302 TURNING THE TABLES. 



The two enemies stared at each other probably for less than a single minute, 

 when the young hunter felt it incumbent to do something. He could ask no better 

 opportunity, as he thought, and, raising his gun, sighted at the aggregation of ugli- 

 ness in front of him, and let fly. 



He struck the rhinoceros in the head, though it may be doubted whether the 

 beast was aware of the fact. He would have aimed at the eye could he have iden- 

 tified the little orbs clearly. Just as he fired, a cold chill ran down his back. He 

 recalled that Diedrick, in talking of these animals, had cautioned his friends against 

 shooting at their heads, since it was almost impossible to inflict a fatal v/ound. 

 The proper course was to fire into the side, say back of the foreleg, where the skin 

 is thin and a vital portion can be reached. 



Almost at the same instant that the gun broke the stillness, the rhinoceros 

 uttered a pig-like grunt, and charged. It would have been beyond the power of 

 the youth to restrain his animal had he wished to do so ; but he had no such desire. 

 He and his steed had become the hunted instead of the hunters, and the only duty 

 before them was to leave that particular section with all possible haste. 



The horse made a terrific leap and bounded off at the highest bent of speed ; it 

 was by no means certain that even that would save him. 



A colder shiver than before swept over the youthful rider when he recalled the 

 alarming fact that the first rhinoceros had made his way more swiftly through the 

 tall grass than his horse was able to do. Bob had forced the animal to his very 

 best pace, and yet the game had drawn away from him without trouble. 



Why could not the second beast do equally well ? Aye, why not ? A few min- 

 utes must decide. 



And so they did. Bob continually glanced behind him, and, with a fear that 

 cannot be described, he saw that the mountainous brute, which was bearing savagely 

 down upon him, was steadily gaining ground. 



The Hottentot was not in sight : the rest of the party were too far off to render 

 assistance, and matters certainly wore a serious look. 



It was useless to shout to or urge the horse : he was inspired by the most pow- 

 erful of all motives a mortal fear of the peril that was bearing down upon him. 

 He could do no more than he was already doing, and alas ! for the noble animal, 

 that was insufficient to save him. 



Had Bob Marshall been on the open plain, he might have escaped, for there are 

 few animals which in fleetness can equal a well-trained horse, but his pony was 

 unaccustomed to the grass, which was scarcely any obstruction to the massive 

 rhinoceros. It was hard, too, for the lad to know that, although he held a most 

 excellent magazine rifle in his hands, it was practically useless. His pursuer 

 presented no vulnerable point, while charging upon him with such speed, unless it 

 was his eye ; and though, as I have said, the lad could fire quite well from the 

 back of his steed, he was incapable of such marksmanship as was now required. 



He made several flying shots, but, it may be doubted whether he did more that 

 graze the brute, if he succeeded even in doing that. 



