98 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



death, the usual method that an elephant em- 

 ploys to obliterate an enemy. So, as he slowly 

 rose, in some unaccountable manner I managed 

 to scramble between his forefeet and, working 

 back, seized hold of his hind foot. 



"Once more I felt the snake-like trunk being 

 wound around me; next I was being waved 

 about over the grass top then the ground 

 seemed suddenly to rise and meet me, and I 

 lost consciousness. How many times I was 

 hammered on the ground I do not know. 



"Three hours later I came to and found my- 

 self in camp and my boys dashing water into 

 my face. When I opened my eyes I saw the 

 gun bearer holding a smoking rifle in his hands. 

 He had just returned from the scene of my 

 mauling and brought in my rifles, one of which 

 he had attempted to unload and in some man- 

 ner had accidentally discharged. The explo- 

 sion had no doubt assisted to revive me. 



"My men told me that my life was saved by 

 the quick action of my tracker, who appeared on 

 the scene with a spear at about the time that I 

 lost consciousness and, rushing in, plunged the 

 spear into the elephant's side. Leaving me, 

 the animal took after its new tormentor, but 



