CH. viTi] A LARGE COW RHINO 179 



any rate, I noticed one herd of hartebeest whicli, after 

 feeding through the late afternoon, lay down at 

 nightfall. 



After getting the bull rhino, Heller needed a cow 

 and calf to complete the group ; and Kermit and I got 

 him what he needed one day when we were out alone 

 with our gun-bearers. About the middle of the fore- 

 noon we made out the huge grey bulk of the rhino, 

 standing in tlie bare plain, with not so much as a bush 

 two feet high within miles ; and we soon also made out 

 her calf beside her. Getting the wind right, we rode 

 up within a quarter of a mile, and then dismounted and 

 walked slowly toward her. It seemed impossible that 

 on that bare plain we could escape even her dull vision, 

 for she stood witii her head in oin* direction ; yet she 

 did not see us, and actually lay down as we walked 

 toward her. Careful examination through tlie glasses 

 showed that she was an unusually big cow, with thick 

 horns of fair length — twenty-three inches and thirteen 

 inches respectively. Accordingly we proceeded, making 

 as little noise as possible. At fifty yards she made us 

 out, and jumped to her feet with unwieldy agility. 

 Kneeling, 1 sent the bullet from the heavy Holland just 

 in front of her right shoulder as she half faced me. It 

 went through lier vitals, lodging behind the opposite 

 shoulder ; and at once she began the curious death waltz 

 which is often, though by no means always, the sign of 

 I immediate dissolutioji in a mortally wounded rhino. 

 I Kermit at once put a bullet from his ^^"inchester behind 

 ' her slioulder, for it is never safe to take chances with a 

 I rhino ; and we shot the calf, which when dymg uttered 

 1 a screaming whistle almost like that of a small steam 

 engine. In a few seconds both fell, and we walked up 

 I to them, examined them, and then continued our ride, 



