The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-10-02
CHAPTER IL.
Continued.

lue Duilet struck true ana with 2
thud he dropped his great head upon
the ground, groaned and died
This little matter having been at.
tended to, /, with the assistance Of
Gobo, who had now found his feet,
went on TO extricate our unfortunate
companion from the aloe bush.
This we found a thorny task, but al
last he was dragged forth nninjured
though iii very pious and prayerful
frame OF mind.
His spirit had certainly looked that
way" he said, or he would now have
been dead.
AS never like to Interfere with true
piety, I did not venture to suggest that
his spirit had deignpd to make use OF
my eight-bore in his interest.
Having dispatched this boy back to
the camp TO tell the bearers to come
and cut that buffalo up, bethought
me that owed that rhinoceros a
grudge which / should love to repay.
So. without saying word of what
was III my mind to Gobo, who was now
more than ever convinced that fate
walked about loose in Wambe's coun-
try. just followed on his spoor.
He had crashed through the bush till
he reached the little glade.
Then. noderating his pace some
what, he had followed the glade down
itJ entire length, and once more turned
to Che right, through the forest, shap-
ing lis course for the open land that
lies between the edge Of the bush and
the river
Having followed him for a mile or so
farther, found myself quite OH the
open. l took out my glass and searched
the plain.
About mile ahead was something
brown-as I thought, The rhinoceros.
advanced another quarter of a mile and
looked once more-it was not the rhi-
noceros, hut big ant-heap
This was puzzIing, but / did not like
to give it mp, because I knew from his
spoor that he must be somewhat ahead.
But as the wind was blowing straight
from me toward the line that he had
followed, and MS a rhinoceross can smell
you for about a mile, it would NOT. !
felt. be safe to follow his spoor any
farther
So l made detour of mile and
more, until nearly opposite the ant
heap; then once more searched the
plain.
1t was no good; could see nothing
OF him. and was about to give it up
and start after some oryx / saw in
the distance, when suddenly, at a dis
lance Of about three hundred yards
from the ant-heap. and on its farther
side, saw my rhino stand up in a
patch of grass.
Heayensl' thought to myself,
"he's off again.
But no; after standing staring for a
minute orfwo. he once more lay down.
Now found myself in n quandary.
AS you know, a rhinoceros is a very
short-sighted brute; indeed, his sight
is as bad as his scent is good.
OF this fact he is perfectly aware,
but he always makes tile most of his
natural gifts.
For instance. when he lies down he
invariably does so with his head down
wind.
Thus IL any enemy crosses his wind.
he will still be able to escape or at.
tack him, and if. on the other hand. the
danger approaches up wind. he will at
least have a chance Of seeing it.
Otherwise one might, BY walking del
icately, actually kick him up like a
partridge if only the advance was
made up wind.
Well. the point was how on earth
should / get within shot Of this rhi-
noceros.
After much deliberation determined
TO try side advance, thinking that
might SO get a shoulder shot.
Accordingly we started IN crouch
ing attitude, first, Gobo holding on
to my coat-taiIs, and the other boy
on to Gobo's MOCHA.
I always adopt this plan when stalk
ing big game. for If you follow any
other system the bearers will get out
Of line.
We got to within three hundred yards
right enough. and then the real difficult
ties began.
The grass had been SO closely eaten
off by game that there was scarcely
any cover.
Consequently II was necessary to so
on our hands and knees. which in my
case in volved laying down the eight.
bore at every step and then lifting ii
up again.
However. I wrIggled along somehow,
and IL 1t had not been for Gobo and his
friend no doubt everything would have
gone well.
But as you have. dare say. oh,
served, a native out stalking is always
of that mind which Is supposed to nc
tuate an octrich.
SO long as his head Is hidden ht
seems TO think that nothing else ear
be seen.
So it was in this instance: Gobo and
the other boy crept along on theIl
hands ana toes. with their heads vel
down. but, tough unfortunately I die
not notice it till too late. bearing thS
fundamental portions Of their frames
high in the air.
Now all animals are quite as sus
picIous Of this ED Of mankind Al
they are o. his face, ana Of this fac
! soon had proof
lust when ne had got within ahou
two hundred yards. and was con
gratulatIn myself that + had not hat