WILD LIFE ACROSS THE WORLD 



camera, two spearmen, and a couple of ordinary carriers, 

 I was keeping my eyes open for fresh spoor, but 

 not paying much attention to the scenery in general. 

 Casually I noticed what looked like a sort of small 

 mound in front of me ; but certainly I should not have 

 remembered having seen it at all had it not suddenly 

 become animated. Then, to my horror, I realised 

 what it was — a rhino ! Moreover, with lightning-like 

 rapidity that rhino had started to charge straight down 

 on me. 



I gave one warning shout of " Rhino ! " and made 

 off at my top speed for some trees on my left. I know 

 that I am a pretty good runner ; however, my chance of 

 escape would have been very small but for the pluck 

 of one of my Masai spearmen. Without a moment's 

 hesitation this savage dashed in between us, confusing 

 the rhino by mixing his scent with mine. For a second 

 the animal hesitated, giving me time to save myself, 

 then he was off after the Masai, who just managed to 

 get up a tree as the huge creature reached the foot. 

 I never saw anyone else climb so quickly; it was 

 really a hairbreadth escape. 



The second spearman was every whit as brave as 

 his mate. Seeing the latter's predicament, he dashed 

 up and drove his weapon into the rhino's lung, drove 

 it right home, a feat requiring no small measure of 

 skill and strength. In the meantime I had recovered 

 my breath, and my first thought was naturally for ray 



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