DIEDRICK'S VICISSITUDES. 



The three, who were seated on their horses, laughed merrily, for the sight was 

 the most amusing on which they had gazed for many a day. 



It looked, indeed, as if the returning steed shared in the general hilarity, for the 

 trot was accompanied by a whinny, as he dropped down to a walk and came to a 

 halt within arm's reach of his master. 



By this time Diedrick had recovered himself, and, seizing the bridle, he bounded 

 upon the back of the animal. Then the native appeared to boil with indignation 

 because of the ridiculous light in which he had been placed by his steed. He 

 began beating his ribs with his feet, as though he meant to stave them in. But it 

 must not be thought that the Hottentot's broad, flat heels inflicted any particular 

 hurt. He was unable to punish the pony in that fashion, and it was not until he 

 had kept it up for some minutes, accompanying it by all sorts of calumny on the 

 brute's ancestors, that the horse broke into a gallop. 



When Diedrick thought he had chastised him enough (and about that time the 

 latter was beginning to enjoy the sport), he gradually sheered him 'round and 

 headed back toward the waiting party, which he joined in the course of the next 

 few minutes. 



The experience of Diedrick had been hardly less thrilling than that of his young 

 friend, from whom he had separated for the purpose of driving the rhinoceroses to- 

 ward the horsemen that were waiting on the other side of the tall grass. Since two 

 persons can cover twice as much ground when apart as when together, the plan was 

 a good one, provided the conditions did not change. 



The first rhinoceros started up, as you will recall, headed, after a time, toward 

 the waiting hunters, tramped heavily, progressed steadily, and went down surely. 

 But the second displayed a fierceness altogether unexpected in his charge upon Bob 

 Marshall. 



It seemed to be a good day for that species of ungulate mammals, for the native 

 had not gone far when the fright of his animal showed that something in the way 

 of game was close at hand. He became so restless that he refused to advance 

 farther, and the native lost his temper. As he had pursued a different direction 

 from that taken by Bob, the two were a considerable distance apart, and the only 

 notice that reached the ear of the native of anything special being under way was 

 the report of the lad's rifle. That did not cause him uneasiness, and just then his 

 own hands were full of business. 



Diedrick dismounted to learn the cause of his horse's fright, advancing in a 

 straight line, and in doing so he committed an unfortunate error. The particular 

 animal that had frightened his horse was not where he supposed, but was in an 

 unusually thick mass of grass to the right. 



The Hottentot had gone but a short distance, when he heard a whiffing grunt 

 that he recognized. He wheeled just in time to see a black rhinoceros charge from 

 the matted grass in a paroxysm of fury because he was intruded upon by a horse 

 and his rider. 



Fortunately for the latter, however, the animal paid no heed to him, but concen- 



