1HK CHAMPION <K MUHIDITY. 55 



His teeth, like all the carnivora, the quadrumana and man, are composed of bone 

 and enamel, the entire crown being covered with the latter. His tongue, as is 

 the case with the tiger, is so rough that a few licks will scrape the skin from your 

 hand. 



Pongo gave it as his belief that the specimen captured by him was three or four 

 weeks old old enough to care nothing for babe's food. This was proven when 

 some of the uncooked antelope was dissected and placed in front of him. He ate 

 with as much zest as my young friends devour pies and puddings. 



The arrangement was now made for a hunt by Jack, Bob and Dick, each mounted 

 on his horse. Mr. Godkin was invited to go along, but he did not feel easy about 

 Orak. The fellow had a high fever, and the crisis in his condition was evidently at 

 hand. The director said they would stay in camp until the following morning, since 

 all their surroundings were favorable and to move the native in the wagon would 

 increase his peril. It was characteristic, therefore, of the kind-hearted Mr. Godkin 

 that he should remain with the sufferer, so long as there was a prospect of helping 

 him by doing so. 



The rest of the natives of course stayed behind, for it was impossible for them 

 to appreciate the eager enjoyment with which the Americans entered upon a hunt 

 that promised to be spiced with personal danger. 



Mounted on their fleet, tough ponies, and keeping well together, the three friends 

 galloped at an easy pace in the direction of a ridge of hills which the Texan had 

 passed just before dusk the day before, and, in crossing which he had observed 

 something that induced him to take his companions to the spot in the hope of 

 showing them a species of sport which they had not yet enjoyed. 



He persisted in refusing fco give them any inkling of its nature, and they were 

 left to indulge in all sorts of surmises, Jack simply smiling and replying with some 

 remark that bore no relation to their questions. 



Good as well as ill fortune seemed to wait on our friends, for the game that Jack 

 was seeking was found awaiting him and his comrades. 



Riding up the first slope, they looked down in a valley about half a mile 

 wide and three or four times as long, the hills which formed its boundary sloping 

 away at each end until they sank to the level of the plain. Halting their animals 

 at a point about midway between the ends of the valley, and, gazing before them, 

 they saw five ostriches quietly plucking the grass. 



The " camel birds," as they are sometimes called, were within a third of a mile 

 of the northern opening of the valley, and consequently much nearer it than were 

 the hunters. 



You will naturally conclude that the huge birds were not in any danger, for the 

 way of escape was open and the speed of the ostrich is so great that in a fair, 

 straight-away chase, no horse can run him down. 



But of all fools that were ever created, I think the ostrich is the champion. 

 Among birds and beasts I have never met any with such monumental stupidity. 

 Were it otherwise, I don't see how so many of your sisters and lady friends woiud 



