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In my own experience I came to establish a 〃dead line〃 about twenty yards from myself。 That seemed to be as near as I cared to let the brutes come。 Up to that point I let them alone on the chance that they might swerve or change their minds； as they often did。 But inside of twenty yards； whether the rhinoceros meant to charge me； or was merely running blindly by； did not particularly matter。 Even in the latter case he might happen to catch sight of me and change his mind。 Thus； looking over my notebook records； I find that I was 〃charged〃 forty odd times…that is to say； the rhinoceros rushed in my general direction。 Of this lot I can be sure of but three； and possibly four； that certainly meant mischief。 Six more came so directly at us； and continued so to come； that in spite of ourselves we were compelled to kill them。 The rest were successfully dodged。
As I have heard old hunters of many times my experience； affirm that only in a few instances have they themselves been charged indubitably and with malice aforethought； it might be well to detail my reasons for believing myself definitely and not blindly attacked。
The first instance was that when B。 killed his second trophy rhinoceros。 The beast's companion refused to leave the dead body for a long time； but finally withdrew。 On our approaching； however； and after we had been some moments occupied with the trophy； it returned and charged viciously。 It was finally killed at fifteen yards。
The second instance was of a rhinoceros that got up from the grass sixty yards away； and came headlong in my direction。 At the moment I was standing on the edge of a narrow eroded ravine； ten feet deep； with perpendicular sides。 The rhinoceros came on bravely to the edge of this ravine…and stopped。 Then he gave an exhibition of unmitigated bad temper most amusing to contemplate…from my safe position。 He snorted； and stamped； and pawed the earth； and tramped up and down at a great rate。 I sat on the opposite bank and laughed at him。 This did not please him a bit； but after many short rushes to the edge of the ravine； he gave it up and departed slowly； his tail very erect and rigid。 》From the persistency with which he tried to get at me； I cannot but think he intended something of the sort from the first。
The third instance was much more aggravating。 In company with Memba Sasa and Fundi I left camp early one morning to get a waterbuck。 Four or five hundred yards out； however； we came on fresh buffalo signs； not an hour old。 To one who knew anything of buffaloes' habits this seemed like an excellent chance； for at this time of the morning they should be feeding not far away preparatory to seeking cover for the day。 Therefore we immediately took up the trail。
It led us over hills； through valleys； high grass； burned country； brush； thin scrub； and small woodland alternately。 Unfortunately we had happened on these buffalo just as they were about changing district； and they were therefore travelling steadily。 At times the trail was easy to follow and at other times we had to cast about very diligently to find traces of the direction even such huge animals had taken。 It was interesting work； however； and we drew on steadily； keeping a sharp lookout ahead in case the buffalo had come to a halt in some shady thicket out of the sun。 As the latter ascended the heavens and the scorching heat increased； our confidence in nearing our quarry ascended likewise； for we knew that buffaloes do not like great heat。 Nevertheless this band continued straight on its way。 I think now they must have got scent of our camp； and had therefore decided to move to one of the alternate and widely separated feeding grounds every herd keeps in its habitat。 Only at noon； and after six hours of steady trailing； covering perhaps a dozen miles； did we catch them up。
》From the start we had been bothered with rhinoceroses。 Five times did we encounter them； standing almost squarely on the line of the spoor we were following。 Then we had to make a wide quiet circle to leeward in order to avoid disturbing them； and were forced to a very minute search in order to pick up the buffalo tracks again on the other side。 This was at once an anxiety and a delay； and we did not love those rhino。
Finally； at the very edge of the Yatta Plains we overtook the herd； resting for noon in a scattered thicket。 Leaving Fundi； I； with Memba Sasa； stalked down to them。 We crawled and crept by inches flat to the ground； which was so hot that it fairly burned the hand。 The sun beat down on us fiercely； and the air was close and heavy even among the scanty grass tufts in which we were trying to get cover。 It was very hard work indeed； but after a half hour of it we gained a thin bush not over thirty yards from a half dozen dark and indeterminate bodies dozing in the very centre of a brush patch。 Cautiously I wiped the sweat from my eyes and raised my glasses。 It was slow work and patient work； picking out and examining each individual beast from the mass。 Finally the job was done。 I let fall my glasses。
〃Monumookee y'otey…all cows；〃 I whispered to Memba Sasa。
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 exp