Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30

Ch iyiuB W rise, IOuuu LUdi L Noo poNiJ
injured. A ragged wound an inch deep and
tour inches in length had been torn In my
leg by the horn of the fierce brute; but, tortu-
natey, no bones were broken, although IT took
some time before | could convince myself that
this was the fact.
l made an effort to RISE and, by holding on
to the branches around, / succeeded in gain.
ing my feet. l looked about for my gun, and
alter time saw it lying under some bushes,
ten or twelve yards from me. ] contrived to
drag, myself to it, and luckily found it unin-
jured.
My cartridge-belt, however, had been torn
from my shoulders, and | could not see 1T
anywhere about. While searching every spot
with my eyes where | thought it could have
been thrown, | noticed two or thEee cart
ridges that had fallen from it. These, with
infinite difficulty, l succeeded in getting: l
now Immediately loaded my gun and laid it
beside sme.
1t was most fortunate circumstance that
at the moment the rhinoceros struck me
had turned sideways. l was thus hit on the
strongest part OF the leg, otherwise the limb
must have been broken, or l must have been
killed on the spot
A"On looking round, L observed that where |
lay was at least five yards from where l had
been tossed, and can only suppose the rhi-
noceros had lost sight of me-these animals
not seeing very well close to them-and its
sense OF SMELL to which it greatly trusts,
may perhaps as well have-been dulled by the
heavy charge of powder going off almost in its
face.
had thus escaped its observation, and,
doubtless, on not seeing its enemy anywhere
about, it had made off. Although had been
so severely mauled, | was grateful it was no
worse had seen one or two cases similar
to this in which the injured persons had re-
covered In few weeks My only appre-
henslon was that l might meet with other
dangerous animals; and, having but three
| mot l,h @l,,
pect, crippled as l was.
had eaten nothing all day since break
last, nor did l feel hungry, but | would have
given worlds for. drink. could hear the
rushing OF the river close by, and the sound
added to the torture l endured.
AT length | essayed to crawl toward it.
lhe least movement gave me great pain,
and 1t was long time before | made ten
yards Still, little by little, frequently rest
ing crawled on, and at last got as far as
the carcass OF the hippopotamus which was
as yet untouched.
The water was none of the best, but never
did nectar seem so delicious to mortal admit
ted to the feasts of the gods as did that
drink to me. l felt refreshed and more hope
full after it.
1t was now evening, and l had been many
hours lying helplessly on my back or on my
right side. To turn was an agony from which
shrank. and after the futile efforts 1 had
made to walk, | judged it better to remain
quiet until the pain in my leg would allow of
my, attempting to crawl back to the camp.
As the light. gradually grew dim, life ap-
peared to wake up within the gathering
gloom of the jungle Outside the reeds, I
could hear the blowing and believing of
hippopotami and the wild chorus of count
less waterfowl.
In the jungle there were many rustlings
and strange murmurings. Occasionally a
horrible cackling scream would rend the
silence with a suddenness that made me
start. but knowing the cowardly nature of
the hyena, | cared little for the hideous veil.
A quick rustling close to me caused me to
turn my head A fine bushbuck had step-
ped out of the reeds, but seeing me at the
same moment it stood at gaze as if hardly
knowing what to make of the strange appa-
rition II then bounded off.
Presently three more came directly toward
me. and towering behind them, 7 saw the
bulky form of bull buffalo flaw of
wind carried my scent to their nostrils, and
on the instant all four animals halted as II
transfxed, turning their heads inuuiringly
from side to side as they shifted the air.
As yet they had not seen me, although |
half lay, half sat, directly before them: but
being perfectly motionless, and my clothes
harmonizing with the surrounding tints, ]
escaped detection. The scent. however, was
enough for them. They quietly withdrew
nor could I hear sound, so silently did they
retreat.
The carcass of the hippopotamus was quite