AN UNEXPECTED CHARGE. 6 1 



This, to say the least, was provoking, for I desired 

 to obtain an aim at the most vital mark between 

 the eye and the orifice of the ear. Again and again, 

 by increased celerity of my movements, I thought I 

 had succeeded, but, when I raised my rifle, the 

 opportunity had slipped by. At length I hit upon 

 a device ; I lifted a stone, and hurled it almost to 

 the foot of the wounded beast ; it stooped its head 

 to look at the novel weapon, and so exposed the 

 vulnerable point. In an instant I pressed the 

 triggers of both barrels, and the ponderous animal 

 came to its knees. Now, I thought all was over , 

 but, to my disgust, it was not so, for, with several 

 terrible struggles and lurches, it regained its erect 

 position ; but, in these stupendous exertions to re- 

 gain its legs, the injured hind limb broke above the 

 hock, so that the persecuted wretch was in a worse 

 strait than before. Even at this juncture it still re- 

 cognised the necessity of keeping its front to the foe, 

 and, in spite of pain and the manifold other diffi- 

 culties it had to contend with, did so. 



For some time I had heard heavy firing going 

 on to my left, so I concluded that my friends were 

 in the thick of it. Why or wherefore I cannot say, 

 but all the natives had gone off with them. How 

 devoutly I wished that at least one had remained by 

 me. Asthe wish is father to the thought, so the desire 

 produced Sunday. In a moment this invaluable 

 servant comprehended my situation, for he made 



