no ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER CH. 



shower, we crept closer and closer to him, exercis- 

 ing every caution in our approach, but some whirl- 

 ing eddy of air must have betrayed our presence, 

 for, all of a sudden, he ceased his ablutions and tore 

 headlong through the bush. 



About half-a-mile behind me, my carriers were 

 following up with light loads, and one of their 

 number, Baramaesi by name, carrying a sack of rice, 

 had lagged somewhat behind the others, doubtless 

 dreaming of pleasanter things than the presence 

 of a wounded tusker. The elephant, however, had 

 doubled back in a semicircle, and was about to cut 

 across his previous tracks, when he caught sight of 

 the luckless Baramaesi. Without standing on any 

 ceremony, he charged furiously at my carrier, who, 

 quite undesirous of a closer acquaintance with the 

 brute, flung down his sack of rice and scuttled 

 through the bush for dear life. As I was cautiously 

 following up the elephant's tracks, the terrified 

 Baramaesi burst into view, an apparition of flying 

 legs and wild eyes, and seeing us, came tearing in 

 our direction. Though it was doubtless an agoniz- 

 ing situation for the poor fellow, he presented a 

 most ludicrous spectacle, and even now, when I 

 remember the incident, I am obliged to laugh. At 

 the time, however, it was no laughing matter. 



' What's the matter ? What's the matter ? ' I 

 whispered, trying to bring his frightened wits to 



