3o8 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA chap 



penetrating into everything. All round us stretched 

 a sun-scorched, arid plain, and the only thing that 

 cheered our eyes was the view of the cloud-covered 

 mountains of Marsabit, which stood out boldly on 

 the sky-line. 



While the safari was struggling along listlessly 

 and more or less exhausted by the great heat, every 

 man was suddenly electrified into energy by the cry 

 of "/^9w/ /^^ze*/ " ("Rhino ! Rhino!"). There was an 

 instant's hesitation as to which side they should fly to 

 for safety, and then the dreaded beast was discovered 

 to the left of the track under the shade of a thorn 

 tree, where he had evidently been sleeping until 

 roused to action by the sound of the passing safari. 

 He now advanced at a brisk trot, and at sight of him 

 loads were pitched down in all directions, and men 

 fled for safety to any bit of scrub they could find. 



I hurried Mrs. B. off to the shelter of the 

 largest tree at hand, and in a few minutes its 

 branches were absolutely black with a swarm of 

 porters. 



I then walked out with a heavy rifle so as to 

 intercept the brute if he charged any of the porters, 

 for there were still many of the men straggling 

 up, quite unaware of their danger. 



The old rhino advanced with determination 

 for about fifty yards, then suddenly came to a 

 standstill, looked at us for some time with great 



