The mighty quadruped was right under their eyes, within twenty yards of them! He was still busy plunging about, and blowing volumes of water over his body.

He gave no sign that he had any suspicion of their presence.
They could take time, therefore, in choosing a part of his huge body at which to aim their pieces.
When first seen from their new position, he was standing stern towards them.

Von Bloom did not think it a good time to fire, as they could not give him a deadly wound in that situation.

They waited, therefore, until he might turn his side, before they should deliver their volley.
They kept their eyes all the while steadily fixed on him.
He ceased at length to "churn" with his feet, and no longer raised water in his trunk; and now the hunters perceived that the lake was red for a space around him! It was his blood that had reddened it.
They no longer doubted that he had been wounded by the rhinoceros; but whether the wound was a bad one they could not tell.

It was in his side, and as yet they could only see his broad stern from the position in which he still continued to stand.