224 UNDER THE AFRICAN SUN 



farther off. The elephants at once noticed us, but, though 

 evidently on the alert as to any possible mischief on our part, 

 they showed no alarm, and probably took us for monkeys. 



The tree was not high enough nor strong enough to have 

 afforded us safety, and, standing by itself, it was much too 

 isolated and exposed. My head-servant predicted our death if, 

 conspicuous as we were, the fury of the herd should be drawn 

 towards us ; he entreated me not to fire. We quickly scrambled 

 down the tree, and, under the protection of the long grass, 

 retreated to the knoll. As we retreated in one direction, the 

 elephants moved off in the opposite direction, suspicious of 

 our presence. But, as flight of the enemy is a wonderful 

 factor in rousing courage, we became again most courageous, 

 and at once followed in pursuit. 



This time I got to within what I estimated to be eighty 

 yards ; measuring it out afterwards, it was found to be exactly 

 102 yards. From here I took a steady aim at the eye of the 

 elephant most exposed. I used the Lee-Speed rifle and sohd 

 bullet, with smokeless powder. The elephant was hit ; he 

 turned and disappeared among the others. We had now a very 

 interesting sight. The elephants were evidently puzzled ; their 

 comrade was attacked apparently from one direction, whereas 

 the sound of the shot came from another. They now formed 

 a sort of ring, most of them facing us, but others facing the 

 flank attacked. I fired one more shot and heard it strike. 



Then we witnessed a splendid display of defiance. We 

 were safely hidden by the protecting screen of leaves. With 

 screams of rage and fear, the elephants facing us would advance 

 five or ten yards in our direction in line of battle, waving 

 their trunks, and then would retrace their steps backwards, 

 swaying their huge bodies. A similar movement was made 

 by others towards the flank they imagined to have been also 

 attacked. Behind these advancing elephants, three stood 

 sniffing, with their probosces high up in the air, though the 

 mobile movements of the sensitive, finger-like extremity seemed 

 more like feeling the air. The wind, such as there was, came 

 towards us. I had urged the men who were with me not to 

 stir from the spot as they valued their lives ; fortunately they 

 saw, that our only safety lay in puzzling the elephants as to our 

 whereabouts. 



In the meanwhile some of the elephants clapped their huge 



