With Flashlight and Rifle * 



for the night. Our eyes growing accustomed to the 

 darkness, we were able presently to discern the whitish 

 trunks and branches of acacia-bushes. 



After a long wait, suddenly we heard a quick snort. 

 My men threw to the ground everything they had in 

 their hands and climbed up two rather tall trees hard 

 by with indescribable agility. Only my rifle-bearer, who 

 carried my heavy elephant-rifle, waited a moment to give 

 give me the warning, " Faru, bwana " " A rhinoceros, 

 master ! " My hair stood up on my head, but I had my 

 heavy rifle ready in my hand. Now gradually my eyes made 

 out the shapeless mass of the rhinoceros in the uncertain 

 radiance cast down from the stars. A few yards behind 

 me gaped a deep gorge. Escape in any direction was 

 made impossible by the rocks and thorn-bushes and grass. 

 Up on the trees my men remained hidden, holding their 

 breath. A few yards off the rhinoceros moved about 

 snorting. I waited until I could see his horn silhouetted 

 against the starry sky, advanced towards the great black 

 bulk, and fired. The report rang out violently over the 

 rocky gorge and broke into reverberating echoes. The 

 kick of the great rifle had sent me back a pace, and I 

 had sunk upon one knee. Quickly I cocked the left 

 second trigger with guns of such calibre you must not 

 have both cocked at once, for fear both barrels should 

 go off together and awaited the animal's coming. But, 

 snorting and stamping, off he went down the hill in the 

 darkness. A deep silence fell over the scene again, and 

 we all waited, motionless, breathless. After a while 

 we started upon our march back to the camp, my men 



220 



