268 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



reck was level ^ith the surrounding vJey, and here a 1 the 

 elephants drank, as if suspicious of treading on the muddy margin 

 on the other three sides of the fountain. I made our shooting box 

 within six or eight yards of the water, constructing it in a circular 

 form, of bushes packed together so as to form a hedge about three 

 feet high. On the top of the hedge I placed heavy dead old 

 branches of trees, so as to form a fine clear rest for our rifles; 

 these clean old brunches were all lashed firmly together with 

 strips of thorn bark. All being completed, I took the Bakalahari 

 and cur steeds to a shady tree, about a quarter of a mile to lee- 

 ward of the fountain, where we found a kraal and off-saddled. 

 This day was particularly adapted to bring game to the water, 

 the sun being extremely powerful, and a hot dry wind prevailing 

 all the afternoon. I. told Carey that we were certain of having a 

 good night's sport, and I was right, for we undoubtedly had about 

 the finest night's sport and the most wonderful that was ever 

 enjoyed by man. 



A little before the sun went down, leaving our kraal, we held 

 to the fountain, having with us our heavy-metaled rifles, karosses, 

 and two Bakalahari. We also had two small guns, my double 

 barreled Westley Richards, and Carey's single-barreled gun. As 

 we approached the fountain, a stately bull giraffe stood before us ; 

 the heat of the day had brought him thither, but he feared to go 

 in and drink ; on observing us, he walked slowly away. Two 

 jackals were next detected. Guinea-fowl, partridges, two or 

 three sorts of pigeon and turtle-dove, and small birds in countless 

 thousands, were pciring in to drink from every airt, as we walked 

 up to our hiding-place and lay down. In a few minutes the sun 

 was under; but the moon was strong and high (it being within 

 thiee nights of the full), and the sky was clear, with scarcely a 

 cloud. Very soon a step was heard approaching from the east : 

 it was a presuming black rhinoceros. He Came up within ten 

 yards of the hiding-hole, and, observing us with his sharp prying 

 eye, at once came slowly forward for a nearer inspection. I then 

 shouted to him ; but this he did not heed in the slightest. I then 

 sprang up and waved my large kaross, shouting at the same time 



