The Next Afternoon, Accordingly, Mahina And
I Made Our Way Back To The Place, And By
Dusk We Were Safely
But uncomfortably perched
among the branches directly over the path.
We had scarcely been there an hour when to
our
Delight we heard a great rhino plodding
along the track in our direction. Unfortunately
the moon had not yet risen, so I was unable
to catch sight of the monster as he approached;
I knew, however, that there was light enough
for me to see him when he emerged from the
bushes into the little clearing round the foot of
our tree. Nearer and nearer we heard him
coming steadily on, and I had my rifle ready,
pointing it in the direction in which I expected
his head to appear. But, alas, just at that moment
the wind veered round and blew straight from
us towards the rhino, who scented us immediately,
gave a mighty snort and then dived madly
away through the jungle. For some considerable
time we could hear him crashing ponderously
through everything that came in his way, and
he must have gone a long distance before he
recovered from his fright and slowed down to his
usual pace. At any rate we neither heard nor
saw anything more of him, and spent a wakeful
and uncomfortable night for nothing.
My next attempt to bag a rhino took place some
months later, on the banks of the Sabaki, and was
scarcely more successful. I had come down from
Tsavo in the afternoon, accompanied by Mahina,
and finding a likely tree, within a few yards of the
river and with fresh footprints under it, I at once
decided to take up my position for the night in
its branches.
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