348 THE KLEl'IIANT. 



light nights when an indescribably soft and en- 

 chanting light is shed over the slumbering landscape ; 

 the moon was so bright and clear that I could dis- 



O 



cern even a small animal at a considerable distance. 

 I had just completed my arrangements, when a 

 noise, which I can liken only to the passage of a train 

 of artillery, broke the stillness of the air; it evi- 

 dently came from the direction of one of the 

 numerous stony paths, or rather tracks, leading to 

 the water, and I imagined it was caused by some 

 waggon that might have crossed the Kalahari desert. 

 Raising myself partially from my recumbent pos- 

 ture, 1 fixed my eyes steadily on the part of the 

 bush whence the strange sounds proceeded ; but 

 for some time I was unable to make out the cause. 

 All at once, however, the mystery was explained by 

 the appearance of an immense elephant, immediately 

 followed bv eighteen others. Their towering forms 



*/ ~ O 



told me at a glance they were all males. It was a 

 splendid sight to behold so many huge creatures 

 approaching with a free, sweeping, unsuspecting, 

 arid stately step. The somewhat elevated ground, 

 from which they emerged, and which gradually 

 sloped towards the water, together with the misty 

 night-air, gave an increased appearance of bulk and 

 mightiness to their naturally giant structures. 



Crouching down as low as possible in my 

 " screen," 1 waited with beating heart and ready 

 rifle the approach of the leading male, who, uncon- 

 scious of peril, was making straight for my hiding- 

 place. His position was, however, unfavourable for 

 a good shot ; and I therefore reserved my fire, in 



