He is not a fighting animal.  Those little horns which you see on his head, and which look as if they had been broken off—­although they are really their full size—­are of no use as offensive weapons.  When danger threatens him he runs away, and a funny sight he is then.  He can run very fast, but he is very awkward; he goes like a cow on stilts.

But when there is no chance for him to run away, he can often defend himself, for he can kick like a good fellow.  His hind-legs fly so fast when he is kicking that you can hardly see them, and he has been known to drive off a lion by this means of defence.

When hunters wish to catch a giraffe alive, they generally drive him into a thick woods, where his great height prevents him from running very rapidly; and as soon as they come up with him, they endeavor to entangle him in ropes, to throw him down, and to put a halter round his neck.  If they only keep out of the way of his heels, there is no need of being afraid of him.  When they have secured him they lead him off, if he will come; but if he is an old fellow he will not walk after them, and he is too strong to be easily pulled along, no matter how many men may be in the hunt.  So in this case they generally kill him, for his skin is valuable, and his flesh is very good to eat.  But if the giraffe is a young one, he will follow his captors without difficulty, for these animals are naturally very gentle.

Why the natives of Africa should desire to obtain living giraffes, unless it is to sell them to people who wish to carry them to other countries, travellers do not inform us.  We have never heard that any domestic use was made of them, nor that they were kept for the sake of their meat.  But we suppose the hunters know their own business.

It is probable that the lion is really the greatest enemy of the giraffe.  It is not often that this crafty and powerful hunter will put himself within reach of his victim’s heels.  Approaching softly and slowly, the lion waits until he is quite near the giraffe, and then, with one bound, he springs upon his back.  Sometimes the giraffe succeeds in shaking him off, but generally they both fall together—­the giraffe dead, and the lion with his appetite whetted for an enormous dinner.

UP IN THE AIR.

[Illustration:  Up in A balloon.]

[Illustration]

We have already taken a journey under the earth, and now, if you like, we will try a trip in the air.  Anything for a novelty.  We have lived on the surface of the earth ever since we were born.

We will make our ascent in a balloon.  It has been thought by some folks, that there were easier methods of ascending into the air than by a cumbrous balloon, but their inventions never became popular.

For instance, look at the picture of a flying-man.