NARROW ESCAPE. 355 



At length, however, she sank slowly to the 

 ground ; and imagining that she was in her death- 

 agonies, and all danger over, I walked unhesi- 

 tatingly close up to her, and was on the point 

 of placing the muzzle of my gun to her ear, to give 

 her the coup de grace, when, to my horror, she once 

 more rose on her legs.' Taking a hurried aim, I 

 pulled the trigger, and instantly retreated, with the 

 beast in full pursuit. The race, however, was a 

 short one ; for, just as I threw myself into a bush 

 for safety, she fell dead at my feet, so near me, 

 indeed, that I could have touched her with the 

 muzzle of my rifle. Another moment, and I should 

 probably have been impaled on her murderous 

 horn, which, though short, was sharp as a razor. 



When reflecting on the wonderful and providen- 

 tial escapes I had recently experienced, my heart 

 was lifted in humble gratitude to the Almighty, 

 who had thus extended over me His protecting 

 hand. 



The second day after the scenes described, my 

 bruises began to show themselves ; and on the third 

 day they were fully developed, giving nearly the 

 whole of my body a black and yellow hue. So far 

 as I was aware, none of my bones were broken ; 

 but burning and agonising pains in the region of 

 the chest were clearly symptomatic of severe internal 

 injury. Indeed, at first, serious apprehensions were 

 entertained for my life. After great suffering, 

 however, I had so far recovered as, with the aid 

 of my men, to mount my ox, and resume my 

 travels. 



AA 2 



