JAUNTS IN THE JUNGLE. 69 



having most emphatically enjoined the strictest silence 

 on our part wherever we followed him ; then came the 

 firing party, ourselves, walking in Indian file ; and 

 lastly, our attendants, carrying one or two spare guns 

 each, brought up the rear. 



Having gone about half a mile from the house, the 

 guide came to a dead halt, and plucking a handful of 

 grass, threw it into the air to discover in which direc- 

 tion the wind blew, for it is necessary to approach the 

 animals against the wind, their power of scent being 

 so strong that they would be aware of our presence 

 several hundred yards off, and keep at a most respect- 

 ful distance for the remainder of the day. 



Finding we are in the right direction as far as this 

 is concerned, we are given to understand that we 

 are within a quarter of a mile of the nearest herd, 

 consisting of about thirty animals. 



We then divide into parties of two, accompanied 

 still by our spare gun carriers the elephant-finder 

 taking under his especial patronage the most inex- 

 perienced duo of the party ; in this manner we are 

 enabled to attack the enemy both in front and flank; 

 and all the necessary instructions having been im- 

 parted, we proceed forward as noiselessly as possible ; 

 you and myself, reader, forming a party of ourselves, 

 and patronised in the present instance by the guide, 

 who almost frightens us out of our wits at the savage 

 contortions he makes at us when we unhappily chance 

 to snap a withered twig in our progress, as we wind 



