ADVENTURES OF THE CHASE 445 



moment the brute bent low his head, and with a thrust up- 

 wards, struck his horn into the ribs of the horse with such force 

 as to penetrate to the very saddle on the opposite side, where 

 the rider felt its sharp point against his leg. The violence of 

 the blow was so tremendous as to cause the horse to make a 

 complete somersault in the air, coming heavily down on his 

 hack. The rider was, of course, violently precipitated to the 

 ground. While thus prostrated, he actually saw the horn of 

 tlie monster alongside of him; but without attempting to 

 do any further mischief, the brute started off at a canter from 

 tlie scene of action. If the rhinoceros imagined it had come off 

 ;is victor, it was, however, very quickly undeceived ; for Mr. 

 ( )svvell, rushing upon one of his companions, who by this time 

 liad come up, and unceremoniously pulling him off his horse, 

 l(>;ipt into the saddle, and without a hat, and his face streaming 

 with blood, was quickly in pursuit of the beast, which he soon 

 iiad the satisfaction to see stretched lifeless at his feet. This 

 adventure teaches us why the rhinoceros is seldom pursued on 

 horseback, as there is no relying on one's steed, and the brute 

 can also be much more easily approached and killed on foot. 



Another time, Mr. Oswell was actually gored by a rhinoceros, 

 and tossed in the air. Fortunately he escaped with a wound on 

 tlie thigh, five inches long ; and though it ultimately healed, yet, 

 as may be imagined, it left a deep and indelible scar behind. 



Mr. Andersson, another well-known African Nimrod, having 

 one day wounded a black rhinoceros, and being in an unfavour- 

 alde situation for renewing his shot with deadly effect, the 



monster, snorting horribly, erecting its tail, keeping its head 

 close to the ground, and raising clouds of dust by its feet, rushed 

 at him furiously. " I had only just time to level my rifle 

 and fire," says this adventurous traveller, " before it was upon 

 me, and the next instant knocked me to the ground. The 

 shock was so violent as to send my rifle, powder-flask, and ball- 

 pouch spinning ten feet high in the air. On the beast charging 

 me, it crossed my mind that, unless gored at once by its horn, 

 its impetus would be such as to carry it beyond me, and I might 

 thus be afforded a chance of escape, and so, indeed, it happened, 

 for having been tumbled over and trampled on with great 

 \ iolence, the fore-quarter of the enraged brute passed over my 

 ])ody. Struggling for life, I seized my opportunity, and as the 



