276 THE STORY OF THE RHINOCEROS. 



shoulder, and shaped much Hke an immense hog, was running full tilt at 

 the old elephant. 



The short, upright horn on the snout, the contour of the animal, and 

 the loose folds of skin that covered his ribs, proclaimed that most dangerous 

 of -all animals, the Indian rhinoceros. 



If it had been alone, and I had met it, I should have counted myself 

 lost, such is the sullen and vindictive nature of this horrible beast. It is 

 the only animal known that will attack man habitually, wherever met, and 

 all the other wild beasts of India fear and avoid it. 



But for the present the attention of the rhinoceros was fully engaged. 

 Besides the old bull now charging at him, another younger one was skulk- 

 ing around to take him in the rear, and a third lay close by, with his entrails 

 gushing out of a frightful wound inflicted by the deadly horn. As I 

 looked, the old bull elephant made his charge, that seemed as if it would 

 carry everything before it. 



But the rhinoceros, with surprising agility for a creature of such unwieldy 

 appearance, leaped actively to one side, and, running around, tried hard 

 to get in at the unprotected flank of the elephant. The latter as sharply 

 threw his hind-quarters around, and received the pig-like brute on his tusks. 

 But, deprived of the impetus of his charge, he was unable to pierce the tough 

 hide of the rhinoceros, which is thick enough to turn a leaden bullet at 

 close quarters. 



Then the two stood head to head for some minutes, the rhinoceros striv- 

 ing to wriggle his way between the forelegs of the elephant, to use his horn 

 with effect. The elephant, on his part, strove hard to pin the rhinoceros to 

 4he earth, but in vain. 



Presently I noticed the second elephant. He was charging, and close 

 to the rhinoceros. The latter saw him, too, and suddenly broke away from 

 his first antagonist, rushing to meet the second. The young buU charged 

 gallantly, but he was not up to the tricks of his wily adversary. The 

 rhinoceros swerved, as he came, and the excited elephant missed his mark, 

 lumbering- past in vain effort. Not so the rhinoceros. As quick as thought 

 he rushed in at the unguarded side of his heedless foe, and I could see him 

 working away at the elephant's side, like a pig rooting. The elephant gave 

 a hoarse roar of pain, and tried to turn, but the active rhinoceros was too 

 quick for him, and he fell down, helpless and dying. 



And now came the turn of the old bull. Cautious and wary, he \vatched 

 his opportunity, and rushed at the rhinoceros from the side. The latter, 



