236 STALKS ABROAD 



get to Nyeri ; but on the way Burton fell in with a 

 rhino. He surprised it behind a bush, and the rhino, 

 not appreciating the disturbance, hesitated for some 

 minutes as to whether or no he should clear out. He 

 who hesitates is lost. Burton's gun-bearer arrived 

 with a *450 and the rhino departed to the happy 

 hunting-grounds, where perhaps he will be left in 

 peace. He had a good horn, twenty-five inches long, 

 though rather thin. This delayed us as the head had 

 to be cleaned, and we camped on our old ground where 

 I shot my first Jackson. 



It was very wet the next day, but I came across 

 some water-buck standing on the edge of a gully 

 covered with bush. A good buck was standing 

 quietly watching us, and as I knew he would most 

 certainly disappear before I could get across the gully, 

 I had to take the shot from where I was. There was 

 a convenient tree half-way down one side, so leav- 

 ing Hassan in full view to occupy his attention, I 

 slipped down behind the trunk and managed to 

 get him. 



The man with the pony had disappeared, and I 

 pictured a dismal walk into Nyeri with two rifles to 

 carry, while Hassan looked after the head. For- 

 tunately my shot was' heard ; the syce turned up, and 

 I got comfortably in about 1.30. With the Old 

 Pioneer and the commander of the military forces at 

 Nyeri, we felt among old friends, and I shall not 

 readily forget the dinner which celebrated our return ; 

 nor the week which we spent with our hospitable 



