The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-03-04


Work Havoc with Camp and Outfit
Shooting From Tree TOps-Fright Of
the Native Guides and Carriers.
Around the waso Nyrio river in
East Africa rhinoceroses abound. Al
ter a long march through more than
desolate country inhabited by supersu-
tious natives who It'll blood-curding
stories about witches, vampires ana
such pleasant folk, we camped one
evening on a slope near some trees.
Two friends of mine who had accom-
panied me on my race round the Dark
continent-M. de Rubempre and BeVls
. o'sullivan. both of them splendid
sportsmen-shared one small fire with
me, says writer in the Wide World
magazine, while our carriers and other
attendants made merry a little dis
tance away.
/ was sleeping the sleep of the just,
after a meal off a delicious rhinocerus
tongue, when I was suddenly awak-
ened by a hideous yell. Sitting up,
saw De Rubempre and O'Sullivan come
dashing along in very scanty attire,
running as if they were competing for
q championship. AS they passed me
they shouted something, what. could
not gather. Astounded, l gazed
around in a dazed, half sleepy fashion
and presently saw my flying friends
take refuge behind the sycamore trees
which shaded the camp. Looking in
the opposite direction, was Mortified
to see huge rhinocerus moving brisk
Iy about at the other end of the camp.
Needless to say, hurriedly got out Of
bed was too sleepy and dazed to
think Of weapons, and was about to
join my friends among the trees when
the rhinoceros, with an odd little jump,
disappeared in the bushes, leaving one
of our fires stamped out and some of
the packs knocked as fiat as pancakes.
The excitement gradually subsidized
after the departure of the huge animal,
and once more slurnber fell upon the
] camp But it was apparently decreed
that our peace was to be disturbed
continually during that night, for I
had gone to sleep again, and was
dreaming Of shooting rhinoceroses
with one shot each, like pheasants,
when heard my name pronounced in
q ghsotly whisper. Opening my eyes, 7
saw De Rubempre bending over me-
Whats the matter?'' 1 asked sleep
lily. !. i
Look, mani he murmured, excited
ly; the rhinoceros is returning with
his whole family" ---
oh, bother the rhinoceros!" I said,
turning over lazily, but the French
man shook me until I sat up-with
very bad grace. Not far off, clearly
visible in the bright moonlight, I be-
held a whole herd of rhinoceroses APP
parently examining the camp. Their
looks did not please me, and, rising to
my feet, snatcfed up my gun. I dis
covered. however. that in the decep-
tive light it was impossible to aim with
any certainty. Moreover / reflected
that if once the great brutes became
Infatuated and charged down on the
camp, the Zulu saying, you. shall be
stamped fat" would not only be figu-
ratively, but literally, exemplihed.
I don't know that I have ever been
so uneasy as at that moment, for 1 felt
helpless before this mighty avalanche
of flesh and bone which the least ac-
cident might send rolling irresistibly
toward US. De .Rubempre saw the
danger, too; and although he has
proved his bravery over and over
/. again, he paled and anxiously looked
\ at the trees. o'sullivan only, with his
infectious Irish gayety, did not for a
minute think of the danger.
Presently we detected a movement
among the herd; the huge beasts
seemed to be lining up in some sort Of
order.
Looks as If they were going to re-
produce the charge of Balaklava,' OBJ
served the irrepressible o'Sullivan, and
was inclined to agree with him.
THE TRICKS