With Flashlight and Rifle ^ 



rhinoceros, which emerged from a mud-bath on its way 

 through a thicket and stood all covered by the reddish 

 mire in the slanting rays of the setting sun. I felt 

 instinctively that the animal would go tor me, and go 

 for me he did almost at once, after swaying his great 

 head about two or three times, sniffing out my exact 

 position. At this critical moment my rifle went off before 

 I intended. The bullet went too high, but fortunately was 

 well enough placed to make the rhinoceros turn aside 

 just as he had got to me. Springing into a thick thorn- 

 bush I iust managed to save myself, Ouick as lio-htnincr 

 it chased one of my men twice round an acacia-bush 

 hard by, and then disappeared among the thorns. 

 As my men had taken refuge behind trees and bushes 

 to left and right — I was accompanied by about ten of 

 the men— I could not attempt another shot at him, so 

 he escaped. 



Next morning I found myself down with a sharp touch 

 of fever, which kept me in bed for two days, so I was 

 not able to pursue the animal. 



In rhinoceros-hunting it is all important to keep note 

 carefully of the wind. You can do this ver)" well by 

 lighting a match. Failing that, the dropping of some 

 sand will answer the purpose, or holding up a moistened 

 finger. In addition to noting the direction of the 

 wind, you have to look carefully to see whether the 

 rhinoceros has his feathered satellites, the rhinoc(M"os- 

 birds {Buphaga crythrorJiyucIia) on him or not. WHumi 

 resting, he often resigns himself to the care of these 

 small feathered friends ot his, which not mereU' tree him 



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