Lying in Wait 95 



I have said enough to make it clear why, seeing the 

 unbroken rhinoceros' dung on the ground, we thought 

 that a meeting with the animal was imminent. It 

 is well we are on guard, for five minutes have not 

 elapsed before a well-known snorting is heard ; but 

 it is impossible to know whence it comes. Kam- 

 bombe, who climbs up a tree, has no sooner looked 

 around and fixed his eyes upon something, than there 

 comes over his face that nervous expression which I 

 know, and he slides down in haste with the words, 

 " Quick, this way ! " 



The rhinoceros is behind us ! Through extra- 

 ordinary luck he has not yet scented us, though we 

 believe the wind to be in our faces. We hasten to 

 change our position to a place seven or eight yards on 

 one side. The spot is not much sheltered : there are 

 few trees, but many thick bushes, similar in appear- 

 ance to oleanders, clustered one against the other. 

 Some of these bushes reach to our waist ; but others 

 are taller, and here and there block out the view. 

 Within a radius of ten yards these bushes form a 

 curtain, and (this is one of the peculiarities of the 

 African bush) one can see nothing beyond. This kind 

 of vegetation is very favourable for tracking an 

 antelope, but it is not very suitable with a rhinoceros. 

 Its height is great, it is true ; but it holds its head low 

 down, and its vital parts are a yard from the ground. 



The dung is on our left on a small empty space, 

 and, consequently, between us and its owner. My 

 intention is not to fire immediately the animal appears. 

 I want to watch attentively how it proceeds, for I 



