The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-02-27

snd,) and trampled on me with great VII
lenoe, her foro quarter passed over my bod'
Struggling for life, I seized my opportunit,
and as she was recovering herself for . n
pewal Of q charge, I scrambled out from bs
tween her hind legs.
But the enraged beast had not yet don
with mo! Scarcely had I regained my fee
before she struck mo down second time
and with her horn ripped up my right this'
(though not very deeply frum near the kno
to the hip; with her forefeet, moreover
she hit me . terrific blow on the left should
or near the back of the neck. My ribs ben
under the enormous weight and pressure
and for . moment, must, as believe, hav'
lost couscioumos-I have at least very indis
.inct notions of what afterwards took place
AL remember Is, that when l raised m,
head heard furious snorting and plung
ing among the neighboring bushes.
l now arose, though with great dificulty
and made my way, IN the best manner
was able, towards . largo tree near at hand
for shelter; but this procaution was need
less the beast, for the time at least, showed
no inclination further to molest me. Either
in the melee, or owing to tho confusion caus'
ed BY her wounds, she had lost sight of me
or she felt satisfied with the revenge she had
taken. Be that as It may, escaped with
my life, though sadly wounded and severely
bruised, in which disabled state had great
difficulty in getting back to my 'skarm.'
During the greater part Of the conflict
preserved my presence Of mind; but after
the danger was over, and when I had leisure
to collect my scattered and confused senses,
I was seized with nervous affection, caus.
ing violent trembling. l have since killed
many rhinoceroses as well for sport N
iood; but several weeks elapsed before
could again attack thoss animals with any
GOODNESS.
About sunrise, Kamapyu, my half.caste
boy, whom l had left on the preceding even
ing, about half q mile away came to tht
'skarm' to convey my guns and other thing
to our enc,mpment. In a few words l re-
lated to him the mishap that had befaller
me. He listened with seeming incrcdulity
but the sight of my gashcd thigh soon con
vinced him that was not in joke.
afterwards directed him to take one o
the guns and proceed in search of the wound
ed rhinoceros, cautioning him to be careful
in approaching the beast, which ! had rea
son to believe was not yet dead. He hat
only been absent o few minutes when
heard cry Of distress. Striking my hant
against my forehead, I exclaimed
"Good God the brute has attacked tn
lad, also!"
Scihng hold Of my rifle, scrambled thro
the bushes as fast as my crippled condition
would permit and when had proceeds
two or thrce hundred yards, scene sudden
" presented itself that I shall wildly re
member to the last days Of my existence
Among some bushes, and within couple o
yards Of each other, stood the rhinoceros an'
the young savase; the former supporting
herself on three legs, covered with blood an
froth, and snoring in the most furious man
ner; the latter petni6ed wit fear-spell
bound, as it were-and rireted to the spot
Creeping, therefore to the side Of tho rhinoc
eros, opposite to that on which the beas
charged wildly to and fro without any dis
tinct object. Whilst she was thus Oecupie
poured In shot after shot, but thought sd
would never fall. At length, however, sh
sank slowly to the ground; and imaginin
that she was in her death agonies. and tina
all danger was over, walked unhesitatine
ly close up to her, and was on the point
placing tho muzzle Of my gun to her ear
give her tho coup de grace, when to my hol
ror, she once more rose on her legs.
Taking o hurried aim, I pulled the tri gge'
and instantly retreated. with the beast J
ull pursuit. The race, however, was
short one; for, just as threw myself int
bush for safety, she fell dead at my feet
10 near mo indeed, that l could have touch
cd her with the muz,le Of my ride An
other moment, and I should probably hav
been impaled on her murderous horn, whic
though short was was sharp as razor.
When rejecting on the wonderful an
providential escapes recently experienced
could not help thinking that had bee
spared for some good purpose, and my hear
was lifted in humble gratitude to the Al
mighty, who had thus extended over me Iii
protecting hand.