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 homewards. 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.
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