THE GREAT THICK-SKINNED ANIMALS 163 



less its particular friend, who was endeavoring to assist it. These 

 elephants had probably never before heard the report of a gun, and, 

 having neither seen nor smelt me, they were unaware of the presence 

 of man, and did not seem inclined to go any further. Presently my 

 men hove in sight, bringing the dogs; and when these came up, I 

 waited some time before commencing the attack, that the dogs and 

 horses might recover their wind. We then rode slowly toward the 

 elephants, and had advanced within two hundred yards of them when, 

 the ground being open, they observed us and made off in an easterly 

 direction; but the wounded one immediately dropped astern, and the 

 next moment was surrounded by the dogs, which, barking angrily, 

 seemed to engross all her attention. 



"Having placed myself between her and the retreating troop, I 

 dismounted to fire, within forty yards of her, in open ground. Coles- 

 berg was extremely afraid of the elephants, and gave me much trouble, 

 jerking my arm when I tried to fire. At length I let fly; but, on 

 endeavoring to regain my saddle, Colesberg declined to allow me to 

 mount; and when I tried to lead him, and run for it, he only backed 

 toward the wounded elephant. At this moment I heard another ele- 

 phant close behind; and looking about, I beheld the "friend," with 

 uplifted trunk, charging down upon me at top speed, shrilly trumpet- 

 ing, and following an old black pointer named Schwart, that was per- 

 fectly deaf and trotted along before the enraged elephant quite unaware 

 of what was behind him. I felt certain that she would have either me 

 or my horse. I, however, determined not to relinquish my steed, but 

 to hold on by the bridle. My men, who, of course, kept at a safe dis- 

 tance, stood aghast with their mouths open, and for a few seconds my 

 position was certainly not an envia1:)lc one. Fortunately, however, 

 the dogs took ofif the attention of the elephants ; and just as thev were 

 upon me, I managed to spring into the saddle, where I was safe. As 

 I turned my back to mount, the elephants were so very near that I 

 really expected to feel one of their trunks lay hold of me. I rode up 

 to Kleinboy for my double-barreled two-grooved rifle: he and Isaac 

 were pale and almost speechless with fright. Returning to the charge, 

 T was soon once more alongside and, firing from the saddle, T sent 

 another brace of bullets into the wounded elephant. Colesberg was 

 extremely unsteady, and destroved the correctness of my aim. 



