ELEPHANT HUNTING. 551 



being extremely powerful, and a hot, dry wind prevailing all 

 the afternoon. I told Carey that we were certain of having 

 a good night's sport, and I was right, fer we undoubtedly 

 had about the finest night's sport and the most wonderful 

 that was ever enjoyed by man. 



A little before the sun went down, leaving our kraal, we 

 held to the fountain, having with us our heavy-metaled rifles, 

 karosses and two Bakalahari. We also had two small guns, 

 my double-barreled Westley Richards and Carey's single- 

 barreled gun. As we approached the fountain, a stately 

 bull giraffe stood before us ; the heat of the day had brought 

 him thither, but he feared to go in and drink ; on observing 

 us, he walked slowly away. Two jackals were next detected. 

 Guinea-fowl, partridges, two or three sorts of pigeon and 

 turtle-dove, and small birds in countless thousands, were 

 pouring in to drink from every airt, as we walked up to our 

 hiding-place and lay down. In a few minutes the sun was 

 under ; but the moon was strong and high (it being within 

 three nights of the full), and the sky was clear, with scarcely 

 a cloud. Very soon a step was heard approaching from the 

 east : it was a presuming black rhinoceros. He came up 

 within ten yards of the hiding-hole, and, observing us with 

 his sharp, prying eye, at once came slowly forward for a 

 nearer inspection. I then shouted to him ; but this he did 

 not heed in the slightest. I then sprang up and waved my 

 large kaross, shouting at the same time. This, however, 

 only seemed to amuse Borel^ for he stood within four yards 

 of us, with his horn threatening our momentary destruction, 

 nor would he wheel about until I threw a log of wood at him. 

 Black rhinoceroses are very difiBcult to scare when they do 

 not get the wind ; the best way to do so is to hit them with 

 a stone — that is, in the event of the sportsman not wishing 

 to fire ofi" his gun. 



Soon after BorM^ departed, four old bull elephants drew 



