416 
AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 
miles around. ’ Here we turned into a broad elephant and 
rhinoceros path, worn deep and smooth by the genera¬ 
tions of huge feet that had tramped it; for it led from the 
dry inland to a favorite drinking place on the Nile. Along 
this we walked until Kassitura made out the trail of two 
rhino crossing it at right angles. They were evidently 
feeding and seeking a noonday resting place; in this coun¬ 
try the square-mouthed rhinoceros live on the grassy flats, 
sparsely covered with small thorn-trees, and only go into 
the high reeds on their way to drink. With Kassitura and 
Kongoni in the lead we followed the fresh trail for a mile 
or so, until we saw our quarry. The stupid beasts had 
smelt us, but were trotting to and fro in a state of inde¬ 
cision and excitement, tails twisting and ears cocked, 
uncertain what to do. At first we thought they were a bull 
and a small cow; but they proved to be a big cow with 
good horns, and a calf which was nearly full grown. The 
wind and sun were both exactly wrong, so Kermit could 
not take any photos; and accordingly he shot the cow 
behind the shoulder. Away both animals went, Kermit 
tearing along behind, while Grogan and I followed. After 
a sharp run of a mile and a half Kermit overtook them, 
and brought down the cow. The younger one then trotted 
threateningly toward him. He let it get within ten yards, 
trying to scare it; as it kept coming on, and could of course 
easily kill him, he then fired into its face, to one side, so as 
to avoid inflicting a serious injury, and, turning, off it went 
at a gallop. When I came up the cow had raised itself on 
its forelegs, and he was taking its picture. It had been 
wallowing, and its whole body was covered with dry caked 
mud. It was exactly the color of the common rhino, but 
