TWO OF MY BOYS, WOUNDED BY_A RHINOCEROS. 227 
does not seem to be able to thrust its horn vertically down- 
wards, but every shot glances off a man’s back, and only 
produces a few cuts and bruises, that are not very serious, 
although they are very painful. 
While the rhino was engaged with Aden on the ground 
I could have caught her by the tail; so one may well ima- 
gine that I tried to get out of that thorn-bush, in spite of 
torn clothes and scratched skin, as quickly as possible. As 
soon as I had freed myself, I rushed in a circle around 
to where some of my boys had congregated, so that I could 
snatch a rifle and help Aden; but before I could be of any 
use the rhino had taken to its heels and was racing up 
the mountain. 
Boys, bags, and boxes were lying in confusion along 
the: path. Aden and the guide lay apparently lifeless, 
and bleeding, where they had fallen. Hopes of reaching 
Lake Abaya vanished for a few moments, and all my 
thoughts were turned to caring forthe two wounded men ; 
but nothing so serious, after all, had happened, except that 
the men were cut and bruised and very much demoralized. 
The Amara and my Somali boys made a great ado about 
the affair, crying out that ill-luck would certainly come to 
us if we continued our journey. In fact, they were 1n abso- 
lute terror from fear of meeting another rhinoceros. 
Finally I got my Somali boys ina little better state of 
mind by telling them that I would march some distance in 
advance of them and carry my .577, and they would have 
little risk to run; but the Amara were not to be moved by 
any reasoning. I was forced to take each one by the neck, 
lift him from the ground, and give hima good shaking, 
before I could get him to shoulder his little load. One of 
them, who came up in a rage and tried to intimidate me, I 
struck with a stick a couple of times, and threatened to 
shoot if he did not obey me. 
