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 
ih ln it 
CE ee ere ee he ee 
