VI A NARROW ESCAPE 113 



Even had my gun been in my hands, I should 

 scarcely have had time to fire, so close was she upon 

 me ; but, as it was, both my Kafirs were some fifteen 

 yards behind, and the only thing I could do was to 

 run. How I got away I scarcely know. I bounded 

 over and through thorn bushes which, in cold blood, 

 I should have judged impenetrable ; but I was urged 

 on by the short piercing screams which, repeated 

 in quick succession, seemed to make the whole air 

 vibrate, and by the fear of finding myself encircled 

 by the trunk or transfixed by the tusk of the enraged 

 animal. After a few seconds (for I don't think she 

 pursued me a hundred yards, though it seemed an 

 age), the screaming ceased. During the chase, the 

 elephant was so close behind me, that looking over 

 my shoulder was impossible, and all that I did was to 

 dash forward, springing from side to side so as to 

 hinder her from getting hold of me, and it was only 

 when the trumpeting suddenly stopped that I knew 

 I was out of her reach. I was barelegged — as I 

 always am when hunting on foot — and mv only 

 garment before the beast charged was a flannel shirt ; 

 but I now stood almost in puris naturalihus^ for my 

 hat, the leather belt that I wore round my waist, and 

 about three parts of my shirt, had been torn off by 

 the bushes, and I doubt if there was a square inch of 

 skin left uninjured anywhere on the front of my 

 body ! 



After the cow left me I ran on about fifty yards 

 (for I thought that if she heard my voice close at 

 hand she might come on again), and then shouted 

 out the names of my two gun-carriers, who at once 

 answered and soon came running up, both with their 

 guns, which I was afraid they had thrown away. 

 " Amehlo 'mahlope, soree ! " said they — literally, 



I 



