BREAKING IN A REFRACTORY STEED
As evening approached, the bears' paws, which were stewing for supper,
sent forth savory odors; and we sat talking round the fire while
listening anxiously for sounds heralding the return of our young
explorers.
At last the tramp and beat of hoofs struck our ears; the little troop
appeared, crossing the open ground before us at a sharp trot, and a
shrill ringing cheer greeted us as we rose and went to meet them.
They sprang from their saddles, the animals were set at liberty to
refresh themselves, and the riders eagerly came to exhibit their
acquisitions and give an account of themselves.
Funny figures they cut! Franz and Jack had each a young kid slung on his
back, so that the four legs, tied together, stuck out under their chins.
Fritz's game bag looked remarkably queer--round lumps, sharp points, and
an occasional movement seemed to indicate a living creature or creatures
within.
"Hurrah for the chase, father!" cried Jack. "Nothing like real hunting
after all. And just to see how Storm and Grumble go along over a grassy
plain! It is perfectly splendid! We soon tired out the little antelopes,
and were able to catch them."
"Yes, father," said Franz; "and Fritz has two Angora rabbits in his bag,
and we wanted to bring you some honey. Only think! such a clever
bird--a cuckoo showed us where it was!"
"My brothers forget the chief thing," said Fritz. "We have driven a
little herd of antelopes right through the Gap into our territory; and
there they are, all ready for us to hunt when we like--or to catch and
tame!"
"Well done!" cried I; "here is indeed a list of achievements. But to
your mother and me, the chief thing of all, is God's goodness in
bringing you safe back to us. Now, let us hear the whole story, that we
may have a definite idea of your performances."
"We had a splendid ride," said Fritz, "down Glen Verdant, and away to
the defile through our Rocky Barrier, and the morning was so cool and
fresh that our steeds galloped along, nearly the whole way, at the top
of their speed. When we had passed through the Gap we moderated our
furious pace and kept our eyes open on the lookout for game; we then
trotted slowly to the top of a grassy hill, from whose summit we saw two
herds of animals, whether antelopes, goats, or gazelles, we did not
know, grazing by the side of the stream below us. We were about to
gallop down and try to get a shot at them, when it struck me that it
would be wiser to try and drive the whole herd through the Gap into our
own domain, where they would be shut up, as it were, in a park, free and
yet within reach. Down the hill we rode as hard as we could go, formed
in a semi-circle behind the larger herd--magnificent antelopes--and,
aided by the dogs, with shouts and cries drove them along the stream
toward the Gap; as we came near the opening they appeared inclined to
halt and turn, like sheep about to be driven into the butcher's yard;
and it was all we could do to prevent them from bolting past us; but,
at length, one made a rush at the opening and, the rest following, they
were soon all on the other side of the frontier, and inhabitants of New
Switzerland."
"Capital," I said, "capital, my boy! But I don't see what is to make
them remain inhabitants of our domain, or to prevent them from returning
through the Gap whenever they feel inclined."
"Stop, father," he replied, "you interrupt me too soon; we thought of
that possibility too, and provided against it. We stretched a long line
right across the defile and strung on it feathers and rags and all sorts
of other things, which danced and fluttered in the wind and looked so
strange that I am perfectly certain that the herd will never attempt to
pass it; in fact, Levaillant, from whom I learned the trick, says, in
his 'Voyage au Cap de Bonne Esperance,' that the Hottentots make use of
the method for penning in the antelopes they have caught in the chase."
"Well done," said I, "I am glad to see that you remember what you have
read. The antelopes are welcome to New Switzerland, but, my boy," I
added, "I cannot say the same for the rabbits you have there; they
increase so rapidly that if you establish a colony of the little
wretches your next difficulty will be to get rid of them."
"True," he replied, "but my idea was to place them upon Whale Island,
where they would find abundant food, and at the same time in no way
trouble us. May I not establish a warren there? It would be so useful.
Do you know, my eagle caught these pretty little fellows for me? I saw a
number of them running about and so unhooded him, and in a few minutes
he brought me three--one dead, with whose body I rewarded him, and these
two here, unhurt."
"Now, father," said Jack, interrupting him, "do listen to me and hear my
story, or else Fritz will begin upon my adventures and tire you out with
his rigmarole descriptions."
"Certainly, Jack," I said, "I am quite ready to listen to you. First and
foremost, how did you bring down those beautiful little animals you have
there?"
"Oh, we galloped them down. The dogs sniffed about in the grass while
Fritz was away after the rabbits, out popped those little fawns, and
away they went bounding and skipping, at the rate of thirty miles an
hour, with Storm, Grumble, and the dogs at their heels. In about a
quarter of an hour we had left the dogs behind and were close upon our
prey. Down went the little creatures in the grass, and, overcome with
terror and fatigue, were at our mercy. So we shouted to Fritz, and----"
"My dear boy," said I, "according to your statement, Fritz must have
been seven miles and a half off."
"Oh, well, father, perhaps we did not ride for quite a quarter of an
hour, and, of course, I can't say exactly how fast we were going; and
then, you see, the fawns did not run in a straight line; at any rate
Fritz heard us, and he and Franz and I leashed the legs of the pretty
creatures, and then we mounted again, and presently saw a wretch of a
cuckoo, who led us ever so far out of our course by cuckooing and making
faces at us, and then hopping away. Franz declared it must be an
enchanted princess, and so I thought I would rid it of its spell; but
Fritz stopped me shooting it, and said it was a 'Honey Indicator,' and
that it was leading us probably to a bees' byke; so we spared its life,
and presently, sure enough, it stopped close by a bees' nest in a hollow
mound. This was capital, we thought, and, as we were in a great hurry to
taste the honey, I threw in a lot of lighted lucifer matches, but
somehow it did not kill the bees at all, but only made them awfully
angry, and they flew out in a body and stung me all over. I rushed to
Storm and sprang on his back, but, though I galloped away for bare life,
it was an age before I got rid of the little wretches, and now my face
is in a perfect fever. I think I will get mother to bathe it for me";
and off rushed the noisy boy, leaving Fritz and me to see to the fawns
and examine the rabbits. With these latter I determined to do as Fritz
proposed, namely, to colonize Whale Island with them. I was all the more
willing to do this because I had been considering the advisability of
establishing on that island a fortress to which we might retreat in any
extreme danger, and where we should be very thankful, in case of such a
retreat, to possess means of obtaining a constant supply of animal food.
Having ministered to the wants of the antelopes, I tried to interest the
boys in my discovery of the block of talc, but just then their mother
summoned us to dinner.
The principal dish in this meal consisted of the bears' paws--most
savory smelling delicacies, so tempting that their close resemblance to
human hands, and even the roguish "Fee-fo-fum" from Jack, did not
prevent a single member of the family from enjoying them most heartily.
Supper over, we lit our watch-fire, retired to our tent, and slept
soundly.
We had been working very diligently; the bears' meat was smoked, the
fat melted down and stored, and a large supply of bamboos collected. But
I wished to make yet another excursion, and at early dawn I aroused the
boys.
Fritz mounted the mule, I rode Lightfoot, Jack and Franz took their
usual steeds, and, with the two dogs, we galloped off--first to visit
the euphorbia to collect the gum, and then to discover whether the
ostrich had deserted her eggs in the sand.
Ernest watched us depart without the slightest look or sign of regret,
and returned to the tent to assist his mother and study his books.
Our steeds carried us down the Green Valley at a rapid rate, and we
followed the direction we had pursued on our former expedition. We soon
reached Turtle Marsh, and then, filling our water-flasks, we arrived at
the rising ground where Fritz discovered the mounted Arabs.
As Jack and Franz wanted a gallop, I allowed them to press forward,
while Fritz and I visited the euphorbia trees. A quantity of red gum had
exuded from the incisions I had made, and as this had coagulated in the
sun, I rolled it into little balls and stored it in a bamboo jar I had
brought with me for the purpose.
As we rode after the boys, who were some way ahead, Fritz remarked:
"Did you not tell me that the juice of that tree was poisonous, father;
why have you collected such a quantity?"
"I did indeed say so," I replied; "it is a most deadly poison. The
inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope use it to poison the springs where
wild animals assemble to quench their thirst; and they thus slaughter
an immense number of the creatures for the sake of their hides. I
intend, however, to use it to destroy the apes should they again commit
depredations, and also in preparing the skins of animals to protect them
from the attacks of insects."
The two boys were still at some distance from us, when suddenly four
magnificent ostriches rose from the sand where they had been sitting.
Jack and Franz perceived them, and, with a great shout, drove them
toward us. In front ran a splendid male bird, his feathers of shining
black, and his great tail plume waving behind. Three females of an ashen
gray color followed him. They approached us with incredible swiftness,
and were within gunshot before they perceived us. Fritz had had the
forethought to bind up the beak of his eagle so that, should he bring
down an ostrich, he might be unable to injure it.
He now threw up the falcon, which, towering upward, swooped down upon
the head of the foremost bird, and so confused and alarmed him, that he
could not defend himself nor continue his flight. So greatly was his
speed checked that Jack overtook him, and hurling his lasso, enfolded
his wings and legs in its deadly coils and brought him to the ground.
The other ostriches were almost out of sight, so leaving them to their
own devices we leaped from our steeds and attempted to approach the
captured bird. He struggled fearfully, and kicked with such violence,
right and left, that I almost despaired of getting him home alive.
[Illustration: _So greatly was the speed of the ostrich checked that
Jack overtook him_]
It occurred to me, however, that if we could cover his eyes, his fury
might be subdued. I instantly acted upon this idea, and flung over his
head my coat and hunting-bag, which effectually shut out the light.
No sooner had I done this than his struggles ceased, and we were able to
approach. We first secured round his body a broad strip of sealskin, on
each side of which I fastened a stout piece of cord, that I might be
able to lead him easily. Then, fastening another cord in a loop round
his legs that he might be prevented from breaking into a gallop, we
released him from the coils of the lasso.
"Do you know," said I to the boys, "how the natives of India secure a
newly captured elephant?"
"Oh, yes!" said Fritz; "they fasten him between two tame elephants.
We'll do that to this fine fellow, and tame him double quick."
"The only difficulty will be," remarked Jack, "that we have no tame
ostriches. However, I daresay Storm and Grumble will have no objection
to perform their part, and it will puzzle even this great monster to run
away with them."
So we at once began operations. Storm and Grumble were led up on either
side of the recumbent ostrich, and the cords secured to their girths.
Jack and Franz, each armed with a stout whip, mounted their respective
steeds, the wrappers were removed from the bird's eyes, and we stood by
to watch what would next occur.
For some moments after the return of his sight he lay perfectly still,
then he arose with a bound and, not aware of the cords which hampered
him, attempted to dash forward. The thongs were stout, and he was
brought to his knees. A fruitless struggle ensued, and then at length,
seeming to accommodate himself to circumstances, he set off at a sharp
trot, his guards making the air re-echo with their merry shouts. These
cries stimulated the ostrich to yet further exertions, but he was at
length brought to a stand by the determined refusal of his four-footed
companions to continue such a race across loose sand.
The boys having enjoyed the long run, I told them to walk with the
prisoner slowly home, while Fritz and I returned to examine the
ostrich's nest. The eggs were quite warm, and I was certain that the
mother had quite recently left the nest; leaving about half, I packed
the rest of the eggs in a large bag I had brought for the purpose, and
slung it carefully on the saddle before me. We soon caught up our
advance guard, and without other notable incident reached our tent.
Astonishment and dismay were depicted on the face of the mother as we
approached.
"My dear husband," she exclaimed, "do you think our provisions so
abundant that you must scour the deserts to find some great beast to
assist us to devour them. You must discover an iron mine next, for iron
is what ostriches chiefly live on, is it not? Oh! I do wish you would be
content with the menagerie you have already collected, instead of
bringing in a specimen of every beast you come across. And this is such
a useless monster!"
"Useless! mother," exclaimed Jack; "you would not say so had you seen
him run; why, he will be the fleetest courser in our stables. I am going
to make a saddle and bridle for him, and in future he shall be my only
steed. Then as for his appetite, father declares it is most delicate, he
only wants a little fruit and grass, and a few stones and tenpenny
nails to help his digestion."
The way in which Jack assumed the proprietorship of our new prize seemed
to strike his brothers as rather cool, and there was instantly a cry
raised on the subject.
"Very well," said Jack, "let us each take possession of the part of the
ostrich we captured. Your bird, Fritz, seized the head, keep that;
father shall have the body, I'll have the legs, and Franz a couple of
feathers from the tail."
"Come, come," said I, "I think that Jack has a very good right to the
ostrich, seeing that he brought it to the ground, and if he succeeds in
taming it and converting it into a saddle horse it shall be his. From
this time, therefore, he is responsible for its training."
The day was now too far advanced to allow us to think of setting out for
Rockburg, so we fastened up the ostrich between two trees, and devoted
the remainder of the evening to making preparations for our departure.
At early dawn our picturesque caravan was moving homeward. The ostrich
continued so refractory that we were obliged to make him again march
between Storm and Grumble, and as these gallant steeds were thus
employed, the cow was harnessed to the cart, laden with our treasures.
Room was left in the cart for the mother, Jack and Franz mounted Storm
and Grumble, I rode Lightfoot, and Fritz brought up the rear on Swift.
At the mouth of the Gap we called a halt, and replaced the cord the boys
had strung with ostrich feathers by a stout palisade of bamboos. I also
took the opportunity of collecting a store of pipeclay, as I intended
during the winter months, which were close at hand, to try my hand at
china making.
When we reached the sugar-cane grove, we again stopped to collect the
peccary hams we had left to be smoked; and my wife begged me to gather
some seeds of an aromatic plant which grew in the neighborhood, and
which had the scent of vanilla. I obtained a good supply, and we moved
forward toward Woodlands, where we intended to rest for the night, after
our long and fatiguing march.
Our tent was pitched, and on our beds of cotton we slept soundly.
Next morning early we examined our farmyard, which appeared in a most
prosperous and flourishing condition. The sight of all these domestic
animals made us long even more than ever for our home at Rockburg, and
we determined to hasten thither with all possible speed.
The number of our pigs, goats and poultry had greatly increased since we
had last visited our colony; and some of these, two fine broods of
chickens especially, my wife wished to take back with her.
We found that the herd of antelopes, which Fritz and Jack had driven
through the Gap, had taken up their abode in the neighborhood, and
several times we saw the beautiful animals browsing among the trees.
While at the farm, we repaired both the animals' stalls and our dwelling
room, that the former might be more secure against the attacks of wild
beasts, and the latter fitted for our accommodation when we should visit
the spot.
Everything at length being satisfactorily arranged, we again retired to
rest, and early next morning completed our journey to Rockburg.
By mid-day we were once more settled at home. Windows and doors were
thrown open to admit fresh air; the animals established in their stalls;
and the cart's miscellaneous cargo discharged and arranged.
As much time as I could spare, I devoted to the ostrich, whom we
fastened, for the present, between two bamboo posts in front of our
dwelling.
I then turned my attention to the eggs we had brought, and which I
determined to hatch, if possible, by artificial heat. For this purpose I
arranged a stove, which I maintained at a uniform temperature, and on it
I placed the eggs, carefully wrapped in cotton wool.
Next morning Fritz and I went off in the boat, first to Whale Island,
there to establish our colonists, the Angora rabbits, and then to Shark
Island, where we placed the dainty little antelopes. Having made them
happy with their liberty and abundance of food, we returned as quickly
as possible to cure the bearskins, and add the provisions we had brought
to the stores lying in our cellar.
As we returned, we caught up Jack, making his way in great glee toward
Rockburg. He was carrying in a basket, an immense eel, which he and
Ernest had secured.
Ernest had set, on the previous night, a couple of lines; one had been
dragged away, but on the other they found this splendid fellow.
It proved delicious. Half was prepared for dinner, and the other half
salted and stowed away.
We now, for a short time, again turned our attention to our duties about
the house.
Thinking that the veranda would be greatly improved by some creepers, I
sowed, round the foot of each bamboo pillar, vanilla and pepper-seed, as
well as that of other creeping plants, which would not only give the
house a pleasanter aspect, but also afford us shade during the summer
months.
I constructed a couple of hen-coops, too, for the hens and their little
chicks which we had brought from Woodlands, for I knew that if I left
them unprotected, the inquisitive dispositions of Knips and Fangs might
induce them to make anatomical experiments which would be detrimental to
the welfare of the youngsters.
Ernest's rat skins were voted a nuisance within doors, and were tied
together and hung up outside; so powerful was the odor they emitted,
that even then Jack would pretend to faint every time he passed near
them.
The museum received its additions: the condor and vulture were placed
there, to be stuffed when we should find time during the rainy season.
The mica and asbestos, too, were brought in for the present, not to lie
there idle, but to wait until I could use them as I intended, for china
and lamp-wicks.
Having occupied two days in this way, we turned our attention to other
duties: the cultivation of a wheat, barley, and maize field, the
management of the ostrich's eggs, and the taming of the captives.
As agriculture was, though the least to our taste, the most important of
these several duties, we set about it first. The animals drew the plow,
but the digging and hoeing taxed our powers of endurance to the utmost.
We worked two hours in the morning and two in the evening. Fully did we
realize the words of Scripture: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread."
In the interval we devoted our attention to the ostrich. But our efforts
on behalf of his education seemed all in vain. He appeared as untamable
as ever. I determined, therefore, to adopt the plan which had subdued
the refractory eagle.
The effect of the tobacco fumes almost alarmed me. The ostrich sank to
the ground and lay motionless. Slowly, at length, he arose, and paced up
and down between the bamboo posts.
He was subdued, but to my dismay resolutely refused all food. I feared
he would die; for three days he pined, growing weaker and weaker each
day.
"Food he must have!" said I to my wife; "food he must have!" The mother
determined to attempt an experiment. She prepared balls of maize flour,
mixed with butter. One of these she placed within the bird's beak. He
swallowed it, and stretched out his long neck, looking inquiringly for a
second mouthful. A second, third and fourth ball followed the first. His
appetite returned, and his strength came again.
All the wild nature of the bird had gone, and I saw with delight that we
might begin his education as soon as we chose. Rice, guavas, maize, and
corn he ate readily--washing it down, as Jack expressed it, with small
pebbles, to the great surprise of Franz, to whom I explained that the
ostrich was merely following the instinct common to all birds; that he
required these pebbles to digest his food, just as smaller birds require
gravel.
After a month of careful training, our captive would trot, gallop, obey
the sound of our voice, feed from our hand; and, in fact, showed himself
perfectly docile. Now our ingenuity was taxed to the utmost. How were we
to saddle and bridle a bird? First, for a bit for his beak. Vague ideas
passed through my mind, but every one I was obliged to reject. A plan
at length occurred to me. I recollected the effect of light and its
absence upon the ostrich, how his movements were checked by sudden
darkness, and how, with the light, power returned to his limbs.
I immediately constructed a leathern hood, to reach from the neck to the
beak, cutting holes in it for the eyes and ears.
Over the eyeholes I contrived square flaps or blinkers, which were so
arranged with whalebone springs that they closed tightly of themselves.
The reins were connected with these blinkers, so that the flaps might be
raised or allowed to close at the rider's pleasure.
When both blinkers were open, the ostrich would gallop straight ahead;
close his right eye and he turned to the left, close his left and he
turned to the right, shut both and he stood stock still.
I was justly proud of my contrivance, but, before I could really test
its utility, I was obliged to make a saddle. After several failures, I
succeeded in manufacturing one to my liking, and in properly securing
it; it was something like an old-fashioned trooper's saddle, peaked
before and behind--for my great fear was lest the boys should fall. This
curious-looking contrivance I placed upon the shoulders as near the neck
as possible, and secured it with strong girths round the wings and
across the breast, to avoid all possibility of the saddle slipping down
the bird's sloping back.
I soon saw that my plan would succeed, though skill and considerable
practice was necessary in the use of my patent bridle. It was difficult
to remember that to check the courser's speed it was necessary to
slacken rein, and that the tighter the reins were drawn, the faster he
would fly. We at length, however, all learned to manage Master
Hurricane, and the distance between Rockburg and Falconhurst was
traversed in an almost incredibly short space of time. The marvelous
speed of the bird again revived the dispute as to the ownership, and I
was obliged to interfere.
"Jack shall retain the ostrich," said I, "for it is most suited to him;
he is a lighter weight than either of you his elder brothers, and Franz
is not yet strong enough to manage such a fleet courser. But he is so
far to be considered common property, that all may practice on him
occasionally; and, in a case of necessity, anyone may mount him."
Our field work was by this time over. The land had been plowed and sown
with wheat, barley, and maize. On the other side of Jackal River we had
planted potatoes and cassava roots, and all sorts of other seeds had
been carefully sown.
We had not neglected the ostrich's eggs, and one day Fritz introduced me
with great glee to three little ostriches. But alas, the little
creatures were not destined to enjoy life long. One died almost as soon
as it was hatched, and the others, after tottering about on their
stilt-like legs for a few days, followed its example.
I now found time to turn my attention to the bears' skins, which
required preparation before they would be fit for use as leather. They
had been salted and dried, and now required tanning. I had no tan,
however. This was unfortunate; but not to be deterred from my purpose, I
determined to use a mixture of honey and water in its place.
The experiment proved successful. When the skins were dried they
remained flexible and free from smell, while the fur was soft and
glossy.
This was not the only result of the experiment, for the honey-water
which I boiled appeared so clear and tempting, that it struck me that I
might prepare from it an excellent drink. I put by some of the liquid
before making use of it as tan, and reboiled it with nutmeg and
cinnamon. The preparation, which much resembled English mead, was
pronounced delicious, and the mother begged me to brew a large supply.
As our cellar was now well stocked with provisions for the winter, and
our other preparations were completed, I was able to turn my attention
to details of lesser importance. The boys had been clamoring for hats,
and as my success in so many trades had surprised me, I agreed to turn
hatter for the nonce. With the rat skins and a solution of india rubber,
I produced a kind of felt, which I dyed a brilliant red with cochineal,
and stretching this on a wooden block I had prepared, I passed over it a
hot iron, to smooth the nap, and by next morning had the satisfaction of
presenting to my wife a neat little red Swiss cap, to be lined and
finished by her for one of the boys. The mother admired the production
immensely, and lining it with silk, added yet more to its gay appearance
by adorning it with ribbons and ostrich feathers, and finally placed it
upon the head of little Franz.
So delighted was everyone with the hat, that all were eager to be
similarly provided, and begged me to manufacture more. I readily agreed
to do so, as soon as they should furnish me with the necessary
materials, and advised them to make half a dozen rat traps, that they
might secure the water rats with which the stream abounded, and whose
rich glossy fur would serve admirably for felt.
Every fifth animal that they brought me I told them should be mine, that
I might obtain material for a hat for myself and their mother.
The boys at once agreed to this arrangement, and began the manufacture
of the traps, which were all so made that they should kill the rats at
once, for I could not bear the idea of animals being tortured or
imprisoned.
While they were thus engaged I applied myself to the manufacture of
porcelain. I first cleaned the pipeclay and talc from all foreign
substances, and made them ready to be beaten down with water into a soft
mass, and then prepared my molds of gypsum plaster. These preparations
were at length made, and the molds received a thin layer of the
porcelain material. When this was partly baked, I sprinkled over it a
powder of colored glass beads which I had crushed, and which looked very
pretty in patterns upon the transparent porcelain.
Some of my china vessels cracked with the heat of the stove, some were
very ill-shaped; but, after many failures, I succeeded in producing a
set of white cups and saucers, a cream-jug, a sugar-basin, and half a
dozen small plates.
I must allow that my china was far from perfect; the shape of some of
the vessels was faulty, and none were really transparent; nevertheless,
the general appearance gave great satisfaction, and when the plates were
filled with rosy and golden fruit resting on green leaves, and fragrant
tea filled the cups, it greatly added to the appearance of the table.