The National tribune., 1899-03-30

on the opposite side, and between both
bodies the heavy trap was lowered without
difficulty. Piles of stout slaves had been
brought to make its opening secure. which
now used rs levers soon set the structure in
proper position. 1t nearly closed the gulch
at that point, where pickets wattled with
brush speedily filled in all interstices No
doubt this beast conld have broken through;
and so with wild elephants driven into a
keddah. Neither, -lowever, know how to ap-
ply their strength on critical occasions; they
always use it at the wrong moment, and
fail-elephants because hysterical agitation
se:s them crazy, and rhinoceros for the
reason that he has no sense at any time.
After completing these arrangements every
body got back again i'll rear of our quarry.
who was reported TO be standing still. When
the Talookdar and his guests walked eau
tiously within sight there, indeed, stood the
huge brute, looking rs perfectly placid as if
no enemy were within thousand leagues
Nothing prevented US from seeing all that
tyent on, for, like many other dangerous
beasts, it never looked up. Moreover, unless
very close and in motion, men whose efiluvia
did not reach its nostrils would not have been
recognized.
Then came the tug of war Some attend
up til
went our rhinoceros in an opposite direction,
making good time, too, considering his short
legs Catching sight of the stopped up exit.
he wheeled and came galloping back, making
those absurd little sounds which are SO in
congruOus with such vast bulk.
Of course, everyone fed or climbed out of
reach, except one unfortunate wretch whose
hand clasp on the crumbling wall gave way
and sent him down under the animals feet
Bringing up with Sudden wrench not to
have been expected in so awkward an ami
NAL, the ThinocerOs swung his great head
and single rip tore his PROSTATE foe COM
pletely open. One shrill yell and he was
dead; that frightful injury had been inflicted
almost as quickly as 4 swOrd-cut. Instead
of going mad, however, squealing, prancing,
stamping on and goring the body, as its
African relative would have done, this crea-
turc guieted down after some aimless
plunges; furthermore, it apparently forgot
where it was going, and walked back again
toward the cage.
Seeing is believing" says an old prov
erb, but there needed 10 be actual oiserva-
tiOn i'll order that one should credit the sur
passing stupidity of what followed. This
oyergrown idiot saGntered along, stopping
now and then with n preposterous appearance
of thinking about something, and thus drivel-
ing on to his ignomini0us end, came upon
the trap again. That did not irighten him
now-far from it. If he had been born there
the place could scarcely have been more
familiar. Poking his ugly nose about, he
shipped off some thorn twigs, and naturally
| never saw the bait of fresh brush until it be-
came impossible to overlook this any longer
then he deliberately walked in
The compartment was broad and high
enough not to inconvenience him. but the
only way OF getting out was by backing. and
| that instantly became impossible A dozen
trackers leaped down silently as shadows
and with the dcxterity acquired by perfect
training slipped those thick bamboos which
they carried into apertures provided for them.
The situation had dawned upon his weak
mind by this time. He attempted TO back
and could not; there was no room for turning
round, and being unable TO get any headway.
the bars in front merely bent without break
! ing. These Intellectual efforts excited another
short-llved fit of rage, during which the brute
performed war dance TO an accompaniment
of its own ridiculous whistling but as all
this stamping was done upon solid earth. no.
body wished to interfere before the break
down ceased spontaneously.
Now all that remained was to make n floor
after the same fashion adopted when an un-
wary tiger has fallen into pit, though it
could be done more easily. There existed no
need for throwing earth through bars until
their captive rose TO the surface, SO they
simply inserted heavy bamboos and lashea
them firmly. making an end by punching
the prisoner till he pranced over on that part