THE STORY OF THE RHINOCEROS. 
277 
owing to his engagement with his other enemy, and his somewhat defective 
vision, did not see him till too late. 
The great bull elephant thundered on like an avalanche, and in an 
instant more the terrible tusks, nearly seven feet in length in the clear, as 
I judged, were buried in the side of the redoubtable rhinoceros. 
A shrill squeal of pain from the latter, and he tried in vain to extricate 
himself. The battle was over. He had slain two elephants, and died game 
himself. 
I cannot tell you the absorbing interest with which I had watched this 
TWO-HORNED AFRICAN RHINOCEROS. 
curious conflict. True I was an unwilling spectator, for I did not dare to 
move out of the shadow of the tree, for fear of attracting notice. Now, 
however, an idea struck me. 
Excited and furious as the old bull was, it was probable that the flush of 
his victory might make him tenfold more dangerous to me. 
The battle had moved so close to me, during the vicissitudes of its 
varying fortune, that the last elephant, in his fall, had almost brushed the 
loliage of a bush I stood behind, My resolution was taken in an instant. 
