Page 178 - Adventures in Africa

On reaching the spot we found that he was right in

his conjectures. He told me that the animal was a
quagga, which somewhat resembles a well-shaped
ass* In vain the quagga tried to get out by the

most desperate efforts. Sometimes its fore feet
almost touched the top of the bank, but again and
again it fell back,

w I should like to take possession of the animal,"
said Harry, “ it doesn't appear to be at all injured,
and if we could manage to break it in, it w~ould make

a capital riding horse. If you'll watch the pit, I’ll go
and get some of the men to come with ropes,"
To this I agreed, and he soon returned wfith Toko

and two other men, bringing not only ropes, but a
large sack and a saddle.
“ What are you going to do with those things?”
I asked.

“ You sliall see/' he replied, u It was Toko's
idea.”

The quagga looked very much astonished at seeing
itself surrounded by human beings, and as before, it
endeavoured to escape from the pit.

As it did so, Toko, who had fastened the sack to a
loop at the end of a long stick, drew it over the
quagga1 s head, so as to prevent its biting, which it

would have done had it been able to see*
A halter was fixed round its mouth, and ropes were
passed under its body, by which it was drawn out*

As soon as it found itself on firm ground, it began to
throw its legs out in all directions, but Toko held it
fast by the halter. At last, wearied by its exertions,

it stood perfectly still. The moment it did so, Toko