eye, and let go.

"I missed the eye, but attracted his attention, and he came charging
aft through the water. I ducked, knowing that he couldn't climb the
flimsy steps to the short length of poop forward of the house without
breaking them down with his weight, and, after a moment, peeped out.

"He was just turning to go forward, and, as I knew that a Winchester
bullet wouldn't puncture his hide, I saved my shots.

"Meanwhile, all hands but the boys in the mizzen-crosstrees had gained
the forward house and were clearing away the two boats, lashed in their
chocks, right side up--one to starboard, the other to port. I could see
the work going on--saw them smash the skylight over the galley for a
man to go down to pass up grub, and saw a man dive down.

"Then I saw another fellow take a beaker from the starboard boat, and,
watching his chance when the rhino wasn't looking, drop over and into
the starboard forecastle, to fill it from the water-barrel. He passed
it up and also the bread-barge. There was some of the cabin stores in
the galley, and these they secured easily through the skylight; but I
noticed they packed it all in the starboard-boat, though they had
cleared away the other.

"I knew I had just fifteen shots in that rifle; but I hadn't looked for
further ammunition, and I thought that fifteen would finish the rhino,
somehow; so, when the boys above shinned down and joined me, I
neglected to ask them to hunt for more, but just peppered away when I
thought I saw a good chance, but never hit the one vulnerable spot.

"The second mate wanted to try it, but I wouldn't resign the gun to
him. In extreme emergencies, you know, an officer loses his
superiority; he becomes a mere man, like the rest. Every time I tickled
the brute with a bullet he would come charging aft, but never stopped
still when within easy range. Not seeing anyone, he would wheel and go
back to his duty at the forward house. To tell the truth, I was a
little nervous lest he should be able to mount the poop and get at us.

"The old hippo was happy, swimming and snorting round in the water; and
the rhino seemed to have forgotten his grudge, busying himself with his
real enemies, human beings. There were about sixteen of these on the
forward house, and I noticed that they had ceased the work of stocking
the boat, and judged that there was no more grub forward.

"'I say, cap'n,' I called out, 'put some grub and water in the other
boat. One boat w