at) SKETCH OF THi. HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



animals. Being certain when he reached it that he 

 could conceal himself there without being seen, he rose 

 up, and, casting his eyes everywhere around, to see 

 whether his comrades had arrived at their posts, he made 

 preparations for firing. During the time he was creep- 

 ing along I had followed him with my eye, and in 

 proportion as he advanced I felt my heart beat with 

 involuntary palpitation. 



"This palpitation, however, increased when I saw 

 him so near the animals, and just upon the point of firing 

 at one of them : what would I not have given at that 

 moment to have been in the place of Jonker, or at least 

 by his side, that I might have brought down also one of 

 these savage monsters ! I waited with the utmost im- 

 patience the report of the gun, and I could not conceive 

 what prevented him from firing, but the Hottentot who 

 stood near me, and who was able by the bare sight to 

 distinguish him as perfectly as I could with my glass, 

 informed me of his design. He told me that Jonker 

 did not fire because he was waiting till one of the rhino- 

 ceroses should turn round, that he might if possible take 

 aim at his head, and that on the first motion they made 

 I should hear the report. 



"Presently, the largest of the two, having looked 

 behind, was immediately fired at ; being wounded, he 

 sent forth a horrid cry, and, followed by the female, ran 

 furiously towards the place whence the noise had pro- 

 ceeded. I found my heart now agitated by the most 

 violent emotion, and my fear was carried to its utmost 

 extent. A cold sweat diffused itself over my whole 

 body, and my heart beat with such force as to prevent 

 me from breathing. I expected to see the two monsters 

 tear up the bush, tread the unfortunate Jonker under 

 their feet, and tear him to pieces ; but he had thrown 

 himself down with his belly on the ground, and this 

 stratagem succeeded. They passed close by his side 

 without perceiving him, and came straight towards me. 

 My fear now gave place to joy, and I prepared to receive 

 them ; but my dogs, animated by the report they had 

 heard, became so restless on their approach, that, being 



