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 forwards. 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.
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