104 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



tried to reach us where we sat, and coming high enough 

 to fan us with their hot breatli. 



" Come, Thursday," said I, '' you cannot have been so 

 skilful a hunter all these years without having found 

 some way out of this predicament, in which you nuist 

 have been placed before." 



I saw my man was thoroughly frightened, and I 

 resolved to try this flattery on him ; it produced a 

 favorable effect, although he replied sadly enough, — 



'" Yes, once. I took refuge in a similar tree to the 

 one we are now in." 



'- Well ? " 



'' Well, the elephants, as now, placed sentinels, and 

 I remained three days without food or drink, until I 

 could hardly hold on to my branch. My wife, luckily, 

 had been able to escape the first night of our captivity, 

 and she ran by forced stages to the nearest village of 

 our tribe. All the warriors armed themselves and came 

 to the rescue." 



'' You mean to say that they dare to fight the elephant 

 at close quarters ? " 



" Oh, no I They came several thousand strong, shout- 

 ing, beating the tam-tam, and making a tremendous 

 noise, for that is what the elephant dislikes, and off 

 they went." 



" And does not your experience suggest any means 

 of escape ? " 



After reflecting, he replied, — 



