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ADVENTURES AND EXCITEMENT 147
We were compelled to fight our way through thick bushes, till we arrived at the wood of gourds, where we decided to rest a little.
Jack and Ernest collected dried branches and flints, while their mother was occupied in attending to the bustard. She thought that it was cruel to keep it any longer blinded, with its legs tied together. So, to please her, I loosened the string, but still left it partly tied. Then I fastened the bird by a long string to the trunk of a tree.
We now began our work. Some had to cut, others to saw, scoop out, and model the gourds into shape.
After working for some time with the rest, Ernest, who was not fond of continuous work, wandered into the wood. It was not long before we heard him calling loudly to us, and saw him running back.
' Run quick, father!' he cried; ' here is a wild boar—a terrible beast!'
I cried out to the boys to call the dogs quickly. But when we turned in chase the boar was gone, and we saw nothing but a plot of potatoes in which he had been rooting. The dogs tracked him, and their yells soon told us he had been discovered. As Fritz and I emerged with caution from the |
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