xvn 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 do so before my eyes. I f 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 



