II
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under the throat to support the heavy head, the
weight of which bearing upon the cord was evidently
producing strangulation. The tongue of the animal
was protruding, and the tail stiffened and curled
convulsively above the back, while a twitching of
the hind legs, that presently stretched to their full
extent, persuaded me that the rhinoceros was in his
last gasp. As I looked intently at the animal, while
my Tokrooris abused Abou Do for having deceived
us, I told the aggageers that they had not gained
much by their hunt, as the rhinoceros was dead.
For a moment Abou Do smiled grimly, and, quite
unconscious ef the real fact, Suleiman replied, “ It
is worth forty dollars, to us.” “ Forty dollars for a
dead rhinoceros calf!” I exclaimed; “ who is fool
enough to give it V’ .
Abou Do glanced at the rhinoceros; his expression
changed; he jumped from his horse, and, assisted
by the other aggageers, he made the camel kneel
as quickly as possible, and they hastened to unstrap
the unfortunate little beast, which upon being released
and laid upon its side, convulsively stretched out its
limbs, and lay a strangled rhinoceros. The aggageers
gazed with dismay at their departed prize, and,
with superstitious fear, they remounted their horses
without uttering a word, and. rode away ; they attributed
the sudden death of the animal to the effect
of my “ evil eye.” We turned towards our camp.
My Tokrooris were delighted, and I heard them
talking and laughing together upon the subject, and