Hans, on returning to the camp, gave an account of what he had seen.
All were interested in the relation, but particularly the boys Klaas and
Jan, who were not over satisfied that they had not themselves been
witnesses of the affair. Hans might very well have told them of it.
They wouldn't have minded being waked up to see the ostriches,
especially as they passed so near. It wasn't every day one could get
such a view of these fine birds--they were so shy no one could get near
them, and Hans might very well have come into camp and told them, or
called them, Klaas and Jan, to the spot. Hans didn't care whether they
ever saw any thing worth seeing--he didn't.
So grumbled Klaas and Jan, because Hans had not waked them out of their
sweet _siesta_, to see three ostriches stalking over the plain, and not
doing any thing in particular.
But boys are boys, and so long as they _are_ boys, they will feel a
wonderful interest in birds--especially when these birds stand nearly
ten feet high, and weigh three hundred pounds, as ostriches do.
Had it been a buffalo, or a giraffe, or even an elephant, neither Klaas
nor Jan would have so much cared. Beasts are all very well in their
way, and may interest full-grown hunters, like Hendrik and Groot Willem,
but for "boy hunters," with light fowling-pieces and Number 5 shot,
birds are the game--though their Number 5 shot would hardly have tickled
an ostrich.
No matter for that. They wanted to see the great camel-bird. Hans
ought to have apprised them. It was "right mean" of him not to do so,--
right mean, said Jan, and Klaas backed the opinion.
How long they might have grumbled, and given vent to their reproaches,
can only be guessed at; but the conversation turning upon ostriches
assumed a very pleasing character; and Klaas and Jan, becoming deeply
interested in it, soon got over their little "miff" with Hans--
especially as it was he who was now interesting them. Upon the subject
of ostriches. Hans had read a good deal, and was well acquainted with
the character and habits of these most interesting birds.
Swartboy stood next in his knowledge of the ostrich, for Swartboy in
early life had been a "dweller of the desert,"--the home of the Bushman
as well as the great camel-bird. Swartboy was only too happy at the
opportunity thus offered of showing off his knowledge, for the late
wonderful performances of his Kaffir rival had quite thrown him into the
shade.
So what with Hans's book-knowledge and Swartboy's practical experience,
the young yagers became pretty well acquainted with the whole "history"
of the bird.
"The ostrich," said Hans, "is an African bird, though also found in the
adjacent countries of Asia. Several species of birds somewhat like it,
belonging to South America, Australia and the islands of the Indian
Archipelago, have been called `ostriches' in the language of travellers.
I shall have a word about these presently.
"All over the African continent, as well as Arabia, Syria, and Persia,
dwells the ostrich, wherever there are desert plains--for this bird is
peculiarly a denizen of the desert, and never makes its home in wooded,
marshy, or even fertile districts.
"It has been known from the earliest times, and must have been more
numerous in the days of Heliogabalus than now, since that tyrant had the
brains of six hundred ostriches served up at a single feast!"
"Oh, the glutton!" exclaimed Jan.
"What a gourmand!" echoed Klaas.
"I should think after the feast he had more brains in his stomach than
in his head," quietly remarked Arend.
"No doubt of it," added Hendrik.