eir
extent could be known," replied Hughes. "Look at that mass of masonry,
thickly hedged round with date, camel thorn, and white mimosa. Mark the
thick undergrowth and the strange creeping vine-like shrubs running
along the ground, and festooning themselves to the trees, and the
difficulty will be realised."

"There seem to me to be caves cut in yonder mountain-side: let us go
there."

In rear of the ruins rose the slopes of the Malopopo hills, and leading
in that direction was a kind of passage through a lower range, the river
flowing in the middle. On each side rose the rocks, scarped down
towards the bed of the stream, from which coal was cropping out. The
summits of the hills were worn and rounded by the action of time, and
here and there clumps of trees were growing on the river banks. It was
up this cut the two advanced, Hughes leading. Stopping as he turned a
shoulder of the rock, the missionary joined him. Seven rhinoceroses
were sleeping quietly by the water side under the trees, the boughs of
which were literally bending under the mass of nests made by the same
bright yellow bird which had been seen so numerous on the Sofala river.

The animals were totally different from any other that had been seen.

"They have a perfectly smooth skin," remarked Hughes.

"Yes, and are of a pale yellow colour instead of brown, like the one
which treated me so unceremoniously in the country of the Matabele.
Both the horns too are pointed, and both long."

"We had better look out. See they have awoke, and are getting into line
ready to charge us."

In fact the brutes seemed very savage, and so soon as they perceived the
intruders on their solitude, they charged down the glen. Scrambling up
a rock, the danger was easily avoided. The herd passed on except one
old cow with its young one, who halted after having gone some twenty
yards, and turning deliberately round returned, gazing with apparently
great curiosity at the white men. It was impossible to pass; and there
stood the great lumbering animal fairly mounting guard over the two who,
perched on the rock, were only wishful to be left alone.

There was nothing for it, however, but to get rid of the troublesome
visitor; so, leaning the rifles on the flat rock on which they were
lying, by agreement both aimed for the centre of the forehead. The two
reports seemed as one, as for a moment the rhinoceros stood firmly, and
then fell over into the river, dyeing t