308 THE ELEPHANT. 



to flag, and I felt inclined to give up the pursuit, 

 when suddenly, about two o'clock in the after- 

 noon, we espied the rear-guard of the stupendous 

 game slowly wending their way across some rising 

 ground a short distance a-head. At this sight 

 every face brightened, the step became once more 

 elastic, and hunger, thirst, and fatigue were all 

 forgotten at the exciting prospect before us. 



Leaving rny people behind, with the exception of 

 one of the native boys, I at once started in pursuit 

 of the quarry. The cover, unfortunately, was 

 scanty and unfavourable in the extreme; but, in 

 the hope of finding better, 1 followed leisurely and 

 cautiously in the immediate track of the elephants, 

 keeping a sharp look-out on every side, for fear of 

 leaving any behind. Suddenly my henchman pulled 

 me by the sleeve, and pointing at the same time to 

 a small brake on our left, above which appeared 

 the backs of several suspicious-looking objects, 

 whispered, " Bull-elephants." " Capital," I re- 

 sponded, in the same .subdued tone ; and, leaving 

 the herd we had so long been following, made for 

 that my man had just espied. 



In a very short time I found myself within easy 

 range of the animals, but, to my dismay, discovered 

 they consisted almost wholly of females, with their 

 young. Amongst them, however, were two or 

 three fine males, one of whom evidently acted as 

 Paterfamilias., or, militarilv speaking, General of 

 Division, to this portion of the emigrants. This 

 particular elephant was standing a little apart 

 from the rest, but his shoulder, unfortunately, was 



