A REBELLIOUS INFANT. l6l 



I gave her the second barrel. It took effect, for I 

 distinctly heard the " thud " caused by the striking 

 of the bullet. The cow now left the water, slowly 

 at first, for the bottom was apparently very sticky, 

 but as she gained the margin she hastened her 

 speed. The youngster, who had not shown the 

 slightest alarm at the reports, hastened to meet its 

 dam, evidently thinking the mother had come ashore 

 for the purpose of nursing it. However, these 

 surmises were incorrect, for no sooner did young 

 hopeful get its head under her flank than she gave 

 her infant such a blow as sent it reeling off several 

 paces. The child now became rebellious and re- 

 vengeful for such cruel treatment, so charged full tilt 

 at its unnatural parent, but was repulsed so effectu- 

 ally that for some moments it stood still, gazing 

 with astonishment at the cause of its discomfiture. 

 This scene took far less time to perform than it does 

 to describe, for, although I hurried up my loading, 

 I had not finished this necessary operation before 

 both rapidly took their departure, the baby trotting 

 along, so close to the dam's side, frequently almost 

 under her chest, that it appeared marvellous how it 

 avoided being trod upon. From the moment the 

 rhinoceros received the first shot till she left the vley 

 she had not uttered a note, but the instant she com- 

 menced to move off she gave utterance to a shrill, 

 plaintive note, not unlike a wail ; it might have 

 been a summons for her offspring to accompany her, 



M 



