As we proceeded my uncle signed us to stop, and looking along the boughs, a huge black creature appeared before us, digging his snout into the ground.
“That’s a huge pig,” whispered Roger to me.
“A pig, man!” answered my uncle. “That is no less a creature than a rhinoceros!”
We watched it for some time, afraid of moving lest we might draw its attention towards us. Sometimes these creatures are savage, and will attack man. At length, however, it began to move off in an opposite direction to where we were posted.
“A rifle-ball would do little to stop that fellow,” said my uncle; “but we may possibly yet capture him, and I should like to obtain his skeleton, though I may not add him to my menagerie.”
“But we have come to search for water,” I suggested.
“To be sure we have,” answered my uncle. “I was forgetting that. Here, at this very spot, I am sure we shall find it without having to dig very deep.”
Roger Trew instantly dug his spade into the ground, and began energetically throwing up the earth. It grew softer and softer as he proceeded, I helping him with my bamboo. My uncle had meantime cut down a tall bamboo, the end of which he sharpened, and he now came back and forced it into the ground. Drawing it up, the end was perfectly wet. “This is encouraging!” he exclaimed; and Roger and I now setting to work with greater energy, at length a little whitish-looking liquid came welling up. A larger quantity appeared as we dug deeper and deeper, and at length we had an ample supply to fill the shell we had brought for that purpose. It was somewhat like dirty milk; but my uncle said it was wholesome, and if allowed to settle, that it would become perfectly clear. After resting a little the upper part became purer, and from this we thankfully quenched our thirst. As our well was at a considerable distance from the fort, it would be necessary to carry up a supply, for should we be besieged, it might be difficult to reach it.
“Now,” said my uncle, “as our friends are not absolutely suffering from thirst, we may as well try and catch the rhinoceros.”
“What! make chase after it?” asked Roger.