38o 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



from the bush my tent-boy, Sururu, and one of the 

 Wanderobbo guides, their eyes starting out of their 

 heads, while they were running as hard as they could, 

 and endeavoured to dodo:e behind trees. In a second 

 the rhinoceros dashed past me, but so quick was its 

 rush by and disappearance in the bush that I had not 

 time to shoot it. Irritated by the noise and trouble it 

 caused, as well as its near proximity, I plunged into 

 the bush after it. As I sighted it, standing about 

 twenty feet away under a cedar tree, I heard my name 

 called in loud and anxious tones by Karscho, my gun- 

 bearer. He said: "Turn back, master; Lieutenant 

 von Hohnel is killed." I at once turned back and 

 followed Karscho, who led me to a spot under a tree 

 about fifty yards away, where lay the apparently life- 

 less body of my friend and companion. 



Upon hearing the rhinoceros approach. Lieutenant 

 von Hohnel, who, had he not had his rifle in his hand, 

 would have contented himself by dodging it, faced the 

 rush. He saw it approaching him, and waited before 

 firing until the brute presented a fair mark ; but as the 

 animal approached, the men with him became nervous 

 and ran across his line of fire, which prevented him 

 from shooting. Being unable to shoot, on account of 

 the men, and the beast having arrived at close quarters, 

 he attempted to step aside and hide behind a tree ; 

 but was unable to do so, for he found this point of 

 vantage already taken by two or three of the men. 



Even when he discovered that he was unable to 

 obtain shelter. Lieutenant von Hohnel hesitated to fire, 

 fearing that he would alarm the elephants of which we 

 were in search. He had already had much experience 



