196 THE ELEPHANT. 



He discharged six shots, all of which took effect;, and 

 then the others also blazed away ; but though three 

 elephants were wounded, and two of them very 

 severely, they managed to effect their escape. It was 

 thought, however, that they were not far off, and 

 therefore young Atkinson, who was one of the Duke's 

 personal escort, entered the bush alone, which was a 

 service of no "little danger, to ascertain if they were 

 to be found ; but it was all to no purpose, and so, as it 

 was then getting dark, there was nothing for it but 

 to retrace our steps to the camp. As we continued to 

 wend our way back, we found the vast difference 

 between the same path by day and the same path by 

 night. In the morning, when we were fresh for the 

 work before us, and elated with the prospect of a good 

 day's sport, we thought nothing of the rugged hillside 

 track, with its ups and downs, and fords and swamps, 

 but the same track proved very miserable when we 

 were hungry, weary, and exhausted. All, too, felt dis- 

 appointment more or less, because things had not 

 turned out according to our hopes ; but, notwithstand- 

 ing that, the Duke was greatly pleased. He had seen 

 the elephants, and proved himself to be a crack shot, 

 and he declared that, if nothing more was to come of 

 his hunting, he would still derive the highest gratifica- 

 tion from his visit. That night there was a little rain 

 and a cold cutting wind, but nothing like what there 



