REVENGE OF A RHINOCEROS. 353 



from near the knee to the hip, with her fore-feet ; 

 moreover, she hit me a terrific blow on the left 

 shoulder, near the back of the neck. My ribs bent 

 under the enormous weight and pressure, and for a 

 moment I must, as I believe, have lost conscious- 

 ness. T have, at least, very indistinct notions of 

 what afterwards took place. All I remember is 

 that, when I raised my head, I heard a furious snort- 

 ing and plunging amongst the neighbouring bushes. 



I now arose, though with great difficulty, and 

 made my way, in the best manner I was able, to- 

 wards a large tree near at hand, for shelter ; but 

 this precaution was needless ; the beast, for the 

 time at least, showing uo inclination further to mo- 

 lest me. Either in the melee, or owing to the con- 

 fusion caused by her wounds, she had lost sight of 

 me, or she felt satisfied with the revenge she had 

 taken. Be that as it may, I escaped with life, 

 though sadly w r ounded and severely bruised, in 

 which disabled state I had great difficulty in getting 

 back to my " screen." 



During the greater part of the recent conflict, 1 

 had preserved my presence of mind ; but after the 

 danger was over, and when I had leisure to collect 

 my scattered and confused senses, I was seized 

 with a nervous affection, causing a violent tremb- 

 ling. I have since killed many rhinoceroses, but 

 several weeks elapsed before I could again attack 

 those animals with any coolness. 



About sunrise, Kamoja, my half-caste boy, whom 

 I had left on the preceding erening about half a 

 mile away, came to the " screen " to convey my 



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