feO ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



ing clean away up wind, they had occasionally hnlte* 

 to feed. Here I started an oryx. We presently reach- 

 ed the border of a very wide open country, where the 

 spoor took a turn to the east. We proceeded a fe\r 

 hundred yards further, when we had the unexpected 

 satisfaction to behold the mighty squadron drawn up 

 in the open cover, in open order, two hundred yards 

 ahead. Some of them stood motionless as statues, 

 others moved slowly here and there, and browsed upon 

 the trees. 



The troop consisted of ten bull elephants: eight of 

 them were about three parts grown ; the other two were 

 enormous old elephants, in magnificent condition. We 

 halted and gave the dogs water, and I then rode slow- 

 ly round the elephants to ascertain which was the best. 

 After riding twice along their front, they all, as if by 

 one accord, turned their faces to me, and advanced leis- 

 urely within forty yards, giving me an excellent oppor- 

 tunity of making my choice. At length they saw me, 

 and, sounding the alarm, all made off together in great 

 consternation. I galloped alongside of them to make 

 my final choice, and selected the largest elephant. 1 

 had some difficulty in getting him clear of his com- 

 rades, some of which were extremely fierce, and were 

 trumpeting along, with their tails and trunks aloft. 

 At length I got him clear; all my dogs had gone ofi'to 

 the right and left after other elephants, and Dread- 

 naught came galloping up to me, having thrown my 

 after-rider, who did not succeed in recapturing him. 



My elephant now, hearing the barking and trumpet- 

 ing on every side, halted beside a bushy tree, with his 

 head high, and right to me: but, presently turning his 

 broadside, I gave it him sharp right and left after the 

 shoulder; and the dogs, hearing the shots, came up to 



