IN THE NICK OF TIME. Ill 



aa they grow older, are inclined to wander off by themselves into the swamps and 

 jungles, and the hunter who meets them must be on his guard. Do you note that 

 bird ? " 



The little feathered friend of the buffalo was industriously hopping about the 

 inanimate form, in its never ending hunt for food. During the charge upon Dick it 

 had kept its place on his back. 



" I noticed it on my first glance at the bull." 



" They seem always to be in attendance on their fierce majesties, but are not 

 like the birds that warn the rhinoceros and hippopotamus of the approach of 

 danger. Do you know," continued the director, rousing to animation, " that I have 

 seen a buffalo whip an elephant ? " 



"It seems incredible." 



" It's a fact, nevertheless. I was once riding a medium-sized elephant, with 

 Pongo, when we routed a bull from a thick clump of bushes, where he seemed to be 

 fighting off the insects, rather than seeking food. He came at our steed with a 

 rush, and, striking his shoulder, knocked him to his knees." 



" Didn't he gore him ? " 



" That was the strange part of it. You know the horns spread so far apart 

 that there is a good deal of space between. It must have been that the ends of the 

 horns thus missed wounding the elephant, while the impact of their bony base was 

 enough to capsize him." 



" What were you doing all this time ? " 



" I had my rifle, of course, but I told Pongo that if the elephant couldn't save 

 himself from an animal so much less in size, I didn't feel like helping him. The big 

 creature trumpeted with terror, and, getting to his feet, wheeled about and lumbered 

 off like a whipped dog." 



" He must have run fast to get away from the bull." 



" He made good time, for an elephant can travel rapidly, but he wouldn't have 

 done so well but for the help of the buffalo. He delivered his second charge 

 against the hindquarters of the bulky fellow, who was pushed forward so violently 

 that he came near being thrown to his knees again, with us flying over his head. 

 By this time the elephant was in a panic. He trumpeted so pitifully that I knew 

 the horns had inflicted a hurt the second time ; so, to save our steed and ourselves^ 

 I sent a couple of bullets from my unsteady perch, which ended the matter." 



" You make me quite proud of my achievement in bringing down such a dreadful 

 fellow," said Dick, with a smile and another glance at the lifeless form. 



"You may well boast of it; had you missed killing him the second time, there 

 is a certain young gentleman in South Africa, of whom Mr. Barnum thinks a great 

 deal, that would never shake his hand again. But," added Mr. Godkin, coming to 

 the matter of which he intended to speak in the first place, " I have done more 

 thinking than hunting during the last hour or two, and have come to the conclusion 

 to make a permanent camp where we have now halted." 



The youth looked at his friend, as if uncertain of his full meaning. 



