A FORTUNATE ESCAPE. 24 I 



my boots, now I strongly surmise that it was the 

 back of this dangerous snake. If so I had a lucky 

 escape, for there is no reptile in South Africa, not 

 even excepting the dreaded cobra or the puff adder, 

 that distils poison more deadly to the human 

 family. 



While all this excitement was taking place, the 

 young rhinoceros, by some means or other, broke 

 his tether, and made off for the woods. His absence 

 was not much regretted, as it would have taken at 

 least four men to lead him, and such a number 

 could badly be spared. 



