The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-29

IL we Udu Ueeu StduuluS up QOuul IL
he would have seen US at that dis
| tance.
So he merely gave two or three shifts,
and then lay down, his head still down
| his back.
But it was clear to me that he was
sleeping with one eye open, and gen
orally in a suspicious and unchristian
frame of mind, and that it was use
less to proceed farther on that stalk;
so we quietly withdrew to consider the
position and study the ground.
Tie results were not satisfactory.
There was absolutely no cover about
except the aEt-heap, which was some
three hundred yards from the rhinoc-
eros upon his up-wind side.
knew that if I tried to stalk him
in front l should fail, and so I should
if I attempted to do so from the
farther side; he or the birds would see
me.
So I came to q conclusions: I would
go to the ant-heap, which would give
him my wind, and instead Of stalking
him l would let him stalk me.
1t was bold step, and one which /
should never advise hunter to take,
but somehow I felt as though rhino
and l must play the hand out.
Iexplained my intentions to the men,
who bothrheld up their hands in hor-
ror.
Their fears for my safety were q lit
tie mitigated, however, when I told
them that I did not expect them to
come with me.
Gobo breathed prayer that / might
not meet fate walking about and the
other one sincerely trusted that my
spirit might look my way when the
rhinoceros charged, and then they both
departed to place of safety.
Taking my eight-bore and half a
dozen spare cartridges in my pocket,
I made detour, and reaching the ant
heap in safety. lay down.
For moment the wind had dropped,
but presently a gentle puff of air
pdSSeu ONei lue anu Dlc" oh to"oAu
the rhinoceros.
By the way, I wonder what it is that
smells so strong about man?
Is it his body or his breath?
/ have never been able to make out,
but I saw somewhere the other day
that in the duck decoys the man who
is working the ducks holds q little
piece of burning turf before his mouth.
and if he does this they cannot smell
him, which looks as though it were the
breath.
Well, whatever it was about me that
attracted his attention the rhinoceros
soon smelled me, and within half a
minute after the puff of wind had
passed he was up and turning round
to get his head up wind.
There he stood for few seconds and
shifted, and then he began to move,
first of all at tr0t, then, as the scent
grew stronger, at furious gallop.
On he came, snorting like runaway
engine, with his tail stuck straight up
in the air; if he had seen me lie down
there, he could not have made better
line.
1t was rather nervous work, I can
tell you, lying there waiting for his
onslaught, for he looked like noun
tain of flesh.
l determined, however not to fire till
could plainly see his eye, for I think
that rule always gives one the right
distance for big game.
So rested my rifle on the ant-heap
and waited for him, kneelng.
At last. when he was about forty
yards away, saw that the time had
come. and aiming straight for the mid
die of the chest. pulled.
Thud went the heavy bullet, and with
Il tremendous snort over rolled the
rhinoceros beneath its shock, just like
q shot rabbit.
But if I had thought that he was
done for 1 was mistaken, for in an
other second he was up and coming at
me as hard as ever, only with his head
held low.
] waited till he was within ten yards,
in the hope that he would expose his
chest, but lie would do nothing of the
sort.
So just had to fire at his head with
the left barrel, and take my chance.
Well, as luck would have it. of
course, the animal put his horn in the
way of the bullet which cut clean
through it about two inches above the
root. and then glanced off into space.
After that things cot rather serious.
My gun was empty and the rhinoc-
eros was rapidly arriving-so rapidly,
indeed. that l came to the conclusion
that had better make way for him.
Accordingly jumped to my feet and
ran to the right as hard as could go.
AS l did so he arrived full tilt,
knocked my friendly ant-heap flat. and
for the second time that day went
most magnificent oropper
This gave ME few seconds start.
and l ran down wind-my word. I did
run.
CHlOFluIldtelS, uOWeNeI. lily Inout91
retreat was observed. and the rhinoc-
eros, as soon as he got his legs again,
set to work TO run after me.
Now no man OH earth can run as
fast as an ifritated rhinoceros can gal
lop, and / knew that he must soon
catch me up.
But having some slight experience OF
this sort of thing, I, luckily for my.
self, kept my head. and as fed man
aged to open my rifle. get the old cart