HUNTING THE RHINOCEROS. 219 



river, for you do not see his easily recognized figure 

 among the hieroglyphics with which the temples are 

 filled, between the Delta and the first cataract. Nor 

 does Roman history often mention them in the games or 

 triumphs of the emperors, which is singular, when tigers, 

 lions, and elephants figure so often. But farther up the 

 river you meet him still, usually swimming very low in 

 the water, with simply his nose, eyes, and ears above 

 its surface, and followed by his mate, — for they travel 

 usually in couples. But on the day to which I refer, 

 this number was increased to three, — and huge speci- 

 mens they were, — sunning themselves on the left bank 

 of the river, and on the back' of the female rested a young 

 one, uglier, if possible, than its fond parents. We were 

 six of us, only one a native, rowing along the shore in a 

 skiff ; and one of my companions, a Frenchman, with the 

 careless thoughtlessness of his race, raised his rifle and let 

 drive at the youngster. There was a tremendous splash- 

 ing and racket, and the water for yards was stirred up 

 by the four mighty bodies diving into it simultaneously. 

 A cry of warning came from our guide, who began jab- 

 bering away in his own lingo at a great rate. 



"What's the beggar raising all this row about?" asked 

 the Frenchman. 



" Pull for 3^our life ! " shouted I. " You '11 have the 

 whole party round us in a minute." 



The boat was a poor one for speed, and we were still 

 a long way from the nearest point of land when the 



