102 



BIG GAME SHOOTING 



I was myself, and did not immediately answer the rein, and 

 the moment's hesitation cost him his life and me the very 

 best horse I ever had or knew ; for when I got his head round, 

 a thick bush was against his chest, and before I could free 

 him, the rhinoceros, still at the walk, drove his horn in under 

 his flank, and fairly threw both him and his rider into the 

 air. As he turned over I rolled off and fell in some way 

 under the stirrup-iron, which scalped my head for four inches 

 in length and breadth. I scrambled to my knees, and saw the 



Death of Stael 



horn of the rhinoceros actually within the bend of my leg ; 

 but the animal wavered, and, with the energy of self-preser- 

 vation, I sprang to my feet intending to run, for my gun was 

 unloaded and had fallen from my hand. Had I been allowed 

 to do so this story might never have been told, for, dizzy as 

 I was from the fall, I should have been easily caught. Tot- 

 tering a step or two, I tripped and came to the ground a 

 little to the right of the creature's track. He passed within 

 a foot without touching me. As I rose for the second time 



