ENCOUNTER WITH RHINOCEROSES 



215 



making for a solitary little tree some distance off. I saw it 

 was hopeless to think of reaching it, and there was not so much 

 as a blade of straw for cover anywhere. And behind the dead 

 zebra, which would have been better than nothing, three of 

 my men were already crouching. There was nothing for it 

 but to brave the situation out, so I knelt on one knee, the 

 better to take aim, and, my elephant gun in my hand, waited 

 to fire till I could hope to kill. But it seemed a long time 



ATTACKED BY RHINOCEROSES. 



before I could get a chance of covering the shoulder of either 

 of the huge beasts, and I knew a shot would be useless any- 

 where else. So I did not pull the trigger till one of the animals 

 was only some eight or ten paces off. The force of the heavy 

 bullet, propelled by half an ounce of powder, would, at least, 

 check its charge. I saw it stagger and fall, but the next 

 moment it was on its feet again. It was not killed, but 

 its ardour was cooled, for it turned away, followed by its 



