236 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



"We followed the wide trail at a rapid rate 

 and hoped to overhaul them soon, for as they 

 had been feeding all night, they might halt 

 about ten o'clock to rest. 



"Through patches of tall elephant-grass, 

 groves of thorn-trees, and then out into a some- 

 what barren open country the tracks led us. 

 On all sides were uprooted trees and great 

 branches that the animals had wrenched off 

 as they passed along. 



"We had gone about five miles when we sud- 

 denly passed out of the elephant-grass, crossed 

 a dry, sandy creek bed, and came to a level piece 

 of ground about a mile wide. A fire had lately 

 swept the grass from this flat and at the far side 

 we could see a dense bush-veldt. 



"The elephants were probably resting in that 

 bush-veldt, and, as there was no longer need for 

 professional trackers, the men were told to wait 

 at the edge of the clearing until they saw Kon- 

 goni and me enter the bush on the other side, 

 then to follow slowly so as to be near and ready 

 to assist in cutting out the ivory should we suc- 

 ceed in shooting a tusker. 



"We had crossed the flat and were two hun- 

 dred yards from the timber when Kongoni 



