416 AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 



miles around. Here we turned into a broad elephant and 

 rhinoceros path, worn deep and smooth by the genera- 

 tions of huge feet that had tramped it; for it led from the 

 dry inland to a favorite drinking place on the Nile. Along 

 this we walked until Kassitura made out the trail of two 

 rhino crossing it at right angles. They were evidently 

 feeding and seeking a noonday resting place; in this coun- 

 try the square-mouthed rhinoceros live on the grassy flats, 

 sparsely covered with small thorn-trees, and only go into 

 the high reeds on their way to drink. With Kassitura and 

 Kongoni in the lead we followed the fresh trail for a mile 

 or so, until we saw our quarry. The stupid beasts had 

 smelt us, but were trotting to and fro in a state of inde- 

 cision and excitement, tails twisting and ears cocked, 

 uncertain what to do. At first we thought they were a bull 

 and a small cow; but they proved to be a big cow with 

 good horns, and a calf which was nearly full grown. The 

 wind and sun were both exactly wrong, so Kermit could 

 not take any photos; and accordingly he shot the cow 

 behind the shoulder. Away both animals went, Kermit 

 tearing along behind, while Grogan and I followed. After 

 a sharp run of a mile and a half Kermit overtook them, 

 and brought down the cow. The younger one then trotted 

 threateningly toward him. He let it get within ten yards, 

 trying to scare it; as it kept coming on, and could of course 

 easily kill him, he then fired into its face, to one side, so as 

 to avoid inflicting a serious injury, and, turning, off it went 

 at a gallop. When I came up the cow had raised itself on 

 its forelegs, and he was taking its picture. It had been 

 wallowing, and its whole body was covered with dry caked 

 mud. It was exactly the color of the common rhino, but 



