The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-30

thought we saw, four or five elephants
or Dig ANIMALS of some kind, grazing
about two miles away. They were the
other size OF an enormous swamp, and
10 approach them required not only
traversing this. but circiing through 4
for the sake of the wind
we plunged, accordingly, into this
vast maze Of reeds, following the twist
ing paths made through them by the
game, and not knowing what we might
come upon at every step. The ground
under foot was quito firm between The
channels md pools of mnd and water.
The air was sitting. The tall reeds
and grasses seemed TO smother one.
and above, through their interlacement,
shone the full blaze of the noondav
sun. To wade ard Waddle through such
country carrying Il double barreled $50
rifle, rot on your shoulder, but in you-
hands for instant service, peering rouad
every corner. suspccting every thorn
bush, for at least two hours, is not SO
pleasant rs II sounds. We emerged at
last on the farthest side, under giol-
lous tree, whose height h2d made IL our
beacon III tnc depths Of the swamp, ard
whose far-sprsadinC branches offered q
delicious shade.
1t was , O'Clock. We had been toll.
ing for nine hours and had seen roth
moment our lrck was brilliant.
First, we watched two wild haars
playing al fighting. in a little glade
a most delightful spectacle, which I en-
Joyed for two or three minutes before
they discovered us and fed Next. Il
dozen splendid wator-5uck were seen
browsing on the crest Of little ridge
within easy shot and would have formed
the quarry of any day but this: but
our ambition scared above them and
we would not risk disturbing the Jun
gle for all their beautiful horns. Thea.
thirdly, We came slap up against the
rhlnoceros, How many | am rot ce"-
tain-four, al least. We had actually
walked past them as they stood shell
terlng under the trees. Now, here they
were, so yards away to the left rear
dark, dim, sinister bodies, Just visible
through rhe waving grass
A Battle With RhinoceToC Herd.
When you fire Il heavy rifle in cold
blood II makes Your teeth chatter and
your Lead ache At such moment as
this. one is almost unconscious alike OF
| report and recoil. It might be shot
gun, The nearest rhino was broadside
on. | hit him hard with both barrels
and down he went, to rise again in
hldeous Struggles-head, ears, horn
fiourished agonizingly above the grass,
as if he strove TO advance. while I
loaded and fired twice more. That was
all [ saw myself Two other rhinos
escaped over the MIL and fourth. run
ming the other way, charged the native
sailors carving our observation tower.
who were very glad to drop il and seat.
ter in all directions.
To shoot good specimen OF the
white rhinoccrcs is an event sufficiently
important IN the life of a sportsman
TO make the day ON which it happens
bright and memorable in his calendar.
But more excitement was in store for
us before the night.
About a mile from the spot whers
our victim lay VIC s laTed to rest and
rejoice and. nor least, refresh. The
tower of ryation-whch had been
dragged so painfully along all day
was set up, and. climbing it, ! saw at
once on the edge of the swamp no
fewer than four more ull-grown rhi-
noceros. scarcely 400 yards away. 4
tall ant hill within easy range. gave
us cover to stalk them, and the wind
was exactly right
enough in this hunter S paradise. 1t
is enough 10 say that we killed two
more of these monsters, while one eS-
capped into the swamp, and the fourth
charged wildly down upon lis and gal
loped through our party without APP
parcutiy beng touched hlmsct or IN
iuring any one. Then. marking the
places where the carcasscs lay, we re-
turned homeward through the swamp.
too triumphant and too tired TO worry
about the enraged fugitives who lurked
in its recesses.
1t was very late when we reached
home, and OR friends bad already hewu
the tusks out Of a good elephant which
Colonel Wilson had shot, and were
roasting a buck which had conveniently
replcnishcd our iarGer.
Such was our day at Hippo Camp. 10
which the ardent sportsman is recon-
mended 10 repair, when he can get some
one TO show him the way.
Copyright, 1909. by Winston Churchill.)
Next week Mr.. Churchill will bring
his series of African articles to a close
by describing his journey down the
White Nile TO civilization again. Be
sides being an account Of river travel
in Africa s heart. the article brings
out vividly the big game hunting and
the perils that viii be Colonel Roose
velt's TO the very last day of his year
in the African interior.)
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