CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
THE OSTRICH "SURROUND."
On reaching the edge of the grove they halted to reconnoitre, stillkeeping under cover of the timber. Congo had reported truly. There_was_ a flock of ostriches, sure enough. There were seven of thesegreat birds in one "clump," and an eighth at no great distance from therest. Of the seven, five appeared to be hens and two of them cocks.The one apart was also a cock. I say _appeared_ to be. You willimagine there could be no doubt, since the male and female of thesebirds are so very unlike in the colour of their plumage. That is truewhen they have attained to a certain age; but the young males, even whenfull-grown, do not get the beautiful white feathers all at once, and fora long time can hardly at a distance be distinguished from the females.
That, however, was not the reason why the young yagers were in doubtabout their sex. It was because the birds were in a position nearly dueeast from the point of observation, and the sun being yet only a fewdegrees above the horizon, his rays fell in such a manner as to preventthem from having a clear view. To use a common phrase, the sun was "intheir eyes."
For all that, they could count the ostriches, and believed that of theeight three were cocks and the rest hens.
The seven in the "clump" were stationary; that is, they were not movingaway from the spot. Some were stalking leisurely about, occasionallytaking a "peck;" and it must have been sand or pebbles they were eating,as there was not the semblance of vegetation near the spot. Some satsquatted upon their "hams," their long legs doubled underneath; and oneor two were lying along the ground, and fluttering in the sand, just ascommon hens and turkeys do in warm weather. The dust raised by theseformed a little cloud that floated around them, and added to thedifficulty of distinguishing either their sex or their movements. Theseven were at no great distance from the edge of the mokhala grove, andthe one that was separate was still nearer. He was going towards them,stooping his head at intervals, and feeding as he went. From thiscircumstance, the boys conjectured that he had been much nearer, whichconjecture was strengthened by Congo, who said, that when he had firstobserved them, this old cock was not two hundred yards from the edge ofthe timber, and was then going out, just as now.
Perhaps he had been within shot of the cover. What a pity, thoughtKlaas and Jan, they had not been earlier on the look-out!
The hunters did not waste many moments in watching the manoeuvres of thebirds. Their attention was entirely given to their purpose ofsurrounding them, and discussing a plan to effect that object. Nowthese ostriches were not near the nest which had been plundered, and wasnow deserted; nor was it likely that the were of the family to whom thatnest belonged--not even relatives in fact--else they would have heard ofthe calamity, and would have been comporting themselves in a verydifferent manner from the easy style in which they were taking it. Noneof the five hens could be they that, but two days before, had witnessedthe fall of their plumed lord by the Bushman's arrow, for it was notlikely that these would return to that part of the country. The flocknow seen had no connection whatever with the nest. The place they werein was at a good distance from the scene of the late tragedy.
The young yagers were glad of this; not that they cared about the matterof relationship, but because the place where the birds were now seenoffered superior advantages for a "surround." It was a sort of largebay, where a spur of the desert plain ran into the timber, and was morethan half encircled by low woods and thickets of acacia. Only oneside--that toward the wide desert--was open. On all other sides therewas cover for the hunters.
On this account the latter had very little difficulty in deciding how toact, and in a few minutes their plan was arranged.
Hendrik and Groot Willem, being the best mounted, were to ride to thetwo most distant points, one of them taking the right side of the greatbay, the other the left. They were to keep under cover of the thicketall the way round; and when either arrived at the point where the timberstretched farthest out upon the plain, he was to stop awhile, until theother showed himself on the opposite side. Both were then to galloptowards each other, but not to meet. They were to halt at such adistance from one another as would best enable them to cut off theretreat of the ostriches from the outer plain.
Hans and Arend were respectively to follow in the tracks of Hendrik andGroot Willem; but they were to halt within the edge of the timber whenhalf round, and wait until they should see the others out upon theplain. Then they were to show themselves, and turn the ostriches,should they run their way.
Klaas and little Jan were also to separate and ride some distance fromthe spot; but the disposal of these boys in their places was taken inhand by the others; and so the whole party started at the same time,three filing off to the right, and three to the left. Congo'sinstructions were, not to show himself until he should perceive Hendrikand Groot Willem galloping towards each other. He was then to act justas the others, except that "shanks'-mare" was to be his horse.
Should the ostriches allow time for Hendrik and Groot Willem to get totheir stations, the surround would be complete; and it was highlyprobable that they would have good sport, and either capture or killsome of the giant birds. When thus assailed upon all sides, the ostrichgets confused, and acts in the most stupid manner, being easily turned,and driven about from "post to pillar."
It was a question of time, therefore, and it would take a good while forthe surround to be made, as the plain on which the birds were was fullthree miles wide. Both Hendrik and Groot Willem would have twice thatlength to ride; and their path lying through bushes, they would beunable to move faster than a walk.
For some time the only one that watched the movements of the ostricheswas the Kaffir. The others were making their way through the thicket,and only had a peep now and then, as they passed some place where anopening in the leaves allowed them. They were too anxious, however, toget to their different stands to stop at any place between. All feltthat time was precious; for should the game take alarm, and start off tothe open plain, the trouble they were taking would be all in vain. Noneof them, therefore, thought of looking at the birds--only to satisfythemselves that they were still there--until they had reached theirrespective places.