CHAPTER LIII. 



TURNING THE TABLES. 



BOB MARSHALL was a sorely disappointed boy, though it must be admitted 

 that youngsters in that state are tound in every part of the world. His 

 i chagrin was that of the lad who sees a prize slip from his grasp at the 

 moment he is closing his fingers upon it. 



There was a brief space of time when he was sure he was going to bring down 

 the rhinoceros without the assistance of any one ; and, had he succeeded in doing 

 so, it would have been an exploit of which he could have boasted for the rest of 

 his life. But he was too much of a philosopher to lament over that which could 

 not be helped. 



" I wonder whether the old fellow won't find out that a party is waiting in 

 ambush for him, and turn about and come back for me : if he does, I'll get a chance 

 after all. But I suppose the bird will see the danger and will go to chattering and 

 screaming again. He will think it is I, and will take a header right in among 

 them. What can have become of Diedrick I helloa ! what's the matter with my 

 horse ? my gracious ! 



There were few times in the life of Bob that he received such a shock as he did 

 at that moment. Hearing a movement in the grass behind him, he turned his head, 

 just as his horse began to show restlessness, and saw a second rhinoceros fully as 

 large as the other, and not twenty yards distant. 



It was certainly extraordinary that he could have ridden so close to the game 

 without its being detected, either by his steed or himself, but such was the fact, 

 partly due, no doubt, to the concentration of the attention of boy and animal on the 

 fleeing beast. 



The rhinoceros that had just introduced himself was of prodigious size, and 

 seemed of a milk-white color, though its hue was mainly due to the coating of dried 

 clay that covered its entire body. Inasmuch as no buphaga africana was seen or 

 heard giving warning to the beast of impending peril, it is to be presumed that 

 the second specimen was not furnished with such a valuable body-guard. 



Another striking difference between the two creatures was that the second did 

 not show any of the timidity displayed by the first. Though he saw the horse and 

 rider, and in his dim, instinctive fashion must have comprehended that they meant 

 business of the most serious character^yet he made no attempt to flee or get beyond 

 rifle-shot. 



When Bob faced about, the beast was standing motionless, looking at him and 

 his horse as if to ask them their errand. The boy could not help wondering it the 

 enormous bulk of the rhinoceros, which resembled an immense hogshead supported 



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