Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1910-05-07


IN elephants, which we never
~ overlook. saw a long
- horned rhinoceros standing
close to the path. The length of his
horn. and the hunger of my men, in
duced me to get off and fire at him.
The shot was rather too high. and he
ran off. ! was in the saddle in a mo-
ment and. passing the wounded beast.
pulled up ten yards on one side OF the
line OF his retreat, firing the second
barrel as he went by from my horse.
when. instead of continuing his course.
he stopped short and, pausing an in.
slant, began to walk deliberately
towards ME. This movement was so
utterly unlocked for, as the white rhi-
noceros nearly always makes off, that.
until he was within five yards. sat
quite still. expecting him to fall. think
Ing he was In his furry"
My horse seemed as much surprised
at the behavior OF the old mahoho as
/ was myself and did not Immediately
answer the rein, and he moments
hesitation cost him his life and me the
very best horse | ever had or knew, for
when | got his head round a thick
bush was against his chest.and before
could free him the rhinoceros. still at
the walk, drove his horn in under his
Tank and fairly threw both him and
his rider into the air. AS he turned
over ! rolled off and fell in some way
under the stirrup-iron, which scalped
my head for four inches in length and
breadth. ] scrambled TO my knees and
saw the horn Of the rhinoceros actual
ly within the bend of my leg; but the
animal wavered and, with the energy
Of self-preservation, ! sprang to my
feet, intending to run, for my gun was
unloaded and had fallen from my hand.
Had ! been allowed TO do so, this story
might have never been told, for, dizzy
as ! was from the fall, ! should have
been easily caught.
He passed within a foot without
touching me. AS | rose for the second
time my after-rider came up with an
other gun. ! half pulled him from his
pony and. mounting it, caught and
killed the rhinoceros. The horn now
That day a companion happened to
be hunting in the same direction as
myself and, hearing the reports Of my
gun. hoped ! might have come up with
the elephants ] had started after in
the morning. He found me sitting
under bush, hatless, and holding up
the piece of my scalp. with The blood
at in ha -
forwards described ii to Livingstone:
II saw that beggar, Oswell. sitting I'M
der bush holding on his head" A few
words told him what had happened.
and then my thoughts turned TO Stael.
my horse. That very morning, az |
left the wagons. | had talked to him
affectionately, as a man can talk to a
good horse. telling him how, when the
hunting was over, would make him
fat and happy, and | had played with
him and he with me. II was with a
very sore heart put ball through his
head. took the saddle from his back
and started wards. walking half
the distance (ten miles) and making
my after-rider do likewise Unless a
man was situated as | WIS then, it is
difficult to make him understand all
that the loss OF a good horse means
You cannot even fill up his place in
quantity. let alone quality. In this
part OF Africa, at all events, your sue
cess depends enormously upon your
steed, for the country is generally too
open for stalking, and be carries you
up to your game, in most instances. as
near as you like. and il is your fault
II you don't succeed Had | been the
best shot that ever looked along
rifle, and made of steel. | could have
done but trihe without horses. IN
comparison with what I accomplished
with them. Armed as | was with a
smooth-bore, not very truD with heavy
charges at over 80 yards. II was ne.
cessity TO get as near my game As pos
sible am not vain of my shooting
j can do what intend pretty well at
from ten TO twenty-five yards-but
would have given the best shot in the
world without horses very long odds.
besides. from the saddle YOU see so
much more at your ease, and your at.
tention for everything that surrounds
you is SO much more free.
The horses were unshod and sure.
footed. Introduce them. II possible,
gradually to their work by letting your
after-rider use them a few times He
is always out OF danger. and If once
accustomed to the sight OF an animal
at respectable distance, they can
soon be driven up alongside of ii, and
get as eager in pursuit of elephant
and large game as their riders.
BY neglecting this rule, ! very near.
ly came to grief on an afterwards CAPT
tai pony. 1t was his debut, and a
wounded elephant, charging with a
scream, SO terrified him that he was
paralyzed with fear and stood stock
still after turning round; spurs had no