2 3 o ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER CH. 



in my wake with my heavy double -577, while a 

 few native carriers, with some light baggage, were 

 bringing up the rear, at a distance of several 

 hundred yards. Confident that the elephant, who 

 had gained a good start, was a long way ahead of 

 us, we were hurrying along the spoor with some- 

 what less than our usual caution, when, all of a 

 sudden, we heard, in the grass to our right, a loud 

 crashing, accompanied by a series of short, angry 

 grunts, which only too clearly indicated a charging 

 buffalo. So taken by surprise were my men, that 

 Malingum dashed away forward as hard as his legs 

 could carry him and Hyiah promptly beat a hasty 

 retreat, each carrying a rifle and leaving me to face 

 the awkward situation unarmed. The buffalo 

 emerged from the long grass only a few feet in front 

 of me and, catching sight of Malingum making 

 his record sprint, charged madly after him. The 

 animal was fast overtaking my speedy tracker, 

 when, to my horror, the latter caught his foot on 

 some exposed root or other obstacle and went 

 sprawling headlong to earth. Either being dazed 

 by his fall or retaining his presence of mind, 

 my tracker lay perfectly still, holding my rifle at 

 arm's length above his head, slightly to the right of 

 him. On thundered the buffalo, and, catching with 

 his horns the rifle that Malingum held aloft, he 

 tossed the weapon some twenty yards away, 



