I continued, with patience I had never had in Europe, to use every means think of new guest, and end of month subdued, that I ventured his education long and difficult task We placed some burdens back; but the obedience necessary before mount him, it seemed impossible to instil into him At last, I recollected the method they use in America to tame the wild horses, and I resolved it bounds and kicks furious animal, I leaped back, and seizing one long ears between my teeth, I bit it till the blood came In moment he reared himself almost erect hind-feet, remained for while stiff and motionless, then came down fore-feet slowly, I still holding ear At last I ventured to release him; some leaps, but soon subsided into sort of trot, I having previously placed loose cords fore-legs we were his masters; my sons mounted him one after another; they gave him the name of Lightfoot, and never animal deserved his name better As precaution, we kept the cords legs for ; and as he never would submit bit, we used snaffle, we obtained power over his head, guiding him by stick, we struck the right or left ear, wished him

During , our poultry-yard was increased by three broods of chickens We had forty little creatures chirping and pecking about, the pride good mistress's heart Part were kept at home, to supply the table, and part she allowed to colonize woods, where find them when we wanted them "These," she said, "are of more use than your monkeys, jackals, and eagles, who do nothing but eat, and worth eating themselves, were in need " However, she allowed some use buffalo, who carried burdens, and Lightfoot, who carried her sons The fowls, which cost us little for food, always ready, she said, either to supply us with eggs or chickens, rainy season came on--the winter climate

This reminded me approach dreary season permitted me no longer to defer very necessary work protection animals to construct, under the roots trees, covered houses We began by making kind of roof above the vaulted roots tree We used bamboo canes purpose; the longer and stouter were used supports, like columns, the slighter ones bound together closely formed the roof The intervals we filled up with moss and clay, and spread over the whole coating of tar The roof was so firm, formed platform, which we surrounded with railing; and thus we had balcony, and pleasant promenade aid of some boards nailed roots, several divisions interior, each little enclosure being appropriated to some useful purpose; and thus, stables, poultry-houses, dairy, larder, hay-house, store-room, &c , besides our dining-room, were all united under one roof This occupied us , as necessary our store-room bad weather came; cart was constantly employed in bringing useful stores

One evening, were bringing home load of potatoes cart, drawn ass, the cow, buffalo, the cart was not yet full; I therefore sent home the two younger boys with their mother, and went on with Fritz and Ernest oak wood, to collect sack of sweet acorns--Fritz mounted onagra, Ernest followed by his monkey, and I carrying the bag On arriving wood, we tied Lightfoot to tree, and all three began to gather the dropped acorns, when we were startled cries of birds, and loud flapping of wings, and we concluded that brisk combat was going on between Master Knips tenants thickets, from whence the noise came Ernest went softly the matter, and we soon heard him calling out, "Be quick ! fine heath-fowl's nest, full of eggs ! Knips wants to suck them, mother is beating him "

Fritz ran up, and secured the two beautiful birds, who fluttered, and cried out furiously, and returned, followed by Ernest, carrying large nest filled with eggs The monkey had served us well occasion; nest was so hidden by bush with long leaves, Ernest held his hand full, that, but instinct animal, never have discovered it Ernest was overjoyed to carry the nest and eggs dear mamma, long, pointed leaves he intended for Francis, as little toy-swords

We set out return, placing the sack of acorns behind Fritz on Lightfoot; Ernest carried the two fowls, and I charged myself care eggs, which I covered up, as they were warm, and I hoped the mother to resume her brooding when we got to Falcon's Nest We were all delighted good news to carry home, and Fritz, anxious first, struck his charger with bunch pointed leaves he had taken from Ernest: this terrified the animal , that the bit teeth, and flew out of sight like an arrow We followed, in some uneasiness, but found him safe Master Lightfoot had stopped of himself when he reached his stable My wife placed the valuable eggs under sitting hen, the true mother refusing to fulfil her office She was then put cage poor parrot, and hung dining-room, to accustom her to society the eggs were hatched, poultry-yard had an increase of fifteen little strangers, who fed greedily on bruised acorns, and soon became as tame as any fowls, though I plucked the large feathers out wings were full-grown, lest their wild nature should tempt them to quit us

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CHAPTER XXVIII

Francis had soon become tired of playing long leaves his brother had brought him, were thrown aside Fritz happened withered leaves up, which were soft and flexible as ribbon, and he advised Francis whiplashes , to drive the goats and sheep with, little fellow shepherd pleased idea, and began to split the leaves into strips, which Fritz platted together into whiplashes I remarked, were working, how strong and pliant these strips seemed, and, examining them closely, they were composed of long fibres, or filaments, which made me suspect it Phormium tenax, or New Zealand flax, most important discovery , and which, when I communicated it to my wife, almost overwhelmed her with joy "Bring me all the leaves without delay," cried she, " make you stockings, shirts, coats, sewing-thread, cords-- , but flax and work-tools, and manage all " help smiling vivacity of her imagination, roused very name of flax; but still great space leaves lying linen she was already sewing in idea But my boys, always ready to second the wishes beloved mother, soon mounted their coursers, Fritz on Lightfoot, and Jack great buffalo, to procure supplies

Whilst we waited , my wife, all life and animation, explained all the machines make, to enable her to spin and weave, and make linen to clothe us from head to foot; her eyes sparkled with delight as she spoke, and I promised her all she asked

In short time, our young cavaliers returned from their foraging expedition, conveying on their steeds huge bundles precious plant, which they laid feet mother She gave up everything her preparation The first operation necessary was to steep the flax, usually done by exposing it open air rain, the wind, dew, so as, in certain degree, to dissolve the plant, rendering the separation fibrous and ligneous parts more easy It can then be cleaned and picked for spinning But, vegetable glue that connects the two parts is very tenacious, and resists the action of moisture, often advisable to steep it in water, and this, dry climate, I considered most expedient

My wife agreed , and proposed that convey it to Flamingo Marsh; and we spent the rest day in tying up the leaves in bundles Next morning, we loaded our cart, and proceeded marsh: we there untied our bundles, and spread them water, pressing them down with stones, and leaving them till time them out to dry but admire here the ingenious nests flamingo; of conical form, raised above the level marsh, having recess above, eggs are deposited, reach of danger, female can sit on them with her legs water These nests are of clay, and so solid, resist the water till the young are able to swim