THE RHINOCEROS 



placed the ivory bead of the great Holland gun just 

 to the point of his shoulder and pulled the trigger. 

 So close was he that as he toppled forward I instinc- 

 tively, though unnecessarily of course, shrank back 

 as though he might fall on me. Fortunately I had 

 picked rny spot properly, and no second shot was 

 necessar}^ He fell just twenty-seven feet — nine 

 yards — from where we lay! 



The buffalo vanished into the blue. We were left 

 with a dead rhino, which we did not want, twelve 

 miles from camp, and no water. It was a hard hike 

 back, but we made it finally, though nearly perished 

 from thirst. 



This beast, be it noted, did not charge us at all, 

 but I consider him. as one of the three undoubtedly 

 animated by hostile intentions. Of the others I can, 

 at this moment, remember five that might or might 

 not have been actually and maliciously charging 

 when they were killed or dodged. I am no mind 

 reader for rhinoceros. Also I am willing to believe 

 in their entirely altruistic intentions. Only, if they 

 want to get the practical results of their said altruis- 

 tic intentions they must really refrain from coming 

 straight at me nearer than twenty yards. It has 

 been stated that if one stands perfectly still until the 

 rhinoceros is just six feet away, and then jumps side- 

 ways, the beast will pass him. I never happened to 



3" 



