THE FIRST GAME CAMP 



instant, then leaped away to the left at a tremendous 

 speed. By a lucky shot, I bowled one over. He 

 was a beautiful beast, with his black and white face 

 and his straight rapierlike horns nearly three feet 

 long, and I was most pleased to get him. Memba 

 Sasa came running at the sound of the shot. We set 

 about preparing the head. 



Then through a gap in the hills far to the left we 

 saw a little black speck moving rapidly in our direc- 

 tion. At the end of a minute we could make it 

 out as the second rhinoceros. He had run heaven 

 knows how many miles away, and now he was 

 returning; whether with some idea of rejoining his 

 companion or from sheer chance, I do not know. 

 At any rate, here he was, still ploughing along at his 

 swinging trot. His course led him along a side hill 

 about four hundred yards from where the oryx lay. 

 When he was directly opposite I took the Spring- 

 field and fired, not at him, but at a spot five or six 

 feet in front of his nose. The bullet threw up a 

 column of dust. Rhino brought up short with as- 

 tonishment, wheeled to the left, and made off at a 

 gallop. I dropped another bullet in front of him. 

 Again he stopped, changed direction, and made off. 

 For the third time I hit the ground in front of him. 

 Then he got angry, put his head down and charged 

 the spot. Five more shots I expended on the amuse- 



71 



