292 THE RHINOCEROS HUNTERS. 



Dick said that, while his captors offered him no violence, they showed an ugly 

 disposition after reaching the little cluster of huts, which caused him much mis- 

 giving. The whole proceeding was such a daring one on their part that our friends 

 believed they meant to hold the lad for ransom. They thought the white hunters 

 wealthy, for, indeed, they had considerable possessions with them, and if it had 

 proven impossible to arrange a ransom, it is likely they would have put their pris- 

 oner to death. 



The first thing done by the party on reaching camp was to restore the canvas 

 cover to its proper place over the wagon. It had been the cause of some lively work 

 on the part of the hunters, and more than once it had looked as if it would involve 

 them in serious difficulty, but, thank Providence, all had come out well. 



Diedrick and his friends took good care of the camp during the absence of the 

 white men, but the anxiety of the Hottentot for the recapture and return of the 

 missing youth led him to venture to the top of the nearest elevation, where he 

 carefully surveyed all the country in his field of vision. 



The horsemen were not in sight, but he observed them soon after, on their return, 

 and was quick to discover that one of the ponies bore two riders. That was enough, 

 and it may safely be said that none rejoiced more heartily over the rescue of Dick 

 Brownell than did his African friend. 



But, while the native was scanning the country on all sides, he made a discovery 

 which turned the excitement of his employers into a new channel. He caught 

 sight of an animal, at no great distance, in the tall grass along the river, which he 

 believed was a rhinoceros, and, since Mr. Godkin had announced, but a short time 

 before, that he was ready to give his attention to that species of game, the expecta- 

 tion was that it would now be done without further delay. 



Rhinoceros hunting is attended not only with great danger, but is so delicate 

 and difficult that many a failure has been made by veteran hunters who have bagged 

 all other kinds of game. Before telling you about the perilous adventures in which 

 our friends became involved on the afternoon of Dick Brownell's return from cap- 

 tivity, I must give you some idea of the work they undertook. 



In the first place, there are four varieties of rhinoceros found in South Africa. 

 They are known as the borcle, or black rhinoceros, the keitloa, or two-horned black 

 species, the mochocho, or ordinary white rhinoceros, and the kobaoba,or long-horned 

 white rhinoceros. The black species is smaller than the others, but is ten-fold 

 fiercer and more dangerous. 



The Asiatic rhinoceros is smaller than the African, has his hide in looser folds, 

 and two of the species have but a single horn. 



The square-nosed white rhinoceros is the largest known. He is not white in 

 color, but shows a dirty resemblance to that hue. They have been found eighteen 

 feet in length, and I have known them to be with a circumference still greater. 



Set not in the bone, but in the skin of its blunt nose, is the horn, sharp, hard, 

 curved, and more than a yard long. Just behind this is a smaller horn, But equally 

 sharp and hard. 



