The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-08
SHOOTING A RHINOCEROs.
Two OF Them Charged ~ Hunter In an
African Forest

Mr.. IL. w. Seton .karr i'm the July Gem
tury describes his experiences After Big
Game In Africa and India" Shortly
after bagging his first elephant. the
author started after the two horned rhi-
noceros. lie gives the following account OF
his experience: As camo round bush l
saw at the bottom of kind of natural
alley in the forest, framed In like a pic
turo by the trees. "a massive old femae
rbinocerous. Sbo was facing me, and
standing halt in sunshine half in
shadow. From bush protruded the hind
quarters of another. signing to the
Somalis To keep back, instantly sat
down and drew bead" upon hor chest.
The distance was about 20 yards, and
although the wind was adverse 10 her, ana
we had made no noise, sho must have
seen Us like moving shadows among the
trees, and was evidently full of suspicion
and distrust.
If ever took careful aim IL was at that
moment, ana under cover Of the smoke L
shifted my position as the rhinoceros came
charging down upon us. giving three on
four sharp whiffs like jets Of steam, evil
IDENTITY with the intention of clearing tho
enomy away from the rear before making
her escape toward the front against the
wind. Having. AS sho supposed, effected
this manoeuyer-- u very usual one on the
part of the rhinoceros-she swerved of.
and the two broke away across the forest,
crash after crash, dy ing away IN the dis
tance, marking their course as they re-
ceded. On perceiving the rhiuoceros go
OFF apparently uninjured, my Somalis gave
full won't 10 their disappointment, making
extravagant gestures. and using what
sounded like bad language. yet still IN
half whispers, as they knew instintivoly
that the animals might not have gono Tar.
after all, especially II tho one | had tired
at bad really received "a mortal wound.
The tracks we now followed wero deep
holes and furrows imprinted by the ami
mails at full speed. We had not gone far
before / again saw the larger ot the two
rhinoceroses standing broadsido on, and
quite motionless, under "a bush which con-
cealed the head. Giving my three Somalis
TO understand that they must remain
quiet. l aimed once more at the animal's
shoulder, taking care that no twig or
branch was In the line of fire, knowing
how easily bullet may become deilected.
My shot was followed by couple of
short. angry snorts, the stamp of heavy
feet. ana an appalling crashing, which ad-
vanced and then swept round toward the
left. Another cautious advance on our
part and not far off / saw, near the center
of an opon space, the smaller of the two
rhinoceroses, but not the larger one.
A shot delivered standing, from the
shoulder was followed by two shrill
squeaks, as tho animal tottered few
PAGES and fell over on its side-a sound
most disproportionate 70 the size ana
bulk Of SO large creature, but which 1
instantly recognized, from Sir Samuel
Bakers description as the death-cry OF Z! Q
rhinoceros and the hearing of 10 filled me
with hunters Joy. While | was reload-
ing the Somalis had crept forward with
their spears, relying upon their own
agility In evading any charge delivered py
the larger one, which i knew must surely
be somewhere near at hand. After peer
ing over a low bush they executed war
dance upon the ground beyond. for there
were the two rhinocoroses lying stone dead
almost side by side. My Somalis gave
way 20 shouts and exuberant mirth; they
were transformed from scowling nonds
soured by the white mans folly, into radi'
ant brown angels, and / allowed them TO
stroke my face and pat me on the back
without reprimand.