78 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



antelope or a deer would have spied the dan- 

 ger the instant our heads appeared over the 

 grass. 



A small flock of cow-herons accompanied the 

 herd, riding on the backs of the animals and then 

 flying to the ground and feeding in the grass until 

 the elephants had outdistanced them, when again 

 they launched into the air and overtook their 

 great hosts. The elephants paid so little heed 

 to the birds that it was quite evident the two 

 lived on most friendly terms. 



There were several calves in the herd and they 

 trailed along in the rear and then galloped on to 

 overtake their parents. We circled them with- 

 out trouble and continued our hunt. On re- 

 turning several hours later, we found them in 

 almost the same position in which they had been 

 left. 



A few days later a herd of about fifty ele- 

 phants strolled to within a mile and a half of 

 camp and for over an hour we watched them 

 through the glasses. It was about ten o'clock 

 in the forenoon, so probably they were on their 

 way to water at the Nile. There were only 

 young bulls, cows, and calves in the herd. They 

 must have scented our camp, for very soon they 



