It proved he had been there before.
Next moment he passed through the gap, and stood knee-deep in the water.
After swallowing several copious draughts--now sneezing, and then wheezing--he plunged his broad snout, horn and all, into the water, tossed it till it foamed, and then lying down in it, commenced wallowing like a hog.
The place was shallow, and most of his huge body was above the surface-- though there was deep enough water in the lake to have given him 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 they simply wished his destruction; but Swartboy had already represented what fine food the species was, and there was no stock of provision in camp.
Hendrik had another object in wishing the death of the creature.

He wanted a new loading-rod for his rifle; and he had gazed covetously at the kobaoba's long horn.
But it was easier to desire the death of the rhinoceros than to accomplish it.

They had no horses--at least none that could be mounted--and to attack the animal on foot would be a game as dangerous as idle.

He would be like enough to impale one of them on his great spike, or else trample them brutally under his huge feet.