CHASING THE ELEPHANTS. 



283 



such a Kosinante ? I was almost making up my mind 

 to buy the bay horse for which a hundred and thirty 

 pounds had been asked, when further anguish on the 

 subject was stopped by our reaching the trail. A 

 couple of Kaffirs led the way so as to prevent the spoor 

 being lost ; but this was almost unnecessary, so distinct 

 was the path the mighty beasts had made through the 

 forest. 



It was evident from this, and their not having 

 deviated to the right or left to feed, that they were 

 in a hurry, and probably travelling from one haunt to 

 another. Such a chase is generally a long one, not 

 unfrequently an unsuccessful one ; but Fortune chose to 

 smile favourably on us ; for, after about three hours' 

 ride, the Kaffirs declared the game in sight. 



Not a word had been spoken for some time ; now 

 ensued a hurried consultation ; when the programme 

 decided upon was for all to approach as cautiously as 

 possible till the elephants took the alarm, when we 

 were to charge, each hunter selecting his prey. 



For three hundred yards or more we silently stole 

 through the forest in single file ; at length the leading 

 horseman halted, and we wheeled into line. Over the 

 underbrush towered the backs of a number of dark 

 animals. Closer and closer to them we approached, 

 when one of the elephants uttered a shrill note, and in 

 an instant the herd was crashing through the timber, 

 raising a tremendous dust, and sending rotten limbs 

 of the brushwood flying far and wide. 



The poor old horse, who had up to this moment been 

 a regular slug, took the bit in his teeth, and tore along 

 in pursuit as well as the best of them. He needed no 

 guiding I only sat still and let him go. If the others 



