ay from which there is no escape.
Then there was the cactus with spikes three inches in length, and the
"Come and I'll kiss you," a bush armed with almost equally formidable
thorns, and huge nettles, and numerous other vegetable productions,
offering impracticable impediments to the progress, not only of human
beings, but of every species of animal, with the exception of elephants
and rhinoceroses, which might attempt to force a way through them.

The hunters had not gone far, when, as they were skirting the thicket,
they came on a small herd of water-buck. The trader, raising his rifle,
fired, and one of the graceful animals lay struggling on the grass. The
rest bounded off like lightning, to escape the shot which the native
discharged. Both hurrying forward, soon put the deer out of its misery.
To follow the rest would have been useless, as they were away far out
of range of their firearms. They therefore at once applied themselves
to the task of cutting up the dead animal, so that they might carry back
the best portions of the meat to the camp.

While they were thus employed, a crashing sound was heard coming from
the thicket at no great distance, when springing to their feet they saw
before them a black rhinoceros, the most formidable inhabitant of those
wild regions. It is more dangerous to encounter than even the lion or
the elephant, because the only one which will deliberately chase a human
being whenever it catches sight of him, and will never give up the
pursuit, unless its intended victim can obtain concealment, or it is
itself compelled to bite the dust. Its sight is, however, far from
keen; so that if there are bushes or rocks near at hand, it can be
easily avoided.

Such was, fortunately for the hunters, the case in the present instance.
As on it came thundering over the ground, uttering a roar of
displeasure, the Kaffir, shouting to his master, sprang behind a bush,
near which the deer had fallen. The trader, however, stood firm, his
weapon in his hand, ready to fire, although knowing full well that,
should he miss, the next instant the savage brute would be upon him, and
either gore or trample him to death.

Flight was out of the question with such a pursuer at his heels, while
even should he now attempt to take refuge behind a bush, the rhinoceros,
close as it was, would probably see him. Notwithstanding this, he
remained motionless; not a limb shook, not a nerve quivered. As the
ferocious