RHINOCEROS. 
421 
aside, and proceeded towards another of the hun- 
ters placed in ambush, from whom they received a 
third fire. My dogs, on the other hand; ' harassed 
them prodigiously, which still increased their rage. 
They kicked at them in the most terrible manner ; 
ploughed up the plain with their horns ; and, dig- 
ging furrows in it seven or eight inches in depth* 
threw around them a shower of pebbles and stones. 
During this time, we all kept approaching, in or- 
der to surround th^m more closely, and to unite 
against them our forces. The multitude of enemies 
by which they found themselves enclosed rendered 
them completely furious. The male, however, sud- 
denly stopped ; and, turning round to attack the 
dogs, endeavoured to rip up their bellies with his 
horns ; and, while he was engaged in pursuing them, 
the female quitted him, and made her escape. 
I was highly pleased at her flight, which I con- 
sidered as a fortunate circumstance; for it is cer- 
tain that, notwithstanding our number, and our arms, 
we should have been much embarrassed by two so 
formidable adversaries. I must even confess, that, 
without the assistance of my dogs, we should not have 
been able to combat, but with great hazard and 
danger, the one that remained. The bloody traces 
which he left wherever he went, announced that he 
had received more than one wound ; but, reduced 
to despair, he only defended himself with the greater 
obstinacy. 
After a fruitless attack, which continued for some 
time, he began to retreat ; and seemed as if de- 
sirous of gaining some bushes, apparently with a 
view of finding shelter, and to pretent his being 
harassed but in front. I guessed his stratagem ; 
and, in order to disappoint him, I rushed towards 
the bushes, and made a sign to the two hunters who 
were nearest me to advance thither also. He was only 
thirty paces from us, when we took possession ; ac« 
