EXCITING SPORT. 407 



I now expected nothing short of being crushed to death. 

 But imagine my relief when, instead of renewing the charge, 

 he swerved to the left, and moved off with considerable rapid- 

 ity, most happily without my having received other injuries 

 than a few bruises, occasioned by the falling of the stones. 

 Under Providence, I attribute my extraordinary escape to 

 the confusion of the animal, caused by the wound I had in- 

 flicted on him, and to the cries elicited from me when in my 

 utmost need. 



Immediately after the elephant had left me I was on my 

 legs, and, snatching up a spare rifle lying at hand, I pointed 

 at him as he was retreating, and pulled the trigger ; but, to 

 my intense mortification, the piece missed fire. It was mat- 

 ter of thankfulness to me, however, that a similar mishap had 

 not occurred when the animal charged ; for, had my gun not 

 then exploded, nothing, as I conceive, could have saved me 

 from destruction. 



During this incident the rest of the elephants retreated 

 into the bush ; but by the time I had repaired my " skarm," 

 they reappeared with stealthy and cautious steps on the op- 

 posite side of the pool, though so distant that I could not fire 

 with any prospect of success. As they did not approach near- 

 er, I attempted to stalk them, but they would not allow me 

 to come to close quarters, and after a while moved off alto- 

 gether. 



Wliile pondering over my late wonderful escape, I observed, 

 at a little distance, a huge white rhinoceros protrude his pon- 

 derous and misshapen head through the bushes, and presently 

 afterward he approached to within a dozen paces of my am- 

 buscade. His broadside was then fully exposed to view, and 

 notwithstanding I still felt a little nervous from my conflict 

 with the elephant, I lost no time in firing. The beast did 

 not at once fall to the ground, but from appearances I had 

 every reason to believe he would not live long. 



Scarcely had I reloaded when a black rhinoceros of the 



