OSTRICHES. 121 



Jackie — offered no friendly interference to save him 

 from his fate ; and, plunging his bill into the pot, he 

 greedily scooped up, and, with the lightning-like 

 rapidity of ostriches, tossed down his throat, a large 

 mouthful of boiling rice. Poor fellow 1 the next 

 moment he was dancing round the kitchen, writhing 

 with agony, shaking his head nearly off, and twisting 

 his neck as if bent on tying it in a knot. Finally he 

 dashed wildly from the house ; the cook, avenged at 

 last for all the dinners he had devoured, called after 

 him as he stumbled out at the door, " Serve you right, 

 Jackie ! " — and away he fled across the veldt, till the 

 last that was seen of him was a little cloud of white 

 dust vanishing on the horizon. He returned a sadder 

 and a wiser bird ; and it was long before he again 

 ventured inside the kitchen. 



When about a year old, Jackie was sold to a farmer 

 who had long coveted him ; and who, no doubt, soon 

 repented of his purchase. He was now sufficiently 

 strong to give a good hard kick ; and, being a more 

 daring freebooter than ever, and no respecter of per- 

 sons, he would march up and attack any one he saw 

 carrying food, or what he thought might be food; 

 endeavouring, by a well-aimed blow, to strike it out of 

 their hands ; his evil design generally succeeding. At 

 length his master, tired of hearing constant complaints 

 of his conduct, and impatient of his perpetual intru- 

 sion indoors, tried putting him into a camp. There, 

 however, he obstinately refused to remain. As soon as 

 he was put in, he would squat down, laying his head 



