MY BIG TUSKER. 



We still heard the swishing, and went cautiously in the 

 direction of the sound. It proceeded from a clump of 

 nipas rather thicker than ordinary, and we entered them. 

 The swishing ceased for a moment. We skirted the 

 clump of nipas and peered amongst them without seeing 

 anything. Suddenly we heard a trampling and snorting, 

 and some large beast broke away and rushed off on the 

 other side in the direction of the bend. There was a cry 

 of "Rhinoceros !" and we started off in full chase. At last 

 I pulled up. I could not see him, but I knew he must 

 be somewhere before us in the bend. 



Again I heard a galloping and snorting noise, but this 

 time coming towards us. He had discovered that there 

 was no exit, and was breaking back in our direction. I 

 got a glimpse of him about seventy yards off. He was 

 coming in our direction, but would pass about twenty or 

 thirty yards to our right, so I set off running to the 

 right, and gained the shelter of a small tree, behind 

 which I stood. I aimed straight at his chest, but when 

 within fifteen yards he saw me and made a swerve which 

 would cause him to pass between myself and my natives. 

 As he passed I gave him a heavy shot in the lungs. 

 The Pathan who had my express loosed it off, missing 

 him clean, and sending the bullet whizzing across past 

 me within a couple of feet of my head. The rhinoceros 

 thundered on, and I gave him another heavy shot, raking 

 forward, just as he was disappearing. 



The Pathan was profuse in his apologies for having 

 fired across at me. I was his father, his mother and 

 all his relatives rolled into one. The pull off of the rifle 

 was much lighter than the military arm to which he was 

 accustomed. The rifle went off sooner than he ex- 

 pected. It was also so long in the stock that he could 



