the land of footprints-第42节
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We backed out of there inch by inch； with intention of circling a short distance to the leeward； and then trying the herd again lower down。 But some awkward slight movement； probably on my part； caught the eye of one of those blessed cows。 She threw up her head； instantly the whole thicket seemed alive with beasts。 We could hear them crashing and stamping； breaking the brush； rushing headlong and stopping again； we could even catch momentary glimpses of dark bodies。 After a few minutes we saw the mass of the herd emerge from the thicket five hundred yards away and flow up over the hill。 There were probably a hundred and fifty of them； and； looking through my glasses； I saw among them two fine old bulls。 They were of course not much alarmed； as only the one cow knew what it was all about anyway； and I suspected they would stop at the next thicket。
We had only one small canteen of water with us； but we divided that。 It probably did us good； but the quantity was not sufficient to touch our thirst。 For the remainder of the day we suffered rather severely； as the sun was fierce。
After a short interval we followed on after the buffaloes。 Within a half mile beyond the crest of the hill over which they had disappeared was another thicket。 At the very edge of the thicket； asleep under an outlying bush； stood one of the big bulls！
Luck seemed with us at last。 The wind was right； and between us and the bull lay only four hundred yards of knee…high grass。 All we had to do was to get down on our hands and knees； and； without further precautions； crawl up within range and pot him。 That meant only a bit of hard； hot work。
When we were about halfway a rhinoceros suddenly arose from the grass between us and the buffalo； and about one hundred yards away。
What had aroused him； at that distance and upwind； I do not know。 It hardly seemed possible that he could have heard us； for we were moving very quietly； and； as I say； we were downwind。 However； there he was on his feet； sniffing now this way； now that； in search for what had alarmed him。 We sank out of sight and lay low； fully expecting that the brute would make off。
For just twenty…five minutes by the watch that rhinoceros looked and looked deliberately in all directions while we lay hidden waiting for him to get over it。 Sometimes he would start off quite confidently for fifty or sixty yards； so that we thought at last we were rid of him； but always he returned to the exact spot where we had first seen him； there to stamp； and blow。 The buffalo paid no attention to these manifestations。 I suppose everybody in jungleland is accustomed to rhinoceros bad temper over nothing。 Twice he came in our direction； but both times gave it up after advancing twenty…five yards or so。 We lay flat on our faces； the vertical sun slowly roasting us； and cursed that rhino。
Now the significance of this incident is twofold： first； the fact that； instead of rushing off at the first intimation of our presence； as would the average rhino； he went methodically to work to find us； second； that he displayed such remarkable perseverance as to keep at it nearly a half hour。 This was a spirit quite at variance with that finding its expression in the blind rush or in the sudden passionate attack。 From that point of view it seems to me that the interest and significance of the incident can hardly be overstated。
Four or five times we thought ourselves freed of the nuisance； but always； just as we were about to move on； back he came； as eager as ever to nose us out。 Finally he gave it up； and； at a slow trot； started to go away from there。 And out of the three hundred and sixty degrees of the circle where he might have gone he selected just our direction。 Note that this was downwind for him； and that rhinoceroses usually escape upwind。
We laid very low； hoping that； as before； he would change his mind as to direction。 But now he was no longer looking； but travelling。 Nearer and nearer he came。 We could see plainly his little eyes； and hear the regular swish； swish； swish of his thick legs brushing through the grass。 The regularity of his trot never varied； but to me lying there directly in his path； he seemed to be coming on altogether too fast for comfort。 From our low level he looked as big as a barn。 Memba Sasa touched me lightly on the leg。 I hated to shoot； but finally when he loomed fairly over us I saw it must be now or never。 If I allowed him to come closer； he must indubitably catch the first movement of my gun and so charge right on us before I would have time to deliver even an ineffective shot。 Therefore； most reluctantly； I placed the ivory bead of the great Holland gun just to the point of his shoulder and pulled the trigger。 So close was he that as he toppled forward I instinctively； though unnecessarily of course； shrank back as though he might fall on me。 Fortunately I had picked my spot properly； and no second shot was necessary。 He fell just twenty…seven feet…nine yards …from where we lay！
The buffalo vanished into the blue。 We were left with a dead rhino； which we did not want； twelve miles from camp； and no water。 It was a hard hike back； but we made it finally； though nearly perished from thirst。
This beast； be it noted； did not charge us at all； but I consider him as one of the three undoubtedly animated by hostile intentions。 Of the others I can； at this moment； remember five that might or might not have been actually and maliciously charging when they were killed or dodged。 I am no mind reader for rhinoceros。 Also I am willing to believe in their entirely altruistic intentions。 Only； if they want to get the practical results of their said altruistic intentions they must really refrain from coming straight at me nearer than twenty yards。 It has been stated that if one stands perfectly still until the rhinoceros is just six feet away； and then jumps sideways； the beast will pass him。 I never happened to meet anybody who had acted on this theory。 I suppose that such exist： though I doubt if any persistent exponent of the art is likely to exist long。 Personally I like my own method； and stoutly maintain that within twenty yards it is up to the rhinoceros to begin to do the dodging。
XXII。 THE RHINOCEROS…（continued）
At first the traveller is pleased and curious over rhinoceros。 After he has seen and encountered eight or ten； he begins to look upon them as an unmitigated nuisance。 By the time he has done a week in thick rhino…infested scrub he gets fairly to hating them。
They are bad enough in the open plains； where they can be seen and avoided； but in the tall grass or the scrub they are a continuous anxiety。 No cover seems small enough to reveal them。 Often they will stand or lie absolutely immobile until you are within a very short distance； and then will outrageously break out。 They are； in spite of their clumsy build； as quick and active as polo ponies； and are the only beasts I know of capable of leaping into full speed ahead from a recumbent position。 In thorn scrub they are the worst； for there； no matter how alert the traveller may hold himself； he is likely to come around a bush smack on one。 And a dozen times a day the throat…stopping； abrupt crash and smash to right or left brings him up all standing； his heart racing； the blood pounding through his veins。 It is jumpy work； and is very hard on the temper。 In the natural reaction from being startled into fits one snaps back to profanity。 The cumulative effects of the epithets hurled after a departing and inconsiderately hasty rhinoceros may have done something toward ruining the temper of the species。 It does not matter whether or not the individual beast proves dangerous； he is inevitably most startling。 I have come in at night with my eyes fairly aching from spying for rhinos during a day's journey through high grass。
And； as a friend remarked； rhinos are such a mussy death。 One poor chap； killed while we were away on our first trip； could not be moved from the spot where he had been trampled。 A few shovelfuls of earth over the remains was all the rhinoceros had left possible。
Fortunately； in the thick stuff especially； it is often possible to avoid the chance rhinoceros through the warning given by the rhinoceros birds。 These are birds about the size of a robin that accompany the beast everywhere。 They sit in a row along his back occupying themselves with ticks and a good place to roost。 Always they are peaceful and quiet until a human being approaches。 Then they flutter a few feet into the air uttering a peculiar rapid chattering。 Writers with more sentiment than sense of proportion assure us that this warns the rhinoceros of approaching danger！ On the contrary； I always looked at it the other way。 The rhinoceros birds thereby warned ME of danger； and I was duly thankful。
The safari boys stand quite justly in a holy awe of the rhino。 The safari is strung out over a mile or two of country； as a usual thing； and a downwind rhino is sure to pierce some part of the line in his rush。 Then down go the loads with a smash； and up the nearest trees swarm the boys。 Usually their refuges are thorn trees； armed； even on the main trunk； with long sharp spikes。 There is no difficulty in going up； but the gingerl
