CHAP. iv. ELEPHANT. 187 



had first got my wind, lie failed to strike it again and 

 rejoined the others, and they then soon all disappeared in 

 the reeds, though I could hear them trumpeting in the 

 distance for some time afterwards. 



Once satisfied that they had gone, I did not remain 

 very long in my concealment, and returning, I coaxed the 

 embers into a blaze, and soon had enough fire to scare 

 them if they returned; but I did not feel inclined to sleep 

 any more, and sat and smoked, with intervals of dozing, 

 or going to get more fuel, till daybreak, which took place 

 about five o'clock, when, as soon as there was sufficient 

 light to enable me to see distinctly among the dark reeds, 

 I started once more to try to find my way out, having 

 first assured myself of my true course and how I ought to 

 keep the wind to maintain it. The lagoons were almost 

 as much trouble as they had been the previous evening; 

 often I had to go along their edge, seeking in vain for a 

 crossing, sometimes, after wasting half an hour in so doing, 

 only to be brought to a standstill by some marsh, and 

 have to retrace my steps and look in the contrary direc- 

 tion. A considerable time had passed in this manner, 

 during which I had probably not made more than two 

 hundred yards in a straight line, when the wind died 

 away, and, excepting the very occasional glimpses I could 

 catch of the sky, I had nothing left to guide me, save 

 this, that I had noticed that the reeds mostly inclined, at 

 least as far as their tops were concerned, in the same 

 direction as I wished to go in, which I accounted for by 

 the action of the prevailing south-west wind, and which 

 was sufficient to prevent my going far wrong. The ground 

 became easier too after this, and before long I struck a 



