en a grunt and a whistle
escaped him, as the water was ejected from his nostrils.

The elephant also uttered his peculiar salute, in a trumpet note, that
echoed from the cliffs; and halted in his tracks as soon as he saw the
rhinoceros.

No doubt both were surprised at the rencontre; as both stood for some
seconds eyeing each other with apparent astonishment.

This, however, soon gave place to a different feeling. Symptoms of anger
began to show themselves. It was evident that bad blood was brewing
between them.

There was, in fact, a little dilemma. The elephant could not get
comfortably at the water unless the rhinoceros left the cove; and the
rhinoceros could not well get out of the cove, so long as the elephant
blocked up the gorge with his immense thick limbs.

It is true, the kobaoba might have sneaked through among the other's
legs, or he might have swum off and landed at some other point, and in
either way have left the coast clear.

But of all animals in the world a rhinoceros is, perhaps, the most
unaccommodating. He is, also, one of the most fearless, dreading neither
man nor beast--not even the boasted lion, whom he often chases like a
cat. Hence the old kobaoba had no intention of yielding ground to the
elephant; and from his attitude, it was plain that he neither intended
to sneak off under the other's belly, nor swim a single stroke for him.
No--not a stroke.

It remained to be seen how the point of honour was to be decided. The
attitude of affairs had become so interesting, that every one by the
camp was gazing with fixed eyes upon the two great bulls--for the
rhinoceros was also a "bull" and of the largest size known of his kind.

For several minutes they stood eyeing each other. The elephant, although
much the larger, knew his antagonist well. He had met his "sort" before,
and knew better than to despise his powers. Perhaps, ere now, he had had
a touch of that long spit-like excrescence that stood out from the
kobaoba's snout.

At all events, he did not rush upon his adversary at once--as he would
have done on some poor antelope that might have crossed him in the same
way.

[Illustration: A DEADLY ENCOUNTER.]

His patience, however, became exhausted. His ancient dignity was
insulted--his rule disputed--he wished to have his bath and his
drink--he could bear the insolence of the rhinoceros no longer.

With a bellow that made the rocks ring again, he charged forward; placed
his tusks firm