. Wild scenes of a hunter's life; . and Careys single-barreled gun. Aswe approached the fountain, a stately bull girafl^e stood before us;the heat of the day had brought him thither, but he feared to goin and drink; on observing us, he walked slowly away. Twojackals were next detected. Guinea-fowl, partridges, two orthree sorts of pigeon and turtle-dove, and small birds in countlessthousands, were pairing in to drink from every airt, as we walkedup to our hidmg-place and lay down. In a few minutes the sunwas under; but the moon was strong and high (it being withinihr&3 nights of the full), and
. Wild scenes of a hunter's life; . and Careys single-barreled gun. Aswe approached the fountain, a stately bull girafl^e stood before us;the heat of the day had brought him thither, but he feared to goin and drink; on observing us, he walked slowly away. Twojackals were next detected. Guinea-fowl, partridges, two orthree sorts of pigeon and turtle-dove, and small birds in countlessthousands, were pairing in to drink from every airt, as we walkedup to our hidmg-place and lay down. In a few minutes the sunwas under; but the moon was strong and high (it being withinihr&3 nights of the full), and the sky was clear, with scarcely acloud. Very soon a step was heard approaching from the east:it was a presuming black rhinoceros. He came up within tenyards of the hiding-hole, and, observing us with his sharp pryingeye, at once came slowly forward for a nearer inspection. I thenshouted to him ; but this he did not heed in the slightest. I thensprang up and w^ved my large kaross, shouting at the same t*me r ill aIIijI nIS, I. i HUNTING THE ELEPHANT. 271 This, however, only seemed to amuse Borele, for he stood withinfour yards of us, with his horn threatening our momentary destruc-tion, nor would he wheel about until I threw a log of wood athim. Black rhinoceroses are very difficult to scare when they donot get the wind: the best way to do so is to hit them with astone—that is, in the event of the sportsman not wishing to fireoff his gun. Soon after Borele departed four old bull elephants drew nearfrom the south. They were coming right on for the spot wherewe lay, and they seemed very likely to walk over the top of therefore placed our two big rifles in position, and awaitedtheir forward movement with intense interest. On they came,with a slow and stately step, until within twenty yards of us,when the leading elephant took it into his head to pass to let him come on until he got our wind; he was then withinten yards of the muzzles of our heavy-metaled rifles
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookpublishe, booksubjecthunting
