CHAPTER XVI

A RHINOCEROS CHARGE

“Where’s that flash powder, Blake?”

“I don’t know. Hand me my shoes, will you?”

“There they are, right by your cot. Don’t knock that camera over!”

“Say, you fellows are so excited you don’t know whether you’re standing on your head or on your heels,” complained C. C. Piper, as he looked into the tent, lighted by a swinging lantern. Indeed Joe and Blake were somewhat upset at the prospect of making a new kind of moving picture.

“Oh, we’ll get there after a bit,” said Blake, as he completed dressing. Joe, too, was soon ready and got out the cameras.

Meanwhile the native porters, learning that they were not expected to get out and assist at a night hunt, had ceased their excited cries. Mr. Duncan took occasion to warn the boys to be careful and then went back to his tent.

“But I suppose I’d better go with you,” remarked Mr. Piper, grimly, as he looked to his gun. “There’s no telling but what you might try to get too close a view of Mr. Rhino.”

“And, if you don’t mind, I’ll trail along, too,” said the sergeant. “I haven’t often watched a night scene at a water hole; especially one lighted up.”

“I hope our plan works,” spoke Joe. “It’s a sort of experiment, making a light that will give the brilliancy of a flash, and yet last long enough to get a series of views.”

“How did you fix it?” asked Sergeant Hotchkiss.

“Oh, we used some magnesium and other chemicals,” explained Blake. “Mr. Hadley told us about it. Are you ready there, Joe?”

“Sure thing.”

“Plenty of film in the camera?”

“A thousand feet.”

“That ought to be long enough. How about the light?”

“It’ll burn for half an hour, I think.”

“That’s good. Now if the beasts don’t get scared when they see the flash, and leave the water hole, we ought to get a dandy film. Come on, I’m ready.”

They started from their camp, passing out of the ring of thorn bush used as a fence, making toward the water hole.

“Wow, listen to that!” cried Blake, as a vibrating roar came from the direction of the drinking place.

“A lion, all right,” remarked Joe, grimly. “We may get more of a picture than we bargained for.”

“And hark to those rhinos,” added his chum. “They must be having a great old time.”

“A fight, probably,” said the sergeant. “They have a very thick skin, but when one rams another, those heavy, sharp horns make terrible wounds.”

The noise at the water hole seemed to increase. The roaring of the lion became louder and then died away. It was almost silent for a time.

“The lion has driven everyone else away,” explained the former soldier. “He drinks alone. When he leaves the others will come back and finish.”

“Then let’s get there while the lion is drinking,” suggested Blake. “We want to film him.”

They hurried on and, a little later, came to the water hole. The moon was just coming up, making a brilliant light, but of course not strong enough for moving pictures.

“I guess this will do,” said Blake in a low tone, as he indicated a place where the camera might be set.

“You look after that and I’ll ’tend the light,” offered Joe.

“And we’ll stand by the guns,” suggested Mr. Piper.

Thus it was arranged. They could see shadowy forms moving about near the water hole, but could not make out what animals they were.

“Light up!” called Blake, when he had the camera set.

“Light she is!” exclaimed Joe, and a moment later the scene was brilliantly illuminated. A strange picture was presented as Blake began to turn the handle of the camera.

Somewhat back from the water hole were a number of baboons, sitting on their haunches, seeming to grin in their ugly fashion at some other animal. Some of the ape-like creatures were chattering angrily. Then came a growl, and the boys noticed a big lion slaking his thirst at the pool.

“Old Mr. Leo drove the baboons away,” whispered Blake.

“That’s right,” answered his chum. Their low voices did not disturb the lion, but the light did. Startled, the king of beasts looked up to see the cause of the flare. The baboons did also, but none of them ran away, as the boys feared would be the case.

“Maybe they think it’s moonlight,” suggested Joe.

“Queer moonlight,” remarked Blake; “but as long as they think so, it’s all the better for us,” and he continued to grind away at the machine. The slight clicking noise seemed to bother the lion at first, but, looking carefully about, and seeing nothing and, as the wind was blowing from him to the boys and he did not scent them, he seemed to conclude that everything was all right and went on drinking. Nor were the apes or baboons suspicious after the first few minutes.

The lion finished drinking and walked slowly away, the camera registering every movement. Then the baboons, with shrill chatterings, came rushing back to the water.

“Some pictures, these,” remarked Blake.

“I should guess yes,” agreed his chum.

The scene was ever changing. The baboons rushed away in a body and a herd of some small deer came to the pool. Then a slinking leopard drove these timid creatures away. In his turn the fierce cat gave way to a troop of howling hyenas. Though these scavengers of the jungle singly, or even in pairs, would never dare to molest a leopard, a body of them will become so bold that they will sometimes even attack a lion--and kill it, too.

Yard after yard of the film was reeled off, making a series of rare pictures. As yet the position of the boys had not been discovered, for they were well screened and only occasionally did some beasts hear the clicking of the camera and look suspiciously in that direction.

“I guess we won’t have to use the guns after all,” remarked Mr. Piper.

“It doesn’t look so,” agreed the sergeant.

They had hardly spoken, however, before there came that same peculiar, whistling grunt that before had attracted their attention to the water hole.

“Rhinos!” exclaimed the sergeant, getting his rifle in readiness.

From the underbrush, at the far side of the hole, a big body emerged, and a moment later a huge rhinoceros stepped into the glare of the light. The calcium seemed to frighten it for a moment, and then, concluding that, as no one was in sight, everything must be all right, the great beast came on.

It had hardly begun to drink, however, before there was another of the queer grunts, and a second rhinoceros rushed out toward the water. The second one did not seem to see the first one until almost at its side, and then the first one, raising its head, noticed the other.

With lowered heads, the two great horns on each one prominent, they stood for a moment motionless, and the sergeant whispered:

“They’re going to fight!”

The words were scarcely out of his mouth before there was a rush and the two came together with an impact that could be heard for some distance. The magnesium light made everything almost as clear as day, and Blake kept on taking pictures.

The fight did not last long. The first rhinoceros, with a quick, savage motion, thrust its horn into the other’s side, inflicting a grievous wound. The injured animal, with a grunt of pain and dismay, backed off, and, after standing motionless a moment, turned and walked slowly off, staggering.

“He’s badly hurt,” whispered Blake.

“I should say so,” agreed his chum. “He can’t last long. But what pictures we’re getting!”

The victorious rhinoceros walked back to the pool, seemingly satisfied. Blake was getting a series of pictures, somewhat different now, for in the background were several waterbucks coming on to the pool. Suddenly the film in the camera broke.

“Pshaw!” exclaimed Blake aloud, before he thought. “Now we’ll lose some good scenes while I fix that.”

“We ought to have brought two cameras,” said Joe.

“Quiet!” hissed the sergeant. “He’ll hear you.”

But it was too late. The big rhinoceros had heard the sound, and though the eyesight of this animal is the poorest of all jungle beasts, save the elephant, its scent and hearing are most acute. The creature had heard the boys talk and had sensed from whence it came.

With an angry, whistling grunt he rushed straight for the place of concealment, gathering speed as he came.

“We’d better run!” cried Joe.

“Save the camera, whatever you do!” exclaimed Blake.

“He’s going to charge!” shouted the sergeant. “Get your gun ready, C. C.!”

While Joe and Blake folded up the camera tripod and shifted it to one side the two men, with ready rifles, stepped out where they would have a clear range to shoot. The rhinoceros was now close enough so that he could make out his enemies in the strong light.

“We’ve got to stop him!” cried the former soldier.

“Here goes!” came from Mr. Piper, as he leveled his gun.

“I’m with you,” echoed the sergeant, as he got into a position to blaze away at the infuriated beast.