A GRAND OLD MAN. 41 



the stony ridge shut him out from our view. Sun- 

 day, Jim, Umpiqua, and the Mantatee now made a 

 rush ; their start was a good one, but youth told in 

 the race, so the last-mentioned first reached the 

 crest, over which he peered with the caution of a 

 professor in the art of stalking. In a few seconds 

 the others were by his side, and did likewise, then 

 all drew back and awaited our coming. 



We wanted breath, and there was no occasion to 

 hurry now, for the game was only a short distance 

 below our hiding-place, and obviously ignorant of 

 our proximity. 



Our plan of attack was soon settled. I was to 

 take the first large tusker I could find on my left, 

 Selwin the next, and so on Dillon. Sincerely — I 

 may say devoutly — I hoped that the patriarch would 

 fall to my lot. 



A last mouthful of water, a pull upon our belts, 

 a passing down barrels of the ramrod to see that 

 the bullets were home, a look at the nipples, and 

 fresh caps placed upon them, all these necessary 

 details performed, and over the ridge we stole. 

 One look showed that there was a beautiful country 

 below us ; the next exposed the game, scattered 

 through very rough ground, over which it was 

 making a slow and obviously painful descent. 



Almost under me, and not a hundred yards off, 

 was the grand old man, and to his services I was to 

 have the honour of devoting myself. 



