THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 51 



scended the hill, crossed a ravine, and soon found our- 

 selves on the banks of a fine river. A shady thicket 

 and great trees ran alongside, elephant grass reached 

 ten feet above our heads. We followed the rhino trails 

 downstream, and after some search discovered a ford. 

 Here we sat down and took a rest. 



After consultation Cuninghame remained to place 

 camp and cross the animals while I pushed ahead as 

 rapidly as possible to scout out a way through the scrub 

 to the end of the range, and to find out whether we could 

 follow the river or would have to make another climb. 



I soon discovered difficulties : in the first place, to get 

 a feasible path through the terrific jungle of thorn and 

 scrub, and, in the second place, to dodge rhinos. The 

 valley was about five miles by three, grown ten feet 

 high by a thorny jungle, and literally infested by the 

 beasts. Their broad, well-beaten trails went every- 

 where. These were a help, but there was always a 

 doubt as to whether their rightful owners might not 

 want to use them. I went along singing at the top of my 

 voice all the songs I knew, in spite of the fact that the 

 close heat of the thicket and the powerful sun were not 

 conducive to vocals. After about a mile of this a huge 

 bulk reared itself not over fifteen yards ahead, snorted, 

 and rushed down the trail toward me. I literally could 

 not force myself a foot into the wall of thorns, so brought 

 the Springfield into action and fired at its head. The 

 beast stopped five yards from me, and turned square 



