the land of footprints-第45章
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distance； and I was guessing at it； and not making very good guesses either。 B。 had his Springfield and made closer practice； finally hitting a leg of one of the beasts。 We saw him lift his paw and shake it； but he did not move lamely afterward； so the damage was probably confined to a simple scrape。 It was a good shot anyway。 Then they disappeared over the top of the hill。
We walked forward； regretting rhinos。 Thirty yards ahead of me came a thunderous and roaring growl； and a magnificent old lion reared his head from a low bush。 He evidently intended mischief； for I could see his tail switching。 However； B。 had killed only one lion and I wanted very much to give him the shot。 Therefore； I held the front sight on the middle of his chest； and uttered a fervent wish to myself that B。 would hurry up。 In about ten seconds the muzzle of his rifle poked over my shoulder； so I resigned the job。
At B。's shot the lion fell over； but was immediately up and trying to get at us。 Then we saw that his hind quarters were paralyzed。 He was a most magnificent sight as he reared his fine old head； roaring at us full mouthed so that the very air trembled。 Billy had a good look at a lion in action。 B。 took up a commanding position on an ant hill to one side with his rifle levelled。 F。 and I advanced slowly side by side。 At twelve feet from the wounded beast stopped； F。 unlimbered the kodak； while I held the bead of the 405 between the lion's eyes； ready to press trigger at the first forward movement； however slight。 Thus we took several exposures in the two cameras。 Unfortunately one of the cameras fell in the river the next day。 The other contained but one exposure。 While not so spectacular as some of those spoiled； it shows very well the erect mane； he wicked narrowing of the eyes； the flattening of the ears of an angry lion。 You must imagine； furthermore； the deep rumbling diapason of his growling。
We backed away； and B。 put in the finishing shot。 The first bullet； we then found； had penetrated the kidneys； thus inflicting a temporary paralysis。
When we came to skin him we found an old…fashioned lead bullet between the bones of his right forepaw。 The entrance wound had so entirely healed over that hardly the trace of a scar remained。 》From what I know of the character of these beasts； I have no doubt that this ancient injury furnished the reason for his staying to attack us instead of departing with the other three lions over the hill。
Following the course of the river； we one afternoon came around a bend on a huge herd of mixed game that had been down to water。 The river； a quite impassable barrier lay to our right； and an equally impassable precipitous ravine barred their flight ahead。 They were forced to cross our front； quite close； within the hundred yards。 We stopped to watch them go； a seemingly endless file of them； some very much frightened； bounding spasmodically as though stung； others more philosophical； loping easily and unconcernedly； still others to a few…even stopping for a moment to get a good view of us。 The very young creatures； as always； bounced along absolutely stiff…legged； exactly like wooden animals suspended by an elastic； touching the ground and rebounding high； without a bend of the knee nor an apparent effort of the muscles。 Young animals seem to have to learn how to bend their legs for the most efficient travel。 The same is true of human babies as well。 In this herd were； we estimated； some four or five hundred beasts。
While hunting near the foothills I came across the body of a large eagle suspended by one leg from the crotch of a limb。 The bird's talon had missed its grip； probably on alighting； the tarsus had slipped through the crotch beyond the joint； the eagle had fallen forward； and had never been able to flop itself back to an upright position！
XXI。 THE RHINOCEROS
The rhinoceros is； with the giraffe； the hippopotamus； the gerenuk； and the camel； one of Africa's unbelievable animals。 Nobody has bettered Kipling's description of him in the Just…so Stories： 〃A horn on his nose； piggy eyes； and few manners。〃 He lives a self…centred life； wrapped up in the porcine contentment that broods within nor looks abroad over the land。 When anything external to himself and his food and drink penetrates to his intelligence he makes a flurried fool of himself； rushing madly and frantically here and there in a hysterical effort either to destroy or get away from the cause of disturbance。 He is the incarnation of a living and perpetual Grouch。
Generally he lives by himself； sometimes with his spouse； more rarely still with a third that is probably a grown…up son or daughter。 I personally have never seen more than three in company。 Some observers have reported larger bands； or rather collections； but； lacking other evidence； I should be inclined to suspect that some circumstances of food or water rather than a sense of gregariousness had attracted a number of individuals to one locality。
The rhinoceros has three objects in life： to fill his stomach with food and water； to stand absolutely motionless under a bush； and to imitate ant hills when he lies down in the tall grass。 When disturbed at any of these occupations he snorts。 The snort sounds exactly as though the safety valve of a locomotive had suddenly opened and as suddenly shut again after two seconds of escaping steam。 Then he puts his head down and rushes madly in some direction； generally upwind。 As he weighs about two tons； and can； in spite of his appearance； get over the ground nearly as fast as an ordinary horse； he is a truly imposing sight； especially since the innocent bystander generally happens to be upwind； and hence in the general path of progress。 This is because the rhino's scent is his keenest sense； and through it he becomes aware； in the majority of times； of man's presence。 His sight is very poor indeed； he cannot see clearly even a moving object much beyond fifty yards。 He can； however； hear pretty well。
The novice； then； is subjected to what he calls a 〃vicious charge〃 on the part of the rhinoceros； merely because his scent was borne to the beast from upwind； and the rhino naturally runs away upwind。 He opens fire； and has another thrilling adventure to relate。 As a matter of fact； if he had approached from the other side； and then aroused the animal with a clod of earth； the beast would probably have 〃charged〃 away in identically the same direction。 I am convinced from a fairly varied experience that this is the basis for most of the thrilling experiences with rhinoceroses。
But whatever the beast's first mental attitude； the danger is quite real。 In the beginning he rushes； upwind in instinctive reaction against the strange scent。 If he catches sight of the man at all； it must be after he has approached to pretty close range； for only at close range are the rhino's eyes effective。 Then he is quite likely to finish what was at first a blind dash by a genuine charge。 Whether this is from malice or from the panicky feeling that he is now too close to attempt to get away； I never was able determine。 It is probably in the majority of cases the latter。 This seems indicated by the fact that the rhino； if avoided in his first rush； will generally charge right through and keep on going。 Occasionally； however； he will whirl and come back to the attack。 There can then be no doubt that he actually intends mischief。
Nor must it be forgotten that with these animals； AS WITH ALL OTHERS； not enough account is taken of individual variation。 They； as well as man； and as well as other animals； have their cowards； their fighters； their slothful and their enterprising。 And； too； there seem to be truculent and peaceful districts。 North of Mt。 Kenia； between that peak and the Northern Guaso Nyero River； we saw many rhinos； none of which showed the slightest disposition to turn ugly。 In fact； they were so peaceful that they scrabbled off as fast as they could go every time they either scented； heard； or SAW us； and in their flight they held their noses up； not down。 In the wide angle between the Tana and Thika rivers； and comprising the Yatta Plains； and in the thickets of the Tsavo； the rhinoceroses generally ran nose down in a
