232 THE OSTRICH. 



are sent to reconnoitre. They carry a goat- skin full 

 of water and a little bread, and they walk on until 

 they discover the ostriches. As soon as they have 

 perceived them, they lie down and watch them; 

 then one of them remains, and the other goes to 

 warn the company. 



" The horsemen, guided by the man, proceed slowly 

 towards the place where the ostriches are. Arrived 

 at the last rising ground which can conceal them, 

 they dismount. Two scouts creep forward to assure 

 themselves that the birds are still in the same 

 place. If these confirm the first informants, each 

 one gives his horse a drink, but moderately, from 

 the water carried on his camel's back. They deposit 

 air the baggage on the spot where they had stopped, 

 and without leaving any one in charge of it. Each 

 horseman carries a goat - skin at his side. The 



servants and the camels follow in the tracks of the 







horses ; each camel carries no more than the horse's 

 barley supper, its own supper, and water for the men 

 and animals. 



" The hunters then separate and form a circle round 

 the chase at a very great distance, and in such a 

 manner as not to La perceived. The servants wait 

 on the spot where their masters separated until 

 they see them at their posts, then they march 

 straight on: the ostriches fly in terror, but they 



