XVI 
RHINOCEROS 
iii 
feeling, and a misty and indistinct view of the 
situation, was sufficient to assure him that something 
must have happened. He felt certain that he must 
be hurt, but he had no pain. He began to feel 
himself with his hands, and he felt something wet 
and soft upon one thigh. 
The fact was, that the long horn of the rhinoceros 
had passed through his thigh. It not only passed 
through his thigh, but through the saddle flap, then 
completely through the horse, and was stopped by 
the flap upon the other side. The horse and rider 
together were thrown into the air, and the inversion 
was so complete, that one of Oswell’s wounds, a cut 
upon the head, was occasioned by the stirrup-iron, 
which proved the inverted position. 
The horse was of course killed upon the spot, 
and the Caffres came to their master’s assistance, 
and placed him on his spare horse, upon which they 
held him until they reached the camp. This wound 
kept the great hunter prostrate for several months. 
It is many years since Oswell told me this story, but 
I think I have narrated it exactly. 
It must be remembered that this rhinoceros 
belonged to the so-called harmless species. This 
incident is sufficient to exhibit the utter fallacy 
of a belief “ that any kind of animal is invariably 
harmless.” We find that many beasts which are 
accredited with bad characters conduct themselves 
occasionally as though abject cowards ; in the same 
manner, those which are considered timid may, 
when least expected, exhibit great ferocity. 
