THE CHAMPION OF STUPIDITY. 



57 



be able to wear the glossy plumes that we all admire so much, for it would be almost 

 impossible to secure them. 



You have read accounts of the manner in which the Bushman hunts the ostrich. 

 He gets himself up so as to resemble, when viewed from the side turned toward the 

 bird, the ostrich itself, and manages to insinuate himself among a herd, when he 

 clubs his victims to death. 



Such zanies deserve to be clubbed. 



The plan of Jack and the youths was to ride down the hillside into the valley, 

 taking care that the ostriches should see them. The horsemen would head toward 

 the opening furthest removed from the game. Then the latter had only to turn 



OSTRICH HUNTING. 



about and run out of the egress near them into the broad, level country beyond, 

 where they could laugh at every effort to overtake them. 



But what do you suppose they did ? 



The hunters had no more than fairly started down the slope, when one of the 

 ostriches threw up his head and stared at them. Then a second, third, fourth and 

 fifth did the same. Standing motionless a few seconds, they deliberately started 

 on a swift trot in the direction of the outlet which was a mile beyond the horsemen 

 and nearly two miles from themselves. 



I have asked many of my hunters for their explanation of this stupidity on the 

 part of the bird. Carl Godkin probably states the truth when he repeats the general 

 belief of hunters, that the action of the sportsmen, when they head toward the 



