"Well, you couldn't hire me to do a thing like that," said McCann with emphasis.
"Why not? I know that a stranger cannot approach a tame ostrich with impunity, for the bird will knock him down and strike him with his feet; but a wild one would rather run than fight."
"I know that, too; but still you may find something in the nest that would rather fight than run. Do you see that creature over there?"
As McCann spoke he directed his employer's attention to a bird, considerably larger and heavier than any crane Oscar had ever seen, which was stalking along the plain about a hundred yards away, stopping now and then to examine some object on the ground.
When he drew himself up at his full height the long feathers on the back of his head stuck out so that he looked as though he carried a quill-pen behind each ear.
"I see him," said Oscar. "It's a secretary-bird."
"Well, whenever you see them look out for snakes. You might find one curled up in that ostrich nest."