132 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



place the interesting party had dined. Here and there 

 great branches of trees lay about untouched ; they had 

 been pulled down merely for fun. We did not tarry 

 long here, but getting well on the spoor again, went 

 away without a check for about 4 miles. The 

 country was terribly strong, and many was the heavy 

 pip we got amongst thorns and creepers. To add to 

 these variations, alderman leeches feasted sumptuously 

 on one's legs, hands, and neck. About ten the signs 

 got so fresh that, despite one's efforts to the contrary, 

 one's waistcoat would go thump, pit-a-pat, thump, etc. 

 The excitement of the jungle man was something 

 wonderful ; the jolly beggar shook all over, and the 

 perspiration flowed in streams from his hitherto dry, 

 calm, ugly countenance. Giving me Purdey, he took 

 Lancaster himself, and without the faintest noise crept 

 quickly forward. I followed piping hot, torn like the 

 mischief, soaked to the skin. Every button off my 

 gaiters, my boots unlaced, and the laces gone. These 

 things are annoying when one may be bolting for one's 

 life in the course of the next half-hour. However, all's 

 well that ends well. A sharp crack to our right made 

 me hop, and the next instant my eyes rested on the 

 huge brown, muddy back of an elephant. She was 

 about 50 yards off and below us. Without waiting to 

 look longer, we stalked slowly and carefully down to 

 the herd. They were all feeding quietly, walking in 

 Indian file. A huge teak tree offered good shelter. It 

 was within 20 yards of the elephants. I pointed it 

 out to the Panea ; he nodded, and to it we crept. 

 There I was, though I could barely realise it, bang in 

 the middle of thirteen huge elephants, the farthest not 

 being 40 yards off, the nearest about 8 or 10. Look- 

 ing them carefully over, I was disgusted to find they 

 were all females, but going on the principle of ' half a 



