Rhino, and how not to shoot them 



bush, the beast swerving neither to the right nor 

 to the left for any obstacle, but leaving a broad 

 path behind him, from which escape would have 

 been impossible had we again met him face to face. 

 At 2 p.m., being many miles from camp, without 

 food or drink, having had practically none all day, 

 and being obliged to perpetually carry the 12-bore, 

 I decided that it would take us all our time to get 

 back ; so we turned, and, disappointed though I 

 was, I fancy none of us were really sorry. The 

 rhino was thoroughly roused, was evidently in no 

 amiable temper, and the odds in this bush were 

 rather on his bagging us than vice versa. 



Late in the afternoon, on the edge of the 

 heavy cover, we met Eustace, some men, and a 

 spare pony coming out after the report of the 

 cold-oryx man to fetch home our remains. I was 

 never more glad to get on a horse in my life, 

 and the thirst I had when I got in well, it 

 would have fetched a big price in some places ; 

 as it was, I did good justice to our somewhat 

 uncommon beverage, tea and sugar, only with 

 whisky instead of, or as well as, milk highly 

 recommended. 



157 



