178 HOME LIFE ON AN OSTRICH FARM. 



rapidly with this traitor in the camp, whose capacious 

 appetite was equal to consuming as many as four a day, 

 with eggs ad libitum. 



For this, and for his offences in the garden, Bobby 

 was at last sentenced to be tied up : a little bangle of 

 twisted wire was fastened round one leg, and attached 

 to a long piece of stout wire outside our window ; and 

 there, so long as there were little chickens about the 

 house, or tender young vegetables in the garden, he had 

 to remain. We felt much compunction at treating our 

 old friend thus, and feared that with his keen appre- 

 ciation of freedom, and love of independence, he would 

 pine in captivity ; but Bobby did nothing of the kind. 

 He was a far greater philosopher than we thought, and 

 resigned himself at once to circumstances ; making the 

 best of things in a manner which some of the human 

 race might well imitate. He harboured no resentment 

 against us for depriving him of freedom ; but, with 

 his sweet temper quite unimpaired by his reverse of 

 fortune, would give us just as warm and joyful a 

 welcome, and caress us as lovingly, as in brighter days. 

 He did not sit idle on the perch to which we had con- 

 demned him ; but, his love of mischief breaking out in 

 quite a new direction, he immediately consoled himself 

 by commencing destructive operations on the window 

 in which he sat, and on as much of the outside of the 

 house as came within reach of his tether. He broke 

 away the plaster from the wall, knocked out the mortar 

 from between the bricks, and carefully picked all the 

 putty out of the window, the panes of which he 



