Off to the Wilds Part 38

"No, no; let's keep together."

"Very well, then; but where shall we go? Which way shall we turn?

Shall we try for that wood in front?"

"No, no, no," cried d.i.c.k. "We should not be able to get through, but that beast would go past bushes as if they were paper. That's a thorn wood, too."

"Where's father, I wonder?" cried Jack.

d.i.c.k looked over his shoulder.

"There he comes, full gallop. He sees what a mess we are in."

"But he can't help us," cried Jack. "Sit close, d.i.c.k, old fellow; and look out for holes in front, whatever you do."

Away they went in their mad gallop, longing for the rhinoceros to give up his hunt of the hunters, but the huge beast came thundering along in the most persistent way, close at their heels, but now, to the delight of the boys, not gaining upon them. The only thing they had to fear then was a slip or a stumble, or that in its pertinacious hunt the rhinoceros would tire their horses down.

"He's gaining on us now," cried d.i.c.k suddenly. "Jack, we must separate, and let him run after one while the other fires at him."

"You couldn't do it, d.i.c.k. No, no, let's keep together, and we shall beat him yet."

"But we mustn't take him down to the camp. Oh, thank goodness, at last."

"No, no, don't say that, d.i.c.k," cried Jack, in agony, as the rhinoceros suddenly stopped, whisked round, and went straight back upon its trail.

"Let's hunt him now, for he's going straight for father. Don't you see?"

"Yes," said d.i.c.k; and turning their trembling half-blown cobs, they galloped after the rhinoceros in turn.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

THE TABLES TURNED.

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 gra.s.s 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 c.o.c.k, 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 sh.e.l.l 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 hoa.r.s.e 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 d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k, remounting. "Let's go on after it. He's badly hit."

"He's. .h.i.t, 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-fas.h.i.+oned 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 rus.h.i.+ng 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 d.i.c.k, and then they both laughed.

"Well father, it does make you feel queer to have that great brute thundering down upon you," said d.i.c.k.

"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 d.i.c.k; "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 gra.s.s, 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 s.h.i.+fted its quarters.

The weather had been intensely hot and dry, so that the long reedy gra.s.s crackled and rustled as they pa.s.sed 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 refres.h.i.+ng rain.

n.o.body had spoken for some time, when suddenly Jack exclaimed,--