CHAPTER TV. 
HUNTING ELEPHANTS AND BUFFALOES.—A VENOMOUS SER- 
PENT.—A SNAKE CHARMER.—HE IS BITTEN.—HE COMMITS 
SUICIDE. 
Ir was midnight; the moon had risen, and I could 
look at the expanse of the prairies situated near Point 
_ Obenda, on the Gaboon estuary. The moon threw just 
light enough to show me the great solitude, in the midst 
of which there was not a living soul with me. As my 
eyes gazed upon the broad expanse, I tried to see if I 
could perceive any wild beast. At last I spied far off 
what I thought to be a huge elephant; it stood still: 
the great beast neither walked nor fed. 
Timmediately put my old Panama hat flat on my head 
and walked in a stooping posture toward the huge mon- 
ster, who was far off. I approached nearer and nearer, 
when lo! the big beast began to move toward me. A 
feeling of awe crept over me; there was not a hill near 
to hide myself; there was not a tree for me to climb 
upon ; I thought how small I looked by the side of this, 
the largest of the animals of the forest! 
Did the elephant see me? 
Did he come to meet me and attack me? 
Such were the questions that came at once to my 
mind. My courage began to quail. I was, as I said, 
_ quite alone; I had left all my men in the camp: these 
