894 THE RHINOCEROS HUNTERS. 



i 



There was enough uneasiness over the Korahs to make Mr. Godkin unwilling to 

 leave the camp without full protection. The natives might feel revengeful enough 

 to watch for some chance for stealthy work, while afraid to attack openly. 



The director, therefore, decided that he and Pongo would stay behind, leaving 

 the cousins and Jack Harvey to prosecute the hunt with only Diedrick us their com- 

 panion. These four knew enough of the nature of the animals to render unneces- 

 sary any instructions or hints. Mr. Godkin said he would accompany them on the 

 morrow, leaving the inference that he had no faith in their meeting with success 

 before that time. 



The preparations for the hunt were quickly completed. The air had grown 

 quite warm, but enough coolness remained from the storm of the night before to 

 render the day one of the finest experienced since entering that section. 



Jack Harvey, I need not say, carried his lasso with him, though there was little 

 probability of any chance for its use. Bob Marshall had borrowed the glass of Mr. 

 Godkin, for that was likely to do them service. 



The first proceeding was to ride to the elevation from which the two natives had 

 seen what they believed was the rhinoceros. Diedrick remembered the exact spot 

 and at once turned his keen eyes in that direction. 



He was gazing toward a portion of the broad stream which swept by the camp, 

 and between him and the water was a growth of grass, taller and denser than that 

 which had sheltered the baboons, and spread over a much greater area of territory. 



It was near the middle of this that the natives discerned some large animal 

 moving, which they believed was a rhinoceros, though the view was too indistinct 

 for them to be certain. 



Every eye followed the course Diedrick pointed out, and the glass was freely 

 used, but nothing could be discovered of the animal, though, as a matter of course, 

 there were many places where a score of such beasts might have been concealed 

 beyond detection. It was the fact that the brute was in motion which had revealed 

 it to the African, who happened to look at the point when not scanning the plain 

 for his absent friends. 



"There's only one thing to do," said Dick Brownell. "We have set out to hunt 

 for a rhinoceros, and we have got to hunt him. We haven't reason to believe he 

 means to hunt us" 



" I don't suppose he is a great way from where he was seen," remarked Bob, 

 "for he won't move around much until night-time." 



"Come ahead," said Jack Harvey, giving rein to his horse; "we'll go straight 

 for the spot, and we'll know inside of half an hour whether the critter is there or 

 not" 



