HUNTING THE GIRAFFE. 437 



gr-mnd bj a succession of frog-like leaps, and leaving me far ir the 

 rear. Twice were their Towering forms concealed from view by a 

 park of trees, which we entered at the same instant, and twic?, on 

 emerging from the labyrinth, did I perceive them tilting over an 

 eminence far in advance, their sloping backo reddening in the sun- 

 shine, as with giant port they topped the ridges in right gallant 

 style. A white turban that I had round my hunting cap, being 

 drawn off by a projecting bough, was instantly charged and trampled 

 under foot by three rhinoceroses, and long afterward, looking over my 

 shoulder, I could perceive the ungainly brutes in the rear fagging 

 themselves to overtake me. In the course of five minutes the fugi- 

 tives arrived at a small river, the treacherous sands of which receiv- 

 ing their spider-legs, their flight was greatly retarded, and by the 

 time they had floundered to the opposite side and scrambled to the 

 top of the bank, I could perceive that their race was run. Patting 

 the neck of my good steed, I urged him again to his utmost, and in- 

 stantly found myself aside of the herd. The lordly chief being 

 readily distinguishable from the rest by his dark chestnut robe, and 

 superior stature, I applied the muzzle of my rifle behind his dappled 

 shoulder with my right hand, and drew both triggers; but he still 

 continued to shuffle along, and being afraid of losing him should I 

 dismount, among the extensive mimosa groves with which the land- 

 scape was now obscured, I sat in my saddle, load'iu^ and firing be- 

 hind the elbow, and then placing myself across his path to obstruct 

 his progress. Mute, dignified, and majestic stood the unfortunate 

 victim, occasionally stooping his elastic neck towards his persecutor, 

 the tears trickling from the lashes of his dark humid eye, as broad 

 side after broadside was poured into his brawny front. 



" His drooping head sinks gradually low, 

 And through his side the last drops ebbing slow 

 From the red gash fall heavy one by one, 

 Like the first of a thunder shower." 



Presently a convulsive shivering seized his limbs, his coat stood on 

 end, his lofty fn.me began to totter, and at the seventeenth discharge 

 from the deadly grooved bore, like a falling minaret bowing his gnu:e- 



