The rhinoceros did not see Mr Rogers at first, but went straight back
upon its own trail, lowering its head from time to time, and literally
ploughing its way through the tangled grass with its horn, which, driven
by the weight behind, scattered the roots and fragments on either side.
The dogs, rejoicing in the change of position, snapped and barked at its
heels; and as the boys galloped on, with their rifles ready and at full
cock, they could note more at their ease the peculiarity of the animal's
make. This was ponderous to a degree, and the great folds of skin at
the shoulders and haunches as they worked while the beast galloped
along, made it look as if the greater part of its body was covered by a
huge shell like that of a tortoise.
But now all at once the monster seemed to have caught sight of Mr
Rogers and the big bay, for it uttered a peculiar hoarse squeal, gave
its little tail a twist, tossed its head as it leaped clumsily from the
ground, and then, lowering its horn, dashed straight at the new enemy
before it.
Upon seeing this change of front Dick leaped from his horse, and Jack
did likewise, the cobs standing perfectly still, with the reins thrown
over their heads to trail upon the ground at their feet. Then going
down upon one knee as the rhinoceros, instead of being tail on, now
presented its side, they took careful aim and fired.
_Crack_! _thud_!
_Crack_! _thud_!
The reports of the two rifles were followed by what seemed to be a dull
echo, telling them plainly enough that their shots had told.
The rhinoceros stopped short and shook its head, and they saw it try to
turn it, as if to touch a tender or ticklish place with its nose.
The next moment there was another report, as Mr Rogers fired, and the
thud that followed told of a fresh hit.
The rhinoceros shook its head again, whisked round in the most absurd
way, and went off at a clumsy gallop, followed by a couple more shots
from the boys' rifles.
"Waste of lead! waste of lead!" cried Mr Rogers, cantering up. "Well,
what do you think of the rhinoceros?"
"Oh, what a brute, father!" cried Dick, remounting. "Let's go on after
it. He's badly hit."
"He's hit, certainly," said Mr Rogers; "but unless you can well choose
your spot those shots of ours would do very little more than make a sore
place under the creature's hide. He's like an old-fashioned man-at-arms
in his buff jerkin."
"But let's go after it, father," cried Jack.
"No, I would not to-day, my boy. `Discretion,' you know, is the better
part of valour, and the horses are overdone as it is. We shall know
where to go another time, so let it rest for the present."
"But that great brute will be rushing out at us at all sorts of times,"
said Jack.
"Then you must keep the better look out. If you fire at it again, you
must aim before the shoulder, mind; take him as he's coming, if you
don't feel too nervous."
Jack looked at his father, and then at Dick, and then they both laughed.
"Well father, it does make you feel queer to have that great brute
thundering down upon you," said Dick.
"You would be curious beings if you did not," said Mr Rogers, laughing.
"But you must take care, boys, for the rhinoceros is a very dangerous
beast; and it will charge at anything, even at a tree if it is in its
way."
"Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!" laughed Jack.
"What are you laughing at?" said his father.
"I was just thinking that I should like to see that great brute after
Dinny, and Dinny scuffling up a tree to get out of its way."
"Yes, it would be good fun," said Dick; "but I should like Dinny to have
a good start."
"He would need it," said Mr Rogers gravely; and they rode on gently
back to the camp.
There was fresh news here, for both the General and Coffee had to report
that they had seen rhinoceros, and upon comparing notes, it was very
evident that it could not be the same, unless the creature could have
been in three places at once.
This was promising, for, in spite of the danger, they all wanted to
number one of the great beasts in the list of the game they shot.
But during the next few days, with the exception of the daily shooting
of an antelope for the larder, they saw no great game, even failing to
put up the big rhinoceros when they rode over the same ground again.
They found the lair in amongst the thick bushes and dried grass, the
dogs running through it from side to side, while the three hunters sat
with presented pieces, ready to shoot at the first charge. They kept
well apart too, so as to be ready to help the one at whom the rhinoceros
came; but they saw nothing of the beast, and it was evident that it had
shifted its quarters.
The weather had been intensely hot and dry, so that the long reedy grass
crackled and rustled as they passed along, and in places the tramp of
the horses' hoofs sent the dust flying in clouds.
One evening towards sunset they were about ten miles from the camp, and
wearied out with the heat and sultriness of the air which for days past
had threatened a storm; they were riding listlessly across a wide plain
that was being rapidly turned into a regular desert for want of
refreshing rain.