CHAPTER X. 



A DARING EXPLOIT. 



TIT is not necessary to tell you that in the ostrich hunt there was no intention oi 

 trying to capture any one of the gigantic birds as a curiosity for The Greatest 

 T Show on Earth. 



Such an exploit would have been almost impossible : the creatures can be 

 secured only when young, or hatched from eggs. 



Our friends aimed to have some exciting sport, and it proved, in the case of each, 

 far more so than any anticipated. 



As they galloped down the slope, Dick and Bob, like Jack, selected the particular 

 bird to which he meant to give his undivided attention. Bob fixed upon the second, 

 which, as I told you, was about a hundred yards behind the leader. 



The youth was not in the lasso business, and, while galloping toward his victim, 

 he decided to try his revolver instead of his rifle upon him. 



It would seem that the smaller weapon ought to have been sufficient, since the 

 fight was sure to be at close quarters. 



Recalling the remark that Jack had made about the impossibility of changing 

 the line of flight of a frightened ostrich, Bob made up his mind to test it, though 

 necessarily in an indecisive way. 



Instead, therefore, of galloping up beside the ostrich, as the Texan had done, he 

 forced his pony directly across the course of the bird and brought him to a stand- 

 still. 



But the horse was uneasy, as any animal would naturally be when halting in 

 the course of a charging enemy of the size of the ostrich. He snorted, reared, and 

 finally, despite all the rider could do, made a tremendous bound that carried him 

 far to one side of the line of flight. 



Bob whirled him about so as to face the bird, and, afraid that it would escape 

 him altogether, whipped out his revolver and discharged all the chambers in rapid 

 succession.. 



Fearful that he would miss, because of the restlessness of his pony, the youth 

 did a thing which was as reckless as the conduct of Jack Harvey. 



Leaping from his saddle, he ran forward, so as to place himself in front of the 

 approaching ostrich, which showed no evidence of having been struck by the pistol 

 balls, brought his gun to his shoulder and aimed at the small head which was 

 bearing down upon him like a cannon ball. 



Now, Bob knew better than to keep precisely in the path of the game* since a 

 dangerous collision would have been sure to follow, but he placed himself just far 



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