CHAP. II. RHINOCEROS. 99 



buffalo bulls, seeming almost white in the moonlight, came 

 down to drink. Fancjdng that they would roll as well as 

 drink, I did not fire at first, but when I saw that one, 

 having satisfied its thirst, walked out, while the others, 

 stood with the water dripping from their mouths, only 

 waiting to have another drink before they joined it, I 

 delayed no longer, and taking the nearest one in the 

 point of the shoulder — and it was almost opposite me, and 

 not five yards off, — I dropped it where it stood. Its next 

 companion, unawed by the sudden and loud report and the 

 blaze of Hght, uttered a grunt, and, instead of taking to 

 flight, charged straight out of the water, and tried to 

 climb the bank on which the tree in which I was stationed 

 grew, offering me, as it did so, a most beautiful shot at its 

 broad chest. It was lucky for me that I was in a place of 

 safety, for it did not even swerve when the ball struck it, 

 but rushed past under me, breakmg off* one of the brittle 

 lower branches in its way, and I saw no more of it. 



Soon after this it . became apparent that day was 

 breaking, though for some time it was difficult to distin- 

 guish between it and the light of the moon, and some of 

 the smaller antelopes were already making their appear- 

 ance, when, hearing a noise at the further end of the pond, 

 to which, as I had never seen any game drink there, my 

 back was turned, I looked round and saw, to my surprise, 

 the great heads and fore-quarters of several rhinoceroses 

 protruding through the bushes, some drinking, and others 

 standing still. I counted six, and from their numbers and 

 short thick horns I knew that they were kulumane, 

 making the third species I had seen that night. There 

 was no good in my firing from my present position, as from 



