XVII AN INFURIATED RHINO 187 
proved correct, for directly he scented me, up went 
his nose in the air and down he charged like a 
battering-ram. I fairly pressed myself into the 
ground, as flat as ever I could, and luckily the grass 
was a few inches high. I felt the thud of his great 
feet pounding along, yet dared not move or look up 
lest he should see me. My heart was thumping like 
a steam hammer, and every moment I fully expected 
to find myself tossed into the air. Nearer and 
nearer came the heavy thudding, and I had quite 
given myself up for lost, when from my _ lying 
position I caught sight, out of the corner of my eye, 
of the infuriated beast rushing by. He had missed 
me again! I never felt so relieved in my life, and 
assuredly did not attempt to annoy him further, 
He went off for good this time, and it was with 
great satisfaction that I watched him gradually dis- 
appear in the distance. I could not have believed 
it possible that these huge, ungainly-looking brutes 
could move so rapidly, and turn and twist in their 
tracks just like monkeys, had I not actually seen 
this one doso before my eyes. If he had found me he 
would certainly have pounded me to atoms, as he was 
an old bull and in a most furious and vicious mood. 
One day when Dr. Brock and I were out shoot- 
ing, shortly after this incident and not far from 
where it occurred, we caught sight of two rhinos 
in a hollow some little distance from us, and 
