HUNTING ON LAKE SOLAI 



179 



nosiest bird in Africa — sprang from an intervening 

 marshy patch, rending the air with shrillest and most 

 persistent vociferations. All Nature seemed to join 

 in common warning, yet no heed did those rhinos 

 take. 



They stood side by side, the nearer beast (which was 

 the larger of the two) covering the head, neck and part- 



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SLEEPING BEAUTIES. 



shoulder of the one beyond, while the trunk of the 

 sheltering mimosa concealed from view hotli the central 

 pairs of legs — conveying an absurd appearance of but a 

 single animal, and that about eight yards long ! We 

 had crawled in to a thin tree about fifty yards away, and 



AV , who fired first, placed his ball on the shoulder of 



the nearer beast, while I, instantly thereafter, directed 

 mine as far forward as was visible of his companion. At 

 the shots, both rhinos whipped round, with snorts and 

 amazing agility, and for several seconds, being at such 



