Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-06-05

front of us. steady itself III the air, and
then dart of. lluttering its wings to try
to get us to follow it. For some time
the men pail no attention, supposing
that the honey guide had merely, rs
usual, found nest of honey and
wanted us to go and open it, and give
it share. But it became SO excited
that my head tracker said that per-
haps the bird had found an elephant,
and we had better go where it wanted
us to.
FINALLY I consented, aud three of
us started OFF on horseback, the little
bird going on ahead, stopping every
few moments to see if we were COM
ing, and then flying on, taking us to-
reached it the bird plunged in, but
since we were forced to remain out
side, it quickly returned, and flew to
an open path or lane, into which we
went.
"For at least three-Quarters of a
mile We followed our little guide over
country so rough that we often
thought of going back. Indeed, l was
about to suggest doing SO, when one
of my men held up his hand, upon
which we all stopped.
"For the last hundred yards we had
been in the spoor or trial of some ami
NAL, or of many, and were evidently
going down to pool.
Gas we halted we heard the chatter
of the honey bird just ahead, and we
knew that we had reached the end Of
our quest.
Cooking my gun and dismounting,
Igave my horse to my third man and
started forward.
Gas a matter of precaution I left
the spoor and took to the bush. Af-
ter walking slowly OH for few mo-
ments I came suddenly across sight
that brought me to o dead stop. For
tunately, I was behind large tree,
for there, in the soft mud right in front
of me lay a gigantic black rhinocercs
one of the most vicious of its kind.
my first thought was to 60 back
and get one of the men, but as 1 de-
liberated the great animal moved.
This determined me, and aiming over
rest formed by branch, 1 fired.
"ln an instant the stiffness was
broken by perfect babel of sounds,
composed of the cries of birds and other
small creatures, above which 1 heard q
snort like that of steam engine, as
the enormous form of the rhinoceros
rose from the black mud.
"For moment he stood looking
about, then, seeing the smoke, he low
cred his head, and dashed at me.
81 had barely time to spring aside
when the vicious animal struck the
tree behind which had been standing,
and so violent was the charge that the
trunk completely gave way, falling on
the other side. One of the branches
Just missed me, and to avoid trouble !
fell fiat in the grass and kept still,
knowing this to be my only chance.
"In few moments the animal recov-
cred himself and stood breathing hard.
Perhaps I might then have been able
to settle him; but unfortunately my
men, hearing the shot and not know.
ing what was the matter, came riding
up, and before they were aware they
were within thirty feet of the enraged
brute.
81 cried out in order to attract his
attention, and hastily fired; but up
went his tail, aud like shot he dashed
at one of the horses,
"The poor native riding it made a
desperate effort to turn; but just as he
got the horses head around, the horns
of the enraged rhinoceros ripped open
the horse and killed the rider. The
murderous brute then repeatedly
charged the PROSTATE animal.
"While it was thus engaged sent
two bullets into its lungs, and it died
charging at the smoke of my gun, finally
falling not ten feet from me."-San
Francisco Examiner.