410 WOUNDED BY A BLACK RHINOCEROS. 



such (after knocking me down, which I took for granted would 

 be the case) as to carry her beyond me, and I might thus be 

 afforded a chance of escape. So, indeed, it happened; for, 

 having tumbled me over (in doing which her head, and the 

 fore part of her body, owing to the violence of the charge, was 

 half buried in the sand), and trampled on me with great vio- 

 lence, her fore quarter passed over my body. Struggling for 

 life, I seized my opportunity, and, as she was recovering her- 

 self for a renewal of the charge, I scrambled out from between 

 her hind legs. 



But the enraged beast had not yet done with me. Scarce- 

 ly had I regained my feet before she struck me down a second 

 time, and with her horn ripped up my right thigh (though not 

 very deeply) from near the knee to the hip ; with her fore feet, 

 moreover, she hit me a terrific blow on the left shoulder, near 

 the back of the neck. My ribs bent under the enormous 

 weight and pressure, and for a moment I must, as I believe, 

 have lost consciousness — I have, at least, very indistinct no- 

 tions of what afterward took place. All I remember is, that 

 when I raised my head I heard a furious snorting and plung- 

 ing among the neighboring bushes. I now arose, though witli 

 great difficulty, and made my way, in the best manner I was 

 able, toward a large tree near at hand for shelter ; but this 

 precaution was needless; the beast, for the time at least, 

 showed no inclination further to molest me. Either in the 

 mel'ee^ or owing to the confusion caused by her wounds, she 

 had lost sight of me, or she felt satisfied with the revenge sho 

 had taken. Be that as it may, I escaped with life, thougli 

 sadly wounded and severely bruised, in which disabled stato 

 I had great difficulty in getting back to my " skiirm." 



During the greater part of the conflict I preserved my 

 presence of mind ; but after the danger was over, and whei^. 

 I had leisure to collect my scattered and confused senses, I 

 was seized with a nervous affection, causing a violent trem- 

 bling. I have since killed many rhinoceroses, as well for 



