The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-05-22


sionally falling over. Capt. Rhino'
now thought II time to interfere his
head and horn went up and down as a
bull moves when he thinks evil. He
could see me plainly, by the light of
my lamp as / sat smoking, and looking
mt the fight; his looks said, 'you'll see
some fun presently but he uttered no
sound. He went to work silently, in
all cases l observed he reserved his
rumpetings till victory was achieved.
rather liked that; for silent dogs bite
deepest. Elevating and depressing his
head and his bell rope tail, with its lit
tie tassel fit for night cap at the end
of it, he went off deliberately as qefore
but stern determination in every step.
If those in his way had not made their
wills, their last opportunity was gone.
His horn made forcible entries into ma
ny interiors as he plowed his way
through the mass, casting bodies for
wards, backwards, sideways and all
ways, clearing the path as if an Irish
man Ito the manor born and 'Faugil-a
ballagh' was his family. The lightest
went over his head and back some
yards behind him, many into the lake
eacll side in three minutes the bank
was freed of all the living; only the
deal encumbered it. Then he plunged
| into the eastern lake, after the scudding
legion before him, to the seat of war;
A tho fila nf hnttla u,,rual ,,nn, or
remote, the horrible sounds increased or
diminished. l took the straps off my
knapsack and haversack, passed them
round the branch and my own body, Sc
curely buckling them. My roer was
laid alongside me, the muzzle towards
my feet, everything ready to my hands
in the event of danger, and after COM
mending myself to the care of Him
who was as much with me in those
wids as in the temple, was asleep in
two minutes.
At sunrise my leviathan friend had
not put in an appearance. I was rather
anxious, for l wished to know why he
sought me. was sure he had some
reason for doing so. AS took coffee /
saw his head upon the lake, like small
boat with one mast and no sail, the ri
sing protuberance of his hind quarters
| like another boat Sin tow He swan
slowly till the water, or ink, shoaled,
| then he limped to the bank, up which
he got with difficulty, and walked as if
he had four wooden legs without ank-
les or knee joints, sending forth sounds
which 1 thought denoted gladness to
see me. l saluted him with volley of
nonsense as he approached me. l had
gone down to meet him-he seemed in
great pain, but as pleased as If he had
found fortune. He was very demon
strative, and, being wet, might have
, been dispensed with but he though
otherwise. and his sincerity could no
be questioned. / offered biscuit, but o
that he took no notice; he rubbed hi
head against my hand, and placed hi
face to my chest. l fancy no anima
can be more clumsy than rhinoceros
and, though he was less so than the an
imais exhibited under that name in Eu
rope, his limitations of the move ment,
of lively lapdog were highly ludi-
crous, but what he wanted in grace h,
made up in energy, and, in displaying
it, seemed to forget his pain.
] now saw that he was not so old as
took him. | had seen him at night i'm
perfectly. He was but just at maturity
and fine specimen of his race, being
what |, for want of better term, cal
the rhinoceros major, chasing the inferi
or animal rs the rhinocerOS minor. IL
height he lowered high above the ordi.
nary animals had seen so often, which
/ had chased and been chased y,manN
a time. Subsequently a tape measur,
showed he was fully feet 3 inches higi
at the shoulder, at the quarters ten fee
three inches. His proportions wer
good. He had not the distended stom
generally. The peculiar folds of tn
massive and ponderous hide from tn,
quarter to the shoulder, gave an appear
ance, at IA distance, of large 'saddl
cloth the folds at the bottom had
; sort of edge, which gave it tinishe,
. and ornamental appearance till he cam
near, when it was seen that the Who'll
; was his natural covering. The edg
q was darker than the centre within. Al
, of the superior kind of rhinoceros tina
} | have seen are distinguished by thi
e natural popularity, some having
= more marked than Captain Rhino.'
I That the animal should, H. he clearl
, did, seek me, seemed more than Strang
: to me. This rhinOceros had not bee
: accustomed to the sight of man; h
, wonder when he FIRST beheld me prove
f that, and it was so plainly depicte
q that ! could have no doubt upon II
h. subject; but having seen me, VIII
p should he be so DESTROYS To get upo
~ good terms with me? | could not Vi
: derttand it then; but | had not long |
/ wait for a solution Of the problem.
A SURGICAL OPERATION.
t observed that among all its demon
! strations ofgladness and unmistakab
IS fondness, he seemed very stiff and
e great pain when he turned to NOV
e quickly. In his warmest revealing &
n occasional sound escaped him, indie
:, tive of acute pain. At first attribute
J, this to the last nights warfare but
;, his anguish appeared to be intolcral
d and he at times armed his glances {
h ward his right. flank, and from tn
y =