IV 
THE NDOROBO COUNTRY 
85 
plants and shrubs covered the ground. I had climbed the 
koppie with my glasses, and made out an ostrich and a rhino 
with a big calf in the distance ; and, being anxious to get some 
meat for my caravan, I went out with old “ Papa ” to shoot 
something. I found the two rhinos lying down, and got close 
up to them. I was just about to shoot the big one in the head 
when she changed her position, and when I tried to get farther 
round so as to obtain a side shot, she became aware in some 
way of my proximity (perhaps she heard me—she could not 
have scented me, as the wind was right) and suddenly jumped 
up and faced me. I was very near indeed and did not care to 
wait, so fired as well as I could for her throat ; for, owing to 
the way she stood, her chest was not exposed. I was very 
sorry afterwards I had fired, as she galloped right away, and, 
though we followed the blood spoor a long distance, as usual 
when a rhino once gets well away, she kept on for miles and 
miles and we had to give it up. I was particularly disgusted 
with this abominable bungle, as I hate wounding an animal 
uselessly, and I was specially desirous of getting meat that day. 
Sweeping round, on our return, towards the river-bed above 
mentioned, I soon spied two elands among some thorn bushes. 
I tried to stalk them, but they saw me and made off; not, 
however, straight away, and as they crossed me at a swinging 
trot I gave the second (a big bull) a good shot, though a little 
far back, with my .450 (solid bullet). I followed full split, 
and, after a hard run downhill, caught up to him, very sick 
and going dead slow. Creeping nearer I gave him a perfect 
shot behind the shoulder, and he galloped into the river-bed 
close by and collapsed—a splendid massive beast and fat. 
The cow waited, and I could have shot her too, but thought 
“ enough,” and let her go. While men were fetched to carry 
the meat I skinned the head, a nice one. I had a hard job to 
turn the eland over with only poor old “ Papa’s ” weak help, 
but managed it. I came back late by moonlight, pleased, the 
loss of the rhino having after all turned out luckily. On our 
