Year: 1870

any prospect of success. As they did not approach nearer, II attempted to stalk them; but they would not allow me to come to close. quarters; and. after while, moved off all together.

 Whilst pondering over my wonderful es- cape, observed at a little distance huge white rhinoceros protrude his ponderous and misshapen head through the bushes; and presently afterwards he approached to within dozen paces of my ambuscade. His broad side was now fully exposed to my view; and, notwithstanding I felt a little nervous. from my conflict with the elephant, lost no time in firing. The beast did not at once fall to the ground; bvtfrom appearances had every reason to believe that he would not long live. Scarcely had reloaded, when a black rhineceros Ia female, as Il proved) stood drinking at the water; but her position, as with the elephant in the first instance, was unfavorable for good shot. As. how ever, she was very near me, I thought I l was pretty sure of breaking her leg, and thereby disabling her; and in this succeed l ed.

 My fire seemed to madden her. She rushed wildly forward On three legs, when l gave her second shot, but apparently with little OF no effect. felt sorry at not being able to end her sufferings at once; but as I was too we'll acquainted with the habits of the rhinoceros to venture on pursuing her under the circumstances, I determined to wait patiently for daylight, and then destroy her with the aid of my dogs.

 But it was not to be. As no more ele- phants or other large game appeared, I thought after time it might be as we'll to go in search after the white rhinoceros; and by i'll luck, as the event proved, at once encountered her. She was still on her legs; but her position, as before, was unfavorable. Hoping, however, to make her change it for the better, and thus en- able me to destroy her at once, took up stone and hurled it at her with all my force; when. snorting horribly, erecting her tail, keeping her head close to the ground, and raising clouds of dust with her feet, she rushed at me with fearful fury. had only just time to level my ri- fie and fire, before she was upon me, and the next instant, while instinctive turning round for the purpose of retreating, she laid me prostrate.

 The shock was so violent as to send my rife. powder-fask, and ball-pouch, as also my cap, spinning in the air. The gun, in- deed, as afterwards ascertained, to dis tance of fully ten feet.

 On the beasts charging melt crossed nay mind that unless gored at once by her horn, her impetus would be such (after knocking me down, which took for gran ted, would be the easel as to carry her be- yond me; and l might thus be afforded chance of escape. So, indeed, it happen 1 ed. For, having tumbled me over (in do- | n which hop had nd &hof fora of1 I, body, owing to the violenos Of her charge, was half buried in the sand) and trampIed on me with great violence, Ter fore quar- 1 ter passing over my body.

 Struggling for life, seized my opportu- nity, and as she was recovering herself for ! a renewal of the charge, scrambled out from between her hind legs.

 i But the enraged beast had not yet done with me- Scarcely had regained my feet before she struck me down a second time; and with her horn ripped up my right thigh (though not very deeply) from the knee to the hip; with her forefeet, more over, she hit me terrific blow on the shoul. der near the back of the neck. My ribs bent under the enormous weight and pressure, and for moment must, be- 1 lieve, have lost consciousness have at least very indistinct notions of what after wards took place.

 All I remember is, that when I raised my head heard furious snorting and plunging among the neighboring bushes.

 I now arose, though with great difficulty, and made my way, in the best manner I was able, to large tree, that was near at hand, for shelter. But this precaution was needless. The beast, for the time, at least, showed no further inclination to mo- lest me. Either in the melee, or owing to the confusion caused by her wounds, she had lost sight of me, or she felt satisfied with the revenge she had taken. Be that as it may, I escaped with life, though sadly wounded and severely bruised; in which disabled state had great difficulty in get ting back to my skarm.