ry many)," the answer came in a chorus, for a
group of savages, if they have the same idea in common, will all shout
together in response to an answer, like one man.

"Why had they not told?"

"We did not know," came the irrelevant answer in chorus.

Berselius knew quite well that they had not told simply from heedlessness
and want of initiative. He would have flogged the whole lot soundly, but
he wanted them fresh for the morrow's work. Cutting down their rations
would but weaken them, and as for threatening to dock their pay, such a
threat has no effect on a savage.

"Look!" said Berselius.

He had just dismissed the porters with a reprimand when his keen eye
caught sight of something far up the glade. It wanted an hour of sunset.

Adams, following the direction in which Berselius was gazing, saw, a great
distance off, to judge by the diminishing size of the thorn trees, a form
that made his heart to leap in him.

Massive and motionless, a great creature stood humped in the level light;
the twin horns back-curving and silhouetted against the sky told him at
once what it was.

"Bull rhinoceros," said Berselius. "Been lying up in the thick stuff all
day; come out to feed." He made a sign to Felix who, knowing exactly what
was wanted, dived into the tent and came back with a .400 cordite rifle
and Adams's elephant gun.

"Come," said Berselius, "the brute is evidently thinking. They stay like
that for an hour sometimes. If we have any luck, we may get a shot
sideways before he moves. There's not a breath of wind."

They started, Felix following with the guns.

"I would not bother about him," said Berselius, "only the meat will be
useful, and it will be an experience for you. You will take first shot,
and, if he charges, aim just behind the shoulder--that's the spot for a
rhino if you can reach it; for other animals aim at the neck, no matter
what animal it is, or whether it is a lion or a buck; the neck shot is the
knock-out blow. I have seen a lion shot through the heart travel fifty
yards and kill a man; had he been struck in the neck he would have fallen
in his tracks."

"Cow," said Felix from behind.

Out of the thick stuff on the edge of the forest another form had broken.
She was scarcely smaller than the bull, but the horns were shorter; she
was paler in colour, too, and showed up not nearly so well. Then she
vanished into the thick stuff, but the bull remained standing, immovable
as though he were