As he beheld their immense wings, extended in slow but easy flight, it occurred to him that one or other of the great creatures might have the power to perform that task which had proved too much for the bearcoot; and for which the "kite" had been "flyed" in vain.
"Oh!" exclaimed he, as the idea came across his mind, "don't you think, Karl, that either of those great creatures would be strong enough to carry the line aloft?
They look as if they could lift even one of ourselves to the top of the cliff." Karl made no reply; though his silence was only caused by Caspar's suggestion--which he was proceeding to ponder upon.
The young hunter continued: "If we could only catch one of them alive! Do you suppose they are going to alight?
They look as if they would.
What do _you_ say, Ossaroo?
You know more of these birds than we do." "Yees, youngee Sahib; ee speakee de true.

Dey go for come down.

You savey dey make long fly.

Dey both weary on de wing--no able fly furder.
'Sides, ee see, here am de lake--water--dey want drinkee--want eat too.
Dey sure come down." Ossaroo's prediction was fulfilled, almost as soon as it was uttered.
The birds, first one and then the other, jerked in their spread wings; and dropped down upon the shore of the lake--as already stated, not over twenty paces from the spot where the three waders were occupied among the leaves of the lilies.
The eyes of all three were now directed with a fixed gaze upon the new-comers,--in whose behaviour they observed something irresistibly ludicrous.
Almost on the instant of their feet touching _terra firma_, instead of moving about over the ground in search of food, or striding down towards the water to drink--as the spectators were expecting them to do--the two long-legged bipeds acted in an entirely different manner.

Neither of them seemed to care either for food or drink.