I joined my family, who were safely inside Rockburg. With pounding hearts, we watched the giant snake's approach.
"It's a boa constrictor!" I whispered.
The boys fired their guns, one right after another. I also fired and missed. Startled but unhurt, the snake glided into the nearby marsh.
"No one is to leave the cave without my permission," I said sternly. "That is a very dangerous snake!"
For three days we—and our animals—stayed inside. The ducks and geese were still out on the marsh. I knew the snake must be lurking in the reeds because the birds were so restless. We were running out of hay for the animals. I was debating what to do when I looked out and saw the snake approaching again. Grabbing my gun, I fired at the snake, and this time I did not miss.
After this episode I decided to take my family to our farm at Woodlands. The boys were soon bored, so I said they could go on an expedition without me. I wanted to encourage their independence.
"I'd rather stay here with you and Mother," said Ernest.
"Not me," said little Franz. "I can't wait to go exploring!"
I would have preferred to keep Franz with us. But I had made the offer to all the boys, so I couldn't withdraw it. In high spirits, the three boys rode off. All day I wondered about their adventures. At sunset they returned and joined us around the campfire.
"We had a splendid ride!" said Jack.
"We went all the way through the Gap!" said little Franz. He was talking about a narrow pass we'd previously found through the rocky hills.
"They're forgetting the most important thing," Fritz said impatiently. "We drove a herd of antelope right through the Gap! The antelope are in our territory now. All ready for us to hunt or tame."
"That's wonderful," I said. "But what's to keep them there, Fritz?"
"We strung a line across the pass—"
"And hung feathers and rags from it," interrupted Franz.
"Those things will dance in the wind and spook the antelope," explained Fritz. "I'm sure the herd won't try to go through the Gap."
"Well done," I said. "Tomorrow I'd like to go out riding with you."
The next day we rode to the Gap. I helped the boys to build a fence of bamboo.
"That ought to keep the antelope on our side of the Gap," I said.
We were on our way back to Woodlands when Jack and Franz decided to gallop ahead. Suddenly four ostriches rose up from where they'd been resting. Jack brought down the large male ostrich with his lasso. We leaped from our steeds and tried to approach the captured bird. He kicked and struggled so hard that I feared we'd have to let him go.
"If only we could block out the light," said Fritz. "Sometimes that calms birds—like putting a cover over a parrot's cage."
I threw my coat over the bird's head, and he stopped struggling.
"How are we going to get him home?" asked Jack.
"I've heard it's possible to tame a wild elephant by making it walk between two tame elephants," I said. "Maybe that would work here."
"But, Father, we don't have any tame ostriches," said little Franz.
"We have Storm and Grumble," Jack pointed out. "I don't think they'll object to helping us."
So we fastened the ostrich between the buffalo and the bull. Franz and Jack mounted their steeds. I removed my coat from the ostrich's head. For a few moments he lay perfectly still. Then he bounded up and tried to escape. But Storm and Grumble weren't about to let him do that.
We slowly walked our prisoner home. As we approached, I could see the look of dismay on my wife's face.
"See what we've got!" crowed little Franz. "An ostrich!"
"Another mouth to feed!" my wife exclaimed. "You've brought home a useless pet!"
"He's not useless, Mother," protested Jack. "You should see how fast he runs. He'll be the fastest animal in our stables. Just wait and see."
A month later the ostrich was completely tame. Jack named him Hurricane.
I made a saddle and a special bridle. The reins were attached to flaps over the bird's eyes. With both flaps open, the bird galloped straight ahead. Cover his right eye and he turned left. Cover his left eye and he turned right. Cover both eyes and he stopped.
Jack took him out for a ride, and the bird galloped away.
"Forget Hurricane," Jack said breathlessly when they returned. "This bird's name should be Hurry."