-^ Rhinoceros-hunting 



no interest for us to-day : we are in pursuit of bigger 

 game. Suddenly, an hour later, my men become excited. 

 " Pharu, bwana ! " they whisper to me from behind, 

 pointing down towards a group of acacia trees on a plateau 

 a few hundred paces away. True enough, there are two 

 rhinoceroses. I perceive first one, then the other lumbering 

 along, looking, doubtless, for a suitable resting-place. My 

 field-glasses tell me that they are a pair, male and female, 

 both furnished with big horns. Now for my plan of 

 campaign. I have to make a wide circuit which will take 

 me twenty-five minutes, moving over difficult ground. 



Arrived at the point in question, I rejoice to see that 

 the animals have not got far away from where I first spied 

 them. The wind is favourable to me here, and there is 

 little danger at this hour of its suddenly veering round. 

 I examine my rifle carefully. It seems all right. My men 

 crouch down by my order, and I advance stealthily alone. 



I am under a spell now. The rest of the world has 

 vanished from my consciousness. I look neither to right 

 nor left. I have no thought for anything but my quarry 

 and my gun. What will the beasts do ? Will this be 

 my last appearance as a hunter of big game? Is the 

 rhinoceros family at last to have its revenge ? 



I have another look at them through my field-glasses. 

 The bull has really fine horns ; the cow good enough, 

 but nothing special. I decide therefore to secure him 

 alone if possible, for his flesh will provide food in plenty 

 for my men. On I move, as noiselessly as possible, 

 the wind still in my favour. Up on these heights the 

 rhinoceroses miss their watchful friends the ox-peckers, 

 VOL. II 447 29 



