IV THE NDOROBO COUNTRY 85 



plants and shrubs covered the ground. I had cHmbed the 

 koppie with my glasses, and made out an ostrich and a rhino 

 with a big calf in the distance ; and, being anxious to get some 

 meat for my caravan, I went out with old " Papa " to shoot 

 something. I found the two rhinos lying down, and got close 

 up to them. I was just about to shoot the big one in the head 

 when she changed her position, and when I tried to get farther 

 round so as to obtain a side shot, she became aware in some 

 way of my proximity (perhaps she heard me — she could not 

 have scented me, as the wind was right) and suddenly jumped 

 up and faced me. I was very near indeed and did not care to 

 wait, so fired as well as I could for her throat ; for, owing to 

 the way she stood, her chest was not exposed. I was very 

 sorry aftervv-ards I had fired, as she galloped right away, and, 

 though we followed the blood spoor a long distance, as usual 

 when a rhino once gets well away, she kept on for miles and 

 miles and we had to give it up. I was particularly disgusted 

 with this abominable bungle, as I hate wounding an animal 

 uselessly, and I was specially desirous of getting meat that day. 

 Sweeping round, on our return, towards the river-bed above 

 mentioned, I soon spied two elands among some thorn bushes. 

 I tried to stalk them, but they saw me and made off; not, 

 however, straight away,, and as they crossed me at a swinging 

 trot I gave the second (a big bull) a good shot, though a little 

 far back, with my .450 (solid bullet). I followed full split, 

 and, after a hard run downhill, caught up to him, very sick 

 and going dead slow. Creeping nearer I gave him a perfect 

 shot behind the shoulder, and he galloped into the river-bed 

 close by and collapsed — a splendid massive beast and fat. 

 The cow waited, and I could have shot her too, but thought 

 " enough," and let her go. While men were fetched to carry 

 the meat I skinned the head, a nice one. I had a hard job to 

 turn the eland over with only poor old " Papa's " weak help, 

 but managed it. I came back late by moonlight, pleased, the 

 loss of the rhino having after all turned out luckily. On our 



