28o HOME LIFE ON AN OSTRICH FARM. 



had proceeded about half-way across, when poor old 

 Martia's foot slipped, and down he came, falling in such 

 a position that his body lay prone on the narrow iron 

 pathway formed by the rail and girder, while on either 

 side two of his legs dangled helplessly over space. Sun- 

 down was approaching ; so too was a train which, as 



T remembered, was very nearly due ; but, though 



he tried his utmost to help the poor animal to his feet, 

 all was unavailing, and presently the train hove in 

 sight. T , waving his handkerchief with wild ges- 

 tures, succeeded in attracting the attention of the 

 engine-driver, who stopped the train and came to his 

 assistance. But, with all their efforts, they could not 

 succeed in raising the horse from his perilous position ; 

 the train could wait no longer, and they had no choice 

 but to resort to the kill-or-eure expedient of rolling 

 him over into the water below. Falling from a height 

 of some twenty -five feet, he went so deep into the mud 



at the bottom of the shallow African river that T 



was unable to pull him out, and had to leave him there 

 all night. On coming back next morning with a 

 span of oxen and some stout riems, he was horrified to 

 find that during the night the unfortunate animal had 

 sunk deeper and deeper into the mud, till little more 

 than his nose remained above water. It was the work 

 of much time and exertion to drag him out ; and 

 during the process his neck got such a twist that for 

 the remainder of his days there was a crook in it, which 

 caused his head to hang meditatively a little on one 

 side. 



