Page:In wild Africa - Adventures of two youths in a journey through the Sahara desert.djvu/101

Rh the circle, and frighten them more than ever. At last the ostriches open their wings, which is a sure indication that they are ready to drop with fatigue, and when this sign is observed the Arabs close in upon them. Each rider selects a bird, rides directly at it, and strikes it a heavy blow with his jereed. The ostrich, when struck, falls to the ground. One after another of the flock is knocked down, or, if the Arabs choose, the birds may be taken alive, as they are so exhausted that they can scarcely walk."

"I suppose," said Ned, "that the bird is taken chiefly for his feathers."

"You are quite right," said Renaud; "the chief value of the ostrich is in his feathers, and sometimes a good many francs' worth are taken from a single bird. The ostriches that you saw at Tuggurt were probably caught when young in just such a manner as I have described. They were not in fine feather, and therefore it was injudicious to kill them."

"I've read," said Harry, "that in times of danger the ostrich buries his head in the sand, or under a bush or rock, thinking he will be safe as long as he can't see his enemy. Is that really true?"

"Possibly there may be some truth in it," Renaud re- plied, "as I've heard of it before. It is proper to say that I never heard it from the Arab hunters and therefore place very little faith in it. The ostrich isn't a wise bird by any means, but I don't believe that a respectable one would be such an idiot as that. However, it's a pretty story, anyway, and as it has been believed so long it isn't wise to destroy it."