39 



CHAPTER VIII. 



GAME IN SIGHT. 



Those readers who are gluttons for slaughter are 

 doubtless desirous of putting a cessation to what 

 they may consider my twaddle, and wish to be 

 brought instanter alongside the game. I will gratify 

 their desire. Almost at the crest of the ridge was a 

 string, in single file, of eight elephants. How 

 many preceded these laggards we shall have to 

 ascend quite a thousand feet, and get over consider- 

 ably more than half a mile of ground, to learn. This 

 task at first appeared very easy ; but as we ascended 

 huge boulders blocked the way, many apparently so 

 loosely poised that they struck the beholder with 

 fear, lest some rock-rabbit, clip-springer, or, more 

 probable still, vindictive baboon set them in motion. 

 However, disregarding this and other dangers, 

 en avant was the cry, and each and all put their 

 best foot foremost, as it was most desirable that we 

 should gain the ridge as soon as possible after the 

 game had passed over it. This, the rear guard of 

 the herd did not appear to regard as a very pressing 

 matter, so a due amount of caution was necessary 

 not to expose us to view. As for the wind, we did 

 not fear any evil results from any fickleness it might 



