SHOT AT A RHINOCEROS. 351 



ray recent conflict with the elephant, I lost no time in 

 firing. The beast did not at once fall to the 

 ground, but, from appearances, I had every reason 

 to believe its days were numbered. 



Scarcely had I reloaded, when a black rhinoceros 

 of the species Keitloa (a female, as it proved), stood 

 drinking at the water ; but her position, as with 

 the elephant in the first instance, was unfavourable 

 for a good shot. As, however, she was very near 

 me, I thought I was pretty sure of breaking her 

 leg, and thereby disabling her ; and in this I suc- 

 ceeded. My fire seemed to madden her ; she 

 rushed wildly forward on three legs, when I gave 

 her a second shot, though apparently with little or 

 no effect. I felt sorry at not being able to end her 

 sufferings at once; but as I was too well acquainted 

 with the habits of the rhinoceros to venture on 

 pursuing her under the circumstances, 1 determined 

 to wait patiently for day-light, and then destroy 

 her with the aid of my dogs. But it was not so 

 to be. 



As no more elephants, or other large game, ap- 

 peared, I thought, after a time, it might be as well 

 to go in search of the white rhinoceros previously 

 wounded ; and I was not long in finding its carcase, 

 for my ball, as I supposed, had caused its almost 

 immediate death. 



In headinsr back to mv " screen," I accident- 







ally took a turn in the direction pursued by the 

 black rhinoceros, and by ill-luck, as the event 

 proved, at once encountered her. She was still on 

 her legs, but her position was unfavourable. Hop- 



