard him shout, and I saw that 

 an enormous cock-bird had left the band and 

 was heading in our direction in a very signifi- 

 cant manner. 



Of course I had a gun and a rifle with which 

 to protect myself, but the four hundred dollars 

 that I would have to pay if I shot the bird made 

 me reluctant to kill it. 



I jumped to my feet and looked in some 



