236 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXVII. 



bers,ancl under the most unfavourable circumstances. 

 The blood coursed through my veins like quicksilver, 

 therefore, as on the morning of the 19th, from the 

 back of Breslar, my most trusty steed, with a fii m 

 wooded plain before me, I counted thirty-two of these 

 animals, industriously stretching their peacock necks 

 to crop the tiny leaves which fluttered above their 

 heads, in a mimosa grove that beautified the scenery. 

 They were within a hundred yards of me, but 

 having previously determined to try the boarding 

 system, I reserved my fire. Although 1 had taken 

 the field expressly to look for giraffes, and had put 

 four of the Hottentots on horseback, all excepting 

 Piet had as usual slipped off unperceived in pursuit 

 of a troop of koodoos. Our stealthy approach 

 was soon opposed by an ill-tempered rhinoceros, 

 which, with her ugly calf, stood directly in the path ; 

 and the twinkling of her bright little eyes, accom- 

 panied by a restless rolling of the body, giving 

 earnest of her intention to charge, I directed Piet 

 to salute her with a broadside, at the same moment 

 putting spurs to my horse. At the report of the 

 gun, and the sudden clattering of hoofs, away 

 bounded the giraffes in grotesque confusion, clear- 

 ing the ground by a succession of frog-like hops, 

 and soon leaving me far in the rear. Twice were 

 their towering forms concealed from view by a park 

 of trees, which we entered almost at the same 

 instant; and twice, on emerging from the labyrinth, 

 did I perceive them tilting over an eminence im- 

 measurably in advance. A white turban, that I 



