Hunting in Many Lands 



beast and me, stretched an open plain for some 

 350 yards, then came three or four small trees, 

 and then from these trees rose a semi-circular 

 hill or rather ridge, on the crest of which stood 

 the rhino. I made for the trees, and, distrust- 

 ing my gun-bearer, took from him the .577 and 

 placed it near one of them. Then, telling him 

 to retire to a comfortable spot, I advanced with 

 my 8-bore up the hill toward my game. The 

 soil was soft as powder, so my footsteps made 

 no noise. Cover, with the exception of a small 

 skeleton bush, but fifty yards below the rhino, 

 there was none. I reached the bush and knelt 

 down behind it. The rhino was standing broad- 

 side on, motionless and apparently asleep. I 

 rose and fired, and saw that I had aimed true, 

 when the animal wheeled round and round in 

 his track. I fired again, and he then stood still, 

 facing me. I had one cartridge in my pocket 

 and slipped it in the gun. As I raised the 

 weapon to my shoulder, down the hill came my 

 enemy. His pace was slow and I could see 

 that he limped. The impetus given him by 

 the descent kept him going, and his speed 

 seemed to increase. I fired straight at him and 

 then dropped behind the bush. He still came 

 on and in my direction ; so I leapt to my feet, 



36 



