V ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING 77 



especially rhinoceros (both white and black) and 

 buffalo, proclaimed it a favourite resort of these 

 animals also ; indeed, it seemed to me that I had 

 reached a hunter's paradise at last, and so, with 

 joyful expectations for the morrow, I returned with 

 a Hght heart to the skerm, and determined to stop 

 where I was, at the small pool, which was about a 

 quarter of a mile from the drinking-place, as we 

 should not then be likely to disturb elephants coming 

 down to drink at night. 



It was just dark when I reached the skerm ; so, 

 after discussing a frugal but hearty supper, and telling 

 the Kafirs not to make a noise, I was soon dreaming 

 of elephants with abnormal tusks, rhinoceroses with 

 horns five feet long, and other equally pleasant 

 fictions. About midnight I awoke with a start, with 

 the idea that an elephant had " run me in," and was 

 about to work its wicked will upon me ; but, looking 

 up, found one of my boys shaking me by the 

 shoulder, who, with eyes gleaming through the 

 darkness with excitement, informed me that elephants 

 were drinking down at the water, as he had just 

 heard one trumpet. The boys were all up now, 

 and we sat round the smouldering fires, listening 

 with painful intensity for the wished -for sound. 

 " Nansia ! " (There it is) burst from the Kafirs like 

 one man, and the trumpeting of an elephant, 

 evidently down at tne water, rang out once more 

 shrill and clear on the still night air. We sat up 

 listening for perhaps an hour, but heard nothing 

 further — nothing at least but the snorting of a black 

 rhinoceros, also on his way to drink — and so once 

 more lay down to recruit ourselves with sleep for the 

 anticipated struggle on the morrow. 



Early next morning, as soon as it began to grow 



