( H. viii] A FIXE UHIXOCEKOS 175 



giraftes stared at us witli silly curiosity rather than 

 alarm ; twice I was within range of the bigger one. At 

 last Bakhari, the gun-bearer, pointed to a grey mass on 

 the plain, and a glance through the glasses showed that 

 it was a rhino lying asleep with his legs doubled under 

 him. He proved to be a big bull, with a front horn 

 nearly twenty-six inches long. I was anxious to try the 

 sharp -pointed bullets of the little Springfield rifle on 

 him ; and Cuninghame and I, treading cautiously, 

 walked up wind straight toward him, our horses follow- 

 ing a hundred yards behind. He was waked by the 

 tick-birds, and twisted his head to and fro, but at first 

 did not seem to hear us, although looking in our 

 direction. VV^hen we were a hundred yards off he 

 rose and faced us, huge and threatening, head up and 

 tail erect. ]5ut he lacked heart after all. I fired into 

 his throat, and, instead of charging, he whipped round 

 and was off at a gallop, immediately disappearing over 

 a slight rise. AVe ran back to our horses, mounted, 

 and galloped after him. He had a long start, and, 

 though evidently feeling his wound, was going strong, 

 and it was some time before we overtook him. I 

 tried to gallop alongside, but lie kept swerving ; so, 

 jumping ofi" (fortunately, I was riding Tranquillity), 

 I emptied the magazine at his quarters and flank. 

 Rapid galloping does not tend to promote accuracy 

 of aim ; the rhino went on, and, remounting, I fol- 

 lowed, overtook him, and repeated the performance. 

 This time he wheeled and faced round, evidently with 

 the intention of charging ; but a bullet straight in his 

 chest took all the fight out of him, and he continued 

 his flight. But his race was evidently run, and when I 

 next overtook him T brought Jiim down. I had put 

 nine bullets into him, and thougii they had done their 



