Trip after Elephants 



idiotic, under all the conditions, to have fired at. 

 My guide thought this too close to be pleasant, 

 and contrived to crack every branch in his 

 vicinity, with the result that the swamp re- 

 sounded with a still greater smashing of all 

 things standing, and a squelching of mud and 

 water as the big herd passed from the zone of 

 danger. 



I was furious, and longed to give the old 

 rascal a hiding, but refrained, knowing that he 

 had me in his power, for had he by some means 

 left me in that wilderness of forest, I could never 

 have found my way out again. I had, therefore, 

 to give the order for the return to Jock's house, 

 which I did by signs, as the " guide " could not 

 speak a word of English, broken or otherwise. 

 Jock was full of apologies for the make-believe 

 hunter with whom I had been encumbered, and 

 promised me a better on the morrow a promise 

 never fulfilled, for by evening a severe dose of 

 fever overtook me also, and necessitated instant 

 return in the launch to Calabar, where I was laid 

 up for a week. 



55 



