We had a dreary plain to pass over, and we were quite faint for
want of food - for we had been without any for nearly two days - when
we came upon an ostrich. Hastings put his horse to his speed, but it
was of no use - the ostrich ran much faster than the horse could. I
remained behind, and, to my great joy, discovered his nest, with
thirteen large eggs in it. Hastings soon came back, with his horse
panting and out of wind. We sat down, lighted a fire, and roasted two
of the eggs: we made a good dinner of them, and having put four more on
our saddle-bows, we continued our journey. At last, one forenoon, we
saw the Table Mountain, and were as glad to see it as if we had seen
the white cliffs of Old England. We pushed on our horses with the hopes
of being once more comfortably in prison before night; when, as we
neared the bay, we noticed that English colours were flying on board of
the vessels in the road. This surprised us very much; but soon after
that we met an English soldier, who told us that the Cape had been
taken by our forces more than six months ago. This was a joyful
surprise, as you may suppose. We rode into the town, and reported
ourselves to the main guard; the governor sent for us, heard our story,
and sent us to the admiral, who took us on board of his own ship.
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