Huntinp" in East Africa 



c> 



were lying down and apparently oblivious to 

 my approach — perhaps asleep. My gun-bearer 

 (a Swahili) now began to show an anxiety to 

 turn back. This desire is, in many cases, the 

 distinguishing trait of this race. On we went, 

 but now cautiously and silently. The grass 

 was about two feet high, so that by crawling 

 on hands and knees, one could conceal most of 

 his body. But this position is not a pleasant 

 one with a blazing sun on the back, rough soil 

 under the knees and a thirteen-pound rifle in 

 the hand. 



We got to within fifty yards. I looked back 

 for the negro with my .577. He was lying 

 flat on his stomach fifty yards to the rear. I 

 stood up to beckon him, but he did not move. 

 The rhinos did, and my attention was recalled 

 to them by hearing loud snorts, and, turning 

 my head, I saw the two beasts on their feet 

 facing me. I had never shot an 8-bore in my 

 life before, so it is not to be wondered at that 

 the shock of the recoil placed me on my back. 

 The animals were off before I could recover 

 my feet, and my second barrel was not dis- 

 charged. I ran after them, but the pace of a 

 rhino is much faster than it looks, and I soon 

 found pursuit useless. I returned to the place 



21 



