| Share page |
|
224 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON |
||
|
fastened by cotton, was so violent that, by a vigorous stroke of his wings, he fairly felled the ostrich.
A cry of joy burst from the huntsmen, and Jack, throwing his balls, caught the bird round the legs, and sent him helpless to the ground at the very moment he was about to recover and bound off. He was very violent, and struggled so vigorously that I hardly dared to approach him. But imagining that, by depriving him of light, I might reduce his fury, I threw my vest and handkerchief over his head. I had discovered the secret. No sooner were his eyes covered than he became as quiet as a lamb. I approached, passed a large band of seadog-skin around his body, two other bands were attached as reins to each side, and his legs were fastened with strong cords, long enough to allow him to walk, but confining him sufficiently to prevent his escape.
'A fine prize, truly 1' said Jack, when our work was done. ' We have got the giant, but how shall we tame him ?'
' I thought of that before,' replied I. ' We might fasten him between the bull and the buffalo, for example, and you two, each armed with a whip, could teach him to march in a line with them.' |
||