CHAPTER XVII.
A HEAVY COMBAT.
When they first saw the kobaoba, he was, as stated, just coming out ofthe thicket. Without halting, he headed in the direction of the vleyalready mentioned; and kept on towards it, his object evidently being toreach the water.
This little lake, of course, owed its existence to the spring--though itwas full two hundred yards from the latter--and about the same from thegreat tree. It was nearly circular in shape, and about one hundred yardsin diameter, so that its superficial area would thus be a little overtwo English acres. It merited, then, the name of "lake;" and by thatname the young people already called it.
On its upper side--that in the direction of the spring--its shore washigh, and in one or two places rocky, and these rocks ran back to thespring along the channel of a little rivulet. On the west or outer sideof the lake the land lay lower, and the water at one or two pointslipped up nearly to the level of the plain. For this reason it was, thatupon that side, the bank was paddled all over with tracks of animalsthat had been to drink. Hendrik the hunter had observed among them thefootprints of many kinds he knew nothing about.
It was for the lower end of the lake the kobaoba was making--no doubtwith him an old and favourite drinking place.
There was a point where the water was easier of access than elsewhere--alittle to one side of where the wash or waste-stream of the lake ranout. It was a sort of cove with bright sandy beach, and approachablefrom the plain by a miniature gorge, hollowed out, no doubt, by the longusage of those animals who came to drink at the vley. By entering thiscove, the tallest animals might get deep water and good bottom, so thatthey could drink without much straining or stooping. The kobaoba came onin a direct line for the lake; and as he drew near, they could see himheading for the gorge that led into the little cove. It proved he hadbeen there before.
Next moment he passed through the gap, and stood knee-deep in the water.
After swallowing several copious draughts--now sneezing, and thenwheezing--he plunged his broad snout, horn and all, into the water,tossed it till it foamed, and then lying down in it, commenced wallowinglike a hog.
The place was shallow, and most of his huge body was above thesurface--though there was deep enough water in the lake to have givenhim a bath had he desired it.
The first thought of Von Bloom, as well as of Hendrik, was how to"circumvent" the rhinoceros, and of course destroy him. Not that theysimply wished his destruction; but Swartboy had already represented whatfine food the species was, and there was no stock of provision in camp.Hendrik had another object in wishing the death of the creature. Hewanted a new loading-rod for his rifle; and he had gazed covetously atthe kobaoba's long horn.
But it was easier to desire the death of the rhinoceros than toaccomplish it. They had no horses--at least, none that could bemounted--and to attack the animal on foot, would be a game as dangerousas idle. He would be like enough to impale one of them on his greatspike, or else trample them brutally under his huge feet. If he did notdo one or the other, he would easily make his escape--as any kind ofrhinoceros can outrun a man.
How were they to manage him then?
Perhaps they might get near--fire at him from an ambush, and with alucky shot stretch him out. A single bullet sometimes kills therhinoceros--but only when correctly placed, so as to penetrate theheart, or some other of the "vitals."
This was, probably, the best plan. They might easily get near enough.There was some bush cover close to the spot. It was probable the oldkobaoba would not perceive them, if they approached from leeward,particularly as he seemed in the full tide of enjoyment at that moment.
They were about to attempt the approach, and had got to their feet forthat purpose, when a sudden fit seemed to have attacked Swartboy. Thelatter commenced jumping over the ground, at the same time muttering ina low voice,--
"Da klow! da klow!"
A stranger would have fancied Swartboy in a fit, but Von Bloom knew thatby "Da klow! da klow!" the Bushman meant "The elephant! the elephant!"and therefore looked in the direction in which Swartboy was pointing.
Sure enough, upon the western plain, looming up against the yellow sky,was a dark mass, that upon examination presented the outlines of anelephant. Its rounded back was easily distinguished over the low bushes;and its broad hanging ears were moving as it marched. All saw at aglance that it was coming towards the lake, and almost in the same trackthat the rhinoceros had taken.
Of course this new apparition quite disarranged the plans of thehunters. At sight of the mighty elephant, they scarce any longer gave athought to the kobaoba. Not that they had formed any very great hopes ofbeing able to kill the gigantic animal, yet some such thought wasrunning through their minds. They had determined to try, at all events.
Before they could agree upon any plan, however, the elephant had got upto the edge of the lake. Though moving only at a slow walk, with hisimmense strides he soon measured off a large quantity of ground, andadvanced much more rapidly than one would have supposed. The hunters hadscarce time to exchange thoughts, before the huge creature was up withina few yards of the water.
Here he halted, pointed his proboscis in different directions, stoodquite silent, and seemed to listen.
There was no noise to disturb him--even the kobaoba for the moment wasquiet.
After standing a minute or so, the huge creature moved forward again,and entered the gorge already described.
They at the camp had now a full view of him, at less than three hundredyards distant. An immense mass he seemed. His body quite filled thegorge from side to side, and his long yellow tusks projecting more thantwo yards from his jaws, curved gracefully upward. He was an "old bull,"as Swartboy whispered.
Up to this time the rhinoceros had not had the slightest intimation ofthe elephant's approach; for the tread of the latter--big beast as heis--is as silent as a cat's. It is true that a loud rumbling noise likedistant thunder proceeded from his inside as he moved along; but thekobaoba was in too high a caper just then to have heard or noticed anysound that was not very near and distinct.
The huge body of the elephant coming suddenly into "his sunshine," andflinging its dark shadow over the vley, was distinct enough, and causedthe kobaoba to get to his feet with an agility quite surprising for acreature of his build.
At the same time a noise, something between a grunt and a whistleescaped him, as the water was ejected from his nostrils.
The elephant also uttered his peculiar salute, in a trumpet note, thatechoed from the cliffs; and halted in his tracks as soon as he saw therhinoceros.
No doubt both were surprised at the rencontre; as both stood for someseconds eyeing each other with apparent astonishment.
This, however, soon gave place to a different feeling. Symptoms of angerbegan to show themselves. It was evident that bad blood was brewingbetween them.
There was, in fact, a little dilemma. The elephant could not getcomfortably at the water unless the rhinoceros left the cove; and therhinoceros could not well get out of the cove, so long as the elephantblocked up the gorge with his immense thick limbs.
It is true, the kobaoba might have sneaked through among the other'slegs, or he might have swum off and landed at some other point, and ineither way have left the coast clear.
But of all animals in the world a rhinoceros is, perhaps, the mostunaccommodating. He is, also, one of the most fearless, dreading neitherman nor beast--not even the boasted lion, whom he often chases like acat. Hence the old kobaoba had no intention of yielding ground to theelephant; and from his attitude, it was plain that he neither intendedto sneak off under the other's belly, nor swim a single stroke for him.No--not a stroke.
It remained to be seen how the point of honour was to be decided. Theattitude of affairs had become so interesting, that every one by thecamp was gazing with fixed eyes upon the two great bulls--for therhinoceros was also a "bull" and of the largest size known of his kind.
For several minutes they stood eyeing
each other. The elephant, althoughmuch the larger, knew his antagonist well. He had met his "sort" before,and knew better than to despise his powers. Perhaps, ere now, he had hada touch of that long spit-like excrescence that stood out from thekobaoba's snout.
At all events, he did not rush upon his adversary at once--as he wouldhave done on some poor antelope that might have crossed him in the sameway.
A DEADLY ENCOUNTER.]
His patience, however, became exhausted. His ancient dignity wasinsulted--his rule disputed--he wished to have his bath and hisdrink--he could bear the insolence of the rhinoceros no longer.
With a bellow that made the rocks ring again, he charged forward; placedhis tusks firmly under the shoulder of his adversary,--gave a mighty"lift," and turned the rhinoceros over in the water!
For a moment the latter plunged, and blowed, and snorted, his head halfunder water; but in a second's time he was on his feet again, andcharging in turn. The spectators could see that he aimed right at theelephant's ribs with his horn, and that the latter did all he could tokeep head towards him.
Again the elephant flung the kobaoba, and again the latter rose andcharged madly upon his huge antagonist; and so both fought until thewater around them was white with foam.
The contest was carried on in the water, until the elephant, seeming tothink his adversary had an advantage there, backed himself into thegorge, and stood waiting with his head towards the lake. In thisposition the sides of the gorge did not protect him, as perhaps hefancied. They were too low, and his broad flanks rose far above them.They only kept him from turning round, and this interfered with thefreedom of his movements.
It could scarce have been design in the rhinoceros to act as he now did,though it appeared so to those who were watching. As the elephant tookup his position in the gorge, the kobaoba clambered out upon the bank;and then, wheeling suddenly, with head to the ground and long hornprojected horizontally, the latter rushed upon his antagonist and struckhim right among the ribs. The spectators saw that the horn penetrated,and the loud scream that came from the elephant, with the quick motionsof his trunk and tail, told plainly that he had received a severe wound.Instead of standing any longer in the gorge he rushed forward, and didnot stop until he was knee-deep in the lake. Drawing the water up intohis trunk, he raised it on high, and pointing it backwards, hedischarged large volumes over his body, and upon the spot where he hadreceived the thrust of the kobaoba's horn.
He then ran out of the lake, and charged about in search of therhinoceros; but long-horn was no longer to be found!
Having escaped from the cove without compromising his dignity, andperhaps believing that he had gained the victory, the rhinoceros, assoon as he delivered the thrust, had galloped off and disappeared amongthe bushes.