384 MR. OSWELL WOUNDED A CROTCHET. ' 



fire my gun at random into liis head, when I felt myself im- 

 paled on his horn. 



" The shock stunned me completely. The first return to 

 consciousness was, I recollect, finding myself seated on one 

 of my ponies, and a CaiFre leading it. I had an indistinct 

 notion of having been hunting, and, on observing the man, I 

 asked quickly why he was not following the track of the an- 

 imal, when he mumbled something to the effect that it was 

 gone. 



" By accident I touched my right hip with my hand, and 

 on withdrawing it, was astonished to find it clotted with 

 blood. Yet my senses were still so confused, and the side so 

 benumbed, that I actually kept feeling and working the wound 

 witli my fingers. While trying to account for my strange 

 position, I observed some of my men coming toward me with 

 a cartel, and on asking them what they were about, they 

 cried out that they had come to fetch my body, having -been 

 told that I was killed by some animal. The truth now for 

 the first time broke upon me, and I was quickly made aware 

 of my crippled condition. The wound I had received was 

 of a very serious character, and, though it ultimately healed, 

 it left scars behind which no doubt will remain to the day 

 of my death." 



We are fond of the marvelous. It is generally received as 

 a fact that the hide of the rhinoceros is impenetrable to a 

 bullet, or even to an " iron ingot," as a certain writer quaint- 

 ly expresses it. But this is just as idle a notion, as regards 

 the African species at least, as that entertained respecting 

 the softness and pliability of the animal's horns, for a com- 

 mon leaden ball will find its way through the hide with the 

 greatest facility. It is true, one should be near the brute ; 

 for, though I have known a rhinoceros killed at the distance 

 of a hundred yards, it is an exception to the rule. Indeed, 

 beyond thirty or forty paces one can not make sure of the 

 shot. Under all circumstances, a double charge of powder 

 is desirable. 



