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


try it will put steel holt in your
head. Be civil, if yoI regard your
iitllth." Irhe words were no sooner said
than he lnadcavery petliiar noise, and
he took another step; | did not think
ii exactly Il step in the right direction
for it was towards me nut the -ouhd,
that preceded it were not Indicative of
savageness. They were harsh, but de-
cidedly not angry. ] would not deter
mine rashly-he might not intend mis-
chief-E would not narm the noble
beast ifI could avoid it.
| went to my tree, tied my chaplet
ofJrdrimus leaves around its trunk to
prevent snakes from ascending, struck
Il light and kindled one of my torches,
and was up to the low est branch before
the rhinoceros had stepped ashore.
saw it would be about seven feet above
him if he stood beneath it for the rhi-
noceros raises itself to hook its horn on
all branches it can reach, to break them
down for food, in the seasons when our
food is scarce. / could have joke
with him now and watch his move
ments; on he came, trudging and stump
ing slowly, but earnestly, uttering
sounds which l read as l would the
whines of a dog that wanted to reach
its master, not that they resembled the
canine winnings, but the mode in
which they escaped him impressed me
with that belief so strongly that no con-
sideration could have induced me to
hurt the ANIMAL as laid my roer on
IL iorked branch as weapon for which
| had no present use.
If a billiard table could walk, it must
be in the style of that rhinoceros ut
that time. thought he must be lame
and stiff.
Now, am going to make an ascent
to hunt for snakes, and if find any, to
whip.them with this .tracimus or ormus
A CLOSER ACQUAINTANCE.
searched the tree well, but found
nothing obnoxious. | was rather in
tent upon my task and was silent,
which made my new friend uneasy.
Any nonsense talked, strangely
enough seemed to please the huge beast,
but if ceased for a moment he grunted
and impatiently stamped with one OF
his foreleet till the earth vibrated, and
his face turned upwards revealing the
whole front of his horn. Presently ]
got down. AS l descended my friends
satisfaction was great.
| went down to offer him some bis
cuit-thc attention seemed to plcast
him miehtily-nOt so much, though
for the sake of the bread as having III,
Q near i'm. AS offered the frangapan
r he rubbed his nose against my heat
@ many times, till | put ii inside hi
thick lips, when he crunched it in ;
: style that wOnld have touched the hear
of a t0OthlC,s snilor. ale more slowly
: he got three shares out of four. | wenI
up for more, and to take coffee, for
was thirsty, but inpatence drew M
down very soon. gave him the best
half Of three biscuits-a small supply
for such garrison rs his interior; bu
, my stock was getting low, and hi
might have thought them dry and in
sipid but all his desire appeared to be
to have me near him or TO hear my
} voice talking nonsense. Finding that
to say something, however absurd, wa,
ncediul to his peace, thought of"killins
two birds with one stone," and that, ~
| had given him folly enough, he shoulC
+ have something better. took bool
frsm my knapsack and read aloud, Civ
= ing any dialogue in a Conversations
f tone, and | can assure Mr.. Charles
: Dickens, or whom else it may or ma.
} not'conccrn, that "Pick wick" "never me
with more attentive or apparently
) gratihed listener than" Captain Rhino,
t as called my friend.
| ceased reading to have "A smoke.
| had not INDUCED in twenty Whit
< when Captain Rhino became rs impa
l ticnt rs the gods of II gallery of :
= London theatre. He grunted-no reply
/ gruntcd again, louder and repeated.
no notice taken; grunted very lou'
}, and stamped furiou.ly--sam result
= then, yes, by all the gods of all tn
e theatres both sides of the water, n
t fairly whistled, pretty much as they d
! when they want "mOOSic," only hun
r dred times louder. My ears were picrc
c ed. "What the devil do you make tina
4; noise FORE" asked, and then cam
i, the low, cultural murmurs, compare
. lively, indicating his joy that | wa
h neither dead or spcechless. | began I
+, fancy | should have regular night {
) talking, and to feel no pleasure in tn
n prospect. For the present | would hr
r NOR him-he might grow sleepy q
hungry-,o kept up desultory fir
Il of arrant nonsense between puils q
n 'few aud far between rs he would le
Is me, audhc was tolerably at ease.
rs had filled and nearly smoked ou
n nv mcerschaum the third time, when
d inquired whether his mamma WI
re aware of his not being at home? ii
N was replying in his own murmurin
,e way, when row began on the easter
le lake, I'rombones, big drums, thunde
Is shrll fifes, donkey braying, bagpipe
- sharpening Of saws, roaring of bull
d dying groans and squeaking of unoile
cart wheels, all and sundry, and niue
10 more, in Dutch Medley entrance
1t the ear. The captain turned his ear t
i, wards the water. and looked up to u
G with an know ali-about it sort of nj
;, 1t was plain such rows were not new