With I-la.shli-iit and Ritic ^»> 



for the nie^ht. Our eyes orowini^ accustomed to the 

 darkness, we \vc;re able presently to discern the whitish 

 trunks ami branches ot acaciadjushes. 



Alter a long wait, suddenly we heard a (|uick snort. 

 My men threw to the ground everythini;' they had in 

 their hands and climbed up two rather tall trees hard 

 by with indescribabli; ai^ilit)'. ()nl\ my rilled)earer, who 

 carried my hea\y elcphaiit-rille, waited a moment to give 

 give me the warning, " b'aru, l)wana " — " A rhinoceros, 

 master!" My hair stood u]) on my head, but I had my 

 heavy ritle ready in my hand. Now gradually my eyes made 

 out the shapeless mass of the rhinoceros in the uncertain 

 radiance cast down from the stars. A lew yards behind 

 me gaped a deep gorge. Escaj)c; in any direction was 

 made imp(«sil)le b\' the rocks and tiiorn-bushes and grass. 

 Up on tlu; trees m\" men remaint;d hidden, holding their 

 breath. A few \ar(ls oil the rhinoceros moved about 

 snorting. I waited until I could see his horn silhouetted 

 against the starr\' skw advanced towards the great black 

 bulk, and lu'cd. d hi; report rang out violently over the 

 rocky gorge and broke into reverberating echoes. The 

 kick ol the great rillc hatl sent me l)ack a |)ace, and I 

 had sunk upon one knee. Ouickly I cocked the lett 

 second trigger — with guns of such calibre you must not 

 have both cocked at once, for fear both barrels should 

 go oft together — and awaited the animal's coming. Ikit. 

 snorting and stamping, off he went down the hill in the 

 darkness. A deep silence fell over the scene again, and 

 we all waited, motionless, breathless. After a while 

 we started upon our march back Icj the camp, ni) men 



220 



