A DARING EXPLOIT. 65 



enough to one side to allow the bird to pass him, his intention being to give him the 

 fatal shot at the moment he came opposite. 



The plan was not without its good features, and, had the ostrich done what was 

 expected, the result would have been all that the youth desired. But, unfortunately 

 for Bob, it did the unexpected thing. 



Unlike Jack's game, the bird changed the line of flight 



One or two of the pistol balls fired by the lad had really wounded the ostrich, 

 whose native stupidity did not prevent him comprehending that an enemy was on 

 the ground within reach. 



At the instant, therefore, that Bcb brought his rifle to a level, the bird swerved 

 to one side, and, before the lad could understand what was coming, delivered a 

 kick which sent him sprawling a dozen feet away. 



Bear in mind that the ostrich kicks forward, just the same as you do. The pro- 

 digious muscularity of the bird enables it to do this with a force sufficient to break 

 the ribs of a lion or smash the breast of a hunter. 



It was a wonder that Bob Marshall was not killed outright. All that saved him 

 was his gun leveled in front. That acted like a shield, parrying the full force of 

 the kick, which, however, was sufficient to make the recipient feel as though he had 

 been struck by the lightning-express, when striving to make up lost time, on a 

 descending grade. 



A million stars danced before his eyes, everything turned of inky blackness, and, 

 falling outstretched upon the ground, with his gun knocked out of his hands, he 

 lay for a minute or two senseless. 



When he recovered and rose on one elbow, the game that had knocked him out 

 so scientifically was nowhere in sight. It had disappeared through the southern 

 opening of the valley, very little if any the worse for the pistol balls, which had drawn 

 but a few drops of blood. 



" I've had enough ostrich hunting for one day," concluded Bob, climbing to his 

 feet, with a dozen aches and pains in different parts of his body. " I hope Jack and 

 Dick have done better than I, though it looks to me as if matters haven't gone just 

 right with them." 



Dick Brownell picked out the ostrich at the rear of the flock as his special prize, 

 and, withdrawing all attention from what his companions were doing, centered his 

 energies on bringing down this bird, which, despite its slowness of gait, was fully 

 the equal of the leader that had given Jack Harvey such a tough tussle. 



It really seemed as if each of the three hunters had determined on risking 

 their lives in the most reckless fashion while engaged in the ostrich hunt I 

 have told you what Jack and Bob did, but Dick surpassed them all in daring 

 hardihood. 



Unlike his companions, he remained undecided as to his line of action until, it 

 may be said, it was forced upon him. 



He noticed the size of the rear ostrich, and wondered why his speed was less 

 than his companions', though he was rather glad of the fact, since it gave him better 



