A NEED FOR CAUTION 



chance of locating his adversary long before he himself 

 has been seen. Being subject to fits of unreasoning 

 rage, he will often charge the hunter blindly when 

 disturbed, either from fear, pure viciousness, or in a 

 wild attempt to escape. On such occasions there is 

 only time for a single shot, and unless this is well 

 placed, the rhinoceros is more likely to bag the hunter 

 than to be bagged himself. 



Before setting out on the spoor, the guide, in order 

 to encourage us, said that he and his companion had 

 tried to enter that patch of bush some two months 

 previously, but having been charged twice by 

 rhinoceros and three times by buffalo they had had 

 to retire ! With redoubled caution I went on, but 

 the wind was very fickle, and I was afraid it would 

 betray our presence before I could get a shot. Nor 

 was I mistaken, for very soon there was a tremendous 

 commotion in the bush ahead, and out dashed two 

 rhinoceros, followed by a small calf. They stood for 

 a moment peering, first this way and then that, and 

 I was able to get a good view of them. None carried 

 long horns, so I decided not to shoot unless they 

 charged. Suddenly they dashed off, emitting loud 

 snorts, and carrying their tails high in the air, looking 

 like nothing so much as huge pigs. At the same 

 moment, just as they were disappearing in the bush, 

 a gun went off close to my head ; turning round, I 

 saw that my interpreter, Hassan, had pulled the trigger 

 of his gun by mistake in the excitement of the moment. 

 I was naturally much annoyed, and threatened to 

 take his rifle from him, as it was quite enough to 

 keep a look-out in front without having to think of 

 beinof shot from behind ! 



Nothing further was seen for a long time. We 



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