184 THE ELEPHANT. 



was careful not to reply, and they, convinced by my 

 silence that they had lost their master, redoubled their 

 cries, and came back in despair. The elephant, 

 frightened, returned immediately, and leaped a second 

 time over the trunk of the tree, at six yards from me, 

 without seeing me : then springing to my feet, burn- 

 ing with impatience, and wishing to give to my Hot- 

 tentots some sign of life, I sent the contents of my 

 gun into his posteriors. He immediately disappeared 

 from my sight, leaving everywhere on his path sure 

 signs of the cruel state in which we had placed 

 him." 



Pursued by an elephant, on the shores of the Zouga, 

 Mr. Oswell fell from his horse into the midst of a 

 thicket ; he fell with his face turned towards the ele- 

 phant, which was approaching, and could see the enor- 

 mous foot of the beast about to fall on his limbs. He 

 moved them, holding his breath, and expecting to be 

 crushed by the hind-feet. The animal passed on with- 

 out seeing or touching him. 



Two colonists, having perceived an elephant, resolved 

 to pursue him. Far from being clever in this chase, 

 it was the first time they had seen an animal of that 

 species. The horses were as little experienced as their 

 masters. Nevertheless, they did not evade the attack. 

 They approached to within sixty yards of the elephant 

 without his appearing to take any notice of them. 



