196 THE RIVER. 



branches a herd of five about two hundred yards 

 ahead, standing in a ring within a few yards of 

 each other, as if they had made up their minds to 

 spend the day there. There was no tree near them 

 — nothing but long grass. But now another sight 

 met my eyes. Through the midst of this extensive 

 prairie, and not more than five hundred yards be- 

 yond where these animals stood, a broad river had 

 run. It was all but dry at present, but here and 

 there I could observe little patches of water. This 

 was indeed a godsend. I was already suffering from 

 thirst, and I knew my men were in the same state. 

 To this day the sight of that water seems to me like 

 a dream ! There was but half a bottle — scarcely half a 

 bottle — left, which must inevitably have been divided 

 between six thirsty souls. Now there was abund- 

 ance. Having determined to say nothing of this 

 discovery till the chase was over, and signalling to 

 the men that I saw the elephants, I descended from 

 my observatory, and having looked to the guns, took 

 the breechloader Rigby 10 in my own hands, and 

 gave Moloka the gumtickler, telling him to keep 

 close to me, and on no account to fire himself. One 

 of the other guns was carried by Chinsoro, and a 

 fourth by one of Maramia's men, w^ho would accom- 

 pany me, though I asked him and his two companions 

 to remain at the tree. 



Taking the lead, I approached the elephants, Mo- 

 loka at my heels. There was not a breath of air, so 

 I went straight at them. Soon their dusky forms 

 appeared through the long grass, and in a minute or 

 two I was within eight yards of one. Observing 



