He pointed to a tall Arab in charge of a gang of native porters. There were very few Europeans about. Some had come down to watch the arrival of the s.s. Tomboli, and without exception they rode either in American "runabouts" or in man-propelled conveyances.
Two hours later Colin and Tiny boarded the train, which consisted of a number of narrow-gauged corridor cars drawn by an unfamiliar type of engine provided with a formidable "cow-catcher." At the far end of the same compartment Joe Londray had installed himself, and was already engaged in a game of cards with a very stout man, who was evidently of Portuguese extraction.
The other passengers were mostly Germans, who, having expressed their willingness to conform to the laws of their conquerors, were permitted to retain their homesteads. There were, however, a couple of Englishmen, who, invalided during the War, had taken to farming in Africa for the sake of their health, and were returning up-country with stores purchased at the port of Dar-es-Salaam.
For several miles the country was flat and swampy, then the miasmic marshes gave place to a densely-wooded country, through which the train climbed laboriously. Stations were few and far between, but at frequent intervals the lads caught sight of native villages wedged in between the thick masses of foliage.
Once, as the train crossed a sluggish stream, Colin called his chum's attention to what looked like a number of floating logs suddenly endowed with life. The logs were crocodiles that, alarmed by the roar of the train, were seeking shelter in the mud that formed the bed of the stream.
Just before sunset a sudden application of the brakes brought all the passengers to the platforms between the carriages. It was a sight worth seeing.
About a hundred yards in front of the engine and moving in a zig-zag fashion across the permanent way, was a huge dark brown animal that Colin rightly guessed to be a rhinoceros. Even when equipped with a cow-catcher, an engine has to exercise discretion when confronted by one of these formidable animal battering rams. No doubt the rhino was terrified, but at the same time the brute hadn't the sense to take cover, but continued to career madly along the line.
Someone on the platform of one of the foremost carriages fired at the animal, but the bullet, although it struck with a resounding thud, failed to pierce the armour-plated hide.
Other shots followed in quick succession, without any apparent effect beyond goading the rhino to fury, for suddenly it turned and charged the now stationary engine.
The impact was distinctly felt, but the animal came off second best. It rolled a full twenty feet before it brought up against a large palm tree.