-* Elephant-Hunting 



nocturnal visitors had taken possession of them, pulled 

 them to pieces, and stamped them under-foot in the 

 mire. This bore out what I had otten heard from native 

 hunters about the aggressive character of the elephants 

 of this part of Africa at night. 



The herd had crossed and recrossed the stream 

 several times and had then come up about three hundred 

 yards towards the camp. Though I felt almost certain 

 they must have gone back to the security of their moun- 

 tains, I followed their tracks as usual, just to see what 

 I could make of them. To my surprise I found, after 

 about half an hour, that they had suddenly formed 

 themselves in a more or less distinct line and set out in 

 the direction of the desert. 



This suggested two possibilities. Either, after drinking 

 their fill, they had started tor the next watering-place, 

 two days' journey away and this seemed to me the more 

 likely alternative or else they were taking up their quarters 

 tor a day or two on the dry plains, so as to keep out 

 ot reach of the \Yakamba and their arrows. In either 

 case I had to look sharp. Returning to the camp, I 

 got ready for the march in a very few minutes, and set 

 out with some of my best men and about forty carriers. 

 I saw that they brought with them in their calabashes 

 as much water as they could carry and a good supply 

 ot rope. It was clear from the tracks that there were 

 young elephants in the herd, and I made up my mind* 

 to direct all my efforts towards capturing one of these, 

 though I fully realised the danger involved in the attempt, 

 considering the number of animals I had to deal with, and 



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