240 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



to swallow at once ; but having carried its victim to a favorite 

 feeding place, generally in some deep hole, it tears it limb from 

 limb with teeth and claws, and devours it at leisure. 



ATTACK ON A HERD OF ELEPHANTS. 



IN the middle of November Lieutenant Baker started with 

 some troops to convey corn from a distant village, but he had 

 proceeded only a short distance when he saw a herd of eleven 

 bull elephants approaching from the west. Eiding back quickly 

 he informed Sir Samuel Baker, who at the time was enjoying 

 a pipe OR the poop-deck of his diahbeeah. Not being prepared 

 for elephant-shooting, he recommended his lieutenant to return 

 to his troops, who would be wasting their time. A half-hour 

 afterward the elephants approached within four hundred yards 

 of the camp, apparently unconscious of danger. Baker could 

 not withstand the temptation, so ordering his favorite horse 

 saddled, he seized two Holland rifles which curried a half-pound 

 iron, lead-coated explosive shell, and started after them. Several 

 men were ordered to gain the rear of the herd, so as to turn 

 them should they retreat, while others flanked fo drive them 

 toward the river. The brutes at first sight took to water, and 



O 



Baker dismounted to fire when they should gain the opposite 

 bank, on an island, which was less than one hundred yards 

 distant. When they had crossed they found an unexpected diffi- 

 culty, in the precipitous bank, which they were unable to scale. 

 But they fell to with their tusks, and began tearing down the 

 bank to an incline ; and while thus engaged Baker secured several 

 shots, which had no other effect, however, than to tumble one 

 of them occasionally back into the water half-stunned. After a 

 while so much of the bank was torn away that the elephants 

 began to mount, showing their bodies completely out of water. 

 Effective shooting now began, but when the second animal had 

 been killed the ammunition gave out, and the hunt ended. The 

 elephants were now butchered and the meat divided among the 

 men. 



From a distance the Baris watched the process, and so anxious 

 did they finally become to share some of the spoils that several 



