386 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



early morning ; the sun had just appeared above the 

 horizon, and our path lay through a small opening 

 in the bush, perhaps ten acres in extent. We were 

 in need of meat, and seeing a giraffe in front I fired 

 a shot at it from my Winchester. The report awoke 

 two rhinoceroses taking a morning nap, not fifty feet 

 to the left of the caravan, and in close proximity to 

 the porters. In a moment loud cries of "Faro! Faro!" 

 (Rhinoceros!) were heard; and looking back I saw 

 my men scattering in all directions, but no rhinoceros. 

 Soon from among the mass of my men I saw one of 

 their number shot up into the air to the height of 

 twenty feet, and presently there emerged from the 

 crowd a rhinoceros with horn lowered to the earth. 

 He first viciously charged a large wooden packing- 

 case, which lay in his path ; and having smashed that 

 he tossed to one side a tusk of ivory weighing eighty- 

 six pounds. These, however, were but diversions, his 

 latent intent being to overtake two of my fattest por- 

 ters, who were running, yelling, perspiring, and puffing 

 in front of the infuriated beast. Owing to the mass- 

 ing of my men I was unable to shoot until these two 

 fleeing negroes had passed within a few feet of me, 

 and the rhinoceros was almost upon them. I gave 

 him a shot from my Winchester; it seemed to have 

 no effect but to cause him to make a perceptible gain 

 upon my men. His horn appeared to be within a few 

 inches of them, when a second and more fortunate 

 shot from my rifle broke his fore leg, and brought him 

 to the ground. He fell just three paces from where 

 I stood. Not knowing where I had struck him, and 

 seeing him fall, I thought he was dead ; but when I 



