chap. XIL A JUNGLE rRIP. 327 



This was altogether a blank day ; and having tho- 

 roughly disturbed this part of the ' Park,' we determined 

 to up stick and move our quarters on the following 

 day towards the ' Cave,' according to the plan that we 

 had agreed upon for beating the country. 



Dec. 3. — With the cook and the canteen in 

 company we started at break of day, leaving the 

 servants to pack up and bring the coolies and tents 

 after us. By this arrangement we were sure of our 

 breakfast wherever we went, and we were free from 

 the noise of our followers, whose scent alone was 

 enough to alarm miles of country down wind. We 

 had our guns all loaded, and carried by our respective 

 gun-bearers close to the horses, and, with Banda, old 

 Medima, and a couple of trackers, we were ready for 

 anything. 



We had ridden about six miles when we suddenly 

 came upon fresh elephant-tracks in a grassy hollow, sur- 

 rounded by low rocky hills. We immediately sent the 

 men off upon the tracks, while we waited upon a high 

 plateau of rock for their return. They came back in 

 about a quarter of an hour, having found the elephants 

 within half a mile. 



They were in high lemon grass, and upon arrival 

 at the spot we could distinguish nothing, as the grass 

 rose some feet above our heads. It was like shooting 

 in the dark, and we ascended some rising ground 

 to improve our position. Upon arrival on this spot 



