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"New National Fourth Reader"


A famous traveler in South Africa relates the following incident that
happened during one of his hunting excursions:
"Having proceeded about two miles, I came upon a black rhinoceros,
feeding on some Wait-a-bit thorns within fifty yards of me.
"I fired from the saddle, and sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, when
he rushed forward, blowing like a grampus, and then stood looking about
him.
"Presently he started off, and I followed. I expected that he would come
to bay, but it seems a rhinoceros never does that--a fact I did not
know at that time.
"Suddenly he fell flat upon the ground; but soon recovering his feet, he
resumed his course as if nothing had happened.
"I spurred on my horse, dashed ahead, and rode right in his path. Upon
this, the hideous monster charged me in the most resolute manner,
blowing loudly through his nostrils.
"Although I quickly turned about, he followed me at such a furious pace
for several hundred yards, with his horrid horny snout within a few
yards of my horse's tail, that I thought my destruction was certain.
"The animal, however, suddenly turned and ran in another direction.


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