Trip after Elephants 
idiotic, under all the conditions, to have fired at. 
My guide thought this too close to be pleasant, 
and contrived to crack every branch in his 
vicinity, with the result that the swamp re- 
sounded with a still greater smashing of all 
things standing, and a squelching of mud and 
water as the big herd passed from the zone of 
danger. 
I was furious, and longed to give the old 
rascal a hiding, but refrained, knowing that he 
had me in his power, for had he by some means 
left me in that wilderness of forest, I could never 
have found my way out again. [I had, therefore, 
to give the order for the return to Jock’s house, 
which I did by signs, as the “‘ guide ”’ could not 
speak a word of English, broken or otherwise. 
Jock was full of apologies for the make-believe 
hunter with whom I had been encumbered, and 
promised me a better on the morrow—a promise 
never fulfilled, for by evening a severe dose of 
fever overtook me also, and necessitated instant 
return in the launch to Calabar, where I was laid 
up for a week. 
55 
