They next got up
on their steeds, and I took the pouch from the head of the bird. As
soon as it could see, it gave a wild stare, and then fought to get free.
The boys then put spurs to the flanks of their steeds, and when the
bird had made a few starts back, as if to try the strength of the cords
which held it, it set off with a run, and the bulls at each side made
it keep up a smart pace.
Fritz and I now went in search of the nest, which we soon found. I took
the eggs from it and put them in a bag I had brought to hold them, in
which I put some wool and moss, so that they should not break.
It did not take us long to get up to the two boys, who had gone on
first, and we were glad to find that the poor bird had made up its mind
to its fate, and kept up well with the pace of the bulls.
When we got in sight of home, my wife and Ernest, who had been on the
look out for us, came forth to meet us; and the strange way in which we
brought home our new prize made them laugh. I need not say that we took
great care of it.
The next day we built it a house, with a space in front for it to walk
up and down, round which were put rails, so that it could not get out.
At first it was shy, and would not take any food, so that we had to
force some balls of maize down its throat; but in a short time it took
grain from the hands of my wife, and soon grew quite tame.
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