“To be sure he did, sor, always. They managed to kape up wid him ginerally about half the way, and thin they got so slow he always had to lave thim behind.”
“It’s a pity we haven’t got your big brother here, Dinny,” said Dick sarcastically. “He could have caught the ostriches for us.”
“Caught ’em, Masther Dick. I should think he would, in no time.”
“Would he have been as much afraid of the lions as you are, Dinny?”
“Hark at him, now,” said Dinny, looking round at the dogs, which had had a race after the ostriches, and had now come back, with their tongues out and curled up at the tip as they sat there panting. “Hark at him now. Jist as if I was the laste taste of a bit afraid of all the lions in Africky. Why I says to meself, ‘Dinny,’ I says, ‘ye’ll have to tak’ care of yerself,’ I says, ‘and not let the wild bastes ate ye till ye come back; for what would poor weeny, sickly Masther Dick do widout a good cook to make broth and stews to kape him alive? Take care of yerself, Dinny, for the poor sick gossoon’s sake,’ and so I do, Masther Dick; for it’s not on account of meself, only for you.”
“Why you said the other day, Dinny, that it was because of your mother,” cried downright Jack.
“And small blame to a man for being fond of his mother, Masther Jack. Sure I always was a good son.”
Dinny was always ready with an excuse, and in spite of his idleness and downright cowardice, he was generally merry and good-humoured, and the first with a laugh.
The coming of the ostriches was, however, quite an excitement, and there was plenty of talk about how to get hold of some of them for their plumes; but nothing was done until the strangers had gone, when, after moving on to a more suitable place for a few days’ camp, and cutting down and piling up the thorns for a good safe kraal, whose fence would keep marauding beasts from molesting the cattle, glasses were got out, and the beautiful park-like plain at whose edge they were now encamped, was scanned for game.
There was no difficulty found in supplying the big pot, and finding pieces for a good roast; for little herds of various kinds of antelope were often in sight, and with a fair amount of stalking one could generally be brought down. But the great aim now was to obtain a few ostriches, and try how they would, these wary birds refused to let them get within shot.