262 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



drinking within fifty yards of me. They approaclied 

 with so quiet a step that I fancied it was the footsteps 

 of jackals which I heard, and I was not aware of their 

 presence until I heard the water, which they had drawn 

 up in their trurks and were pouring into their mouths, 

 dropping into the fountain. I then peeped from my 

 sconce with a beating heart, and beheld two enormous 

 bull elephants, which looked like two great castles, 

 standing before me. I could not see very distinctly, 

 for there was only starlight. Having lain on my breast 

 some time taking my aim, I let fly at one of the ele- 

 phants, using the Dutch rifle carrying six to the pound. 

 The ball told loudly on his shoulder, and, uttering a 

 loud cry, he stumbled through the fountain, when both 

 made off in different directions. 



All night l«rge herds of zebras and blue wildebeests 

 capered around me, coming sometimes within a few 

 yards. Several parties of rhinoceroses also made their 

 appearance. I felt a little apprehensive that lions might 

 visit the fountain, and every time that hyaenas or jack- 

 als lapped the water I looked forth, but no lions ap- 

 peared. At length I fell into a sound sleep, nor did I 

 again raise my head until the bright star of morn had 

 shot far above the eastern horizon. 



Before proceeding further with my narrative, it may 

 here be interesting to make a few remarks on the Afri- 

 can elephant and his habits. The elephant is widely 

 diffused through the vast forests, and is met with in 

 herds of various numbers. The male is very much 

 larger than the female, consequently much more diffi- 

 cult to kill. He is provided with two enormous tusks. 

 These are long, tapering, and beautifully arched ; their 

 length averages from six to eight feet, and they weigh 

 from sixty to a hundred pounds each. In the vicinity 



