chap. ir. RHINOCEROS. 95 



noticing a shrub within a few yards of it, I determined to 

 try and creep in nearer, as there was little fear of alarming 

 it if I was careful, especially now when the watchful rhino- 

 ceros-birds were absent. 



Ten minutes' crawling sufficed to place me under the 

 lee of the shrub, which was of sufficient size to form a 

 screen even when I should have to sit up to fire, and, still 

 keeping my gun-barrels out of sight, as I was afraid of 

 some gleam of the moonlight on them catching its eye 

 before I was ready, I raised myself and looked through 

 the intervening twigs. I had got near enough in all con- 

 science, for I found its nose within a yard of my own, some 

 slight noise I had made having struck its ear and caused 

 it to wheel round. Of course, I remained like a statue, 

 though I was nearer than I liked, the danger being that 

 it might walk forward and come right upon me, when it 

 would be difficult to say what even such an amiable-tem- 

 pered animal as a white rhinoceros might do. They are 

 always slow and deliberate in their movements, and this 

 one stood there listening, while I could hear and almost 

 feel its breath, till in my cramped position I would have 

 given anything for just one kick. It would have been 

 utterly useless to fire, for a rhinoceros, especially of the 

 long-horned species, offers no mark whatever when it stands 

 facing you with its head down, its chest being invisible, 

 and, even if you were desirous of making the experiment 

 of a shot at those well-protected spots, the horn guarding 

 the brain and neck. 



There was nothing for it but patience, and mine was 

 pretty nearly exhausted before, to my great relief, it at 

 last turned away, having heard something stirring in the 



