154 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XVIII. 



upon which to whet their appetites. This huge 

 beast crossed the river twice after being mortally 

 wounded at duelling distance ; and I was compelled, 

 cold as it was, to wade after him through water 

 reaching to my middle — following his trail by the 

 blood, until from single drops, the traces became 

 splashes of frothy crimson. Struggling to force his 

 tottering frame through the tangled cover, the 

 wounded monster at length sank upon his knees, 

 another bullet from the grooved bore ending his 

 giant struggles, while he was yet tearing up the 

 ground with his ponderous horn. 



