"No, I think they are great birds. The ostrich abounds in these plains; no doubt they are ostriches."
"I suppose it is of no use our chasing them?"
"Not a bit. They can run faster than a horse can gallop."
During the day's walk, they saw vast numbers of deer of various kinds; but as they were sure that these would not allow them to approach, they did not alter their course, which was, as nearly as they could calculate by the sun, due west. The sun was warm during the day, but all the higher hilltops were covered with snow.
"If the worst comes to the worst," Ned said, "we must go up and get some snow. We can make a big ball of it, and bring it down with us in one of our sashes. But I should think there must be some stream, somewhere about. The snow must melt; besides, these great herds of deer must drink somewhere."
Late in the afternoon they came on the crest of a ridge.
"There," Ned said, pointing to a valley in which were a number of trees. "We shall find water there, or I am mistaken."
An hour's tramp brought them to the valley. Through this a stream ran between steep banks. They followed it for half a mile, and then came to a spot where the banks sloped away. Here the ground was trampled with many feet, and the edge of the stream was trodden into mud.
"Hurrah, Tom! Here is meat, and drink, too. It is hard if we do not kill something or other here. Look at that clump of bushes, where the bank rises. If we hide there, the deer will almost touch us as they pass to water; and we are sure to be able to shoot them, even with these bows and arrows.
"But first of all, for a drink. Then we will cross the stream, and make a camping ground under the trees opposite."