A LUCKY KILL. l6/ 



time they seem to be affected by a sort of madness, and 

 often kill people wantonly. 



The spoor now began to descend a gentle slope, and 

 we heard the noise of frogs and water-insects, by which 

 we guessed that we were approaching a marsh or swamp. 

 A few minutes later, the blue sky appeared before us, 

 and we saw that we were nearing the edge of the jungle. 

 At last we debouched on a large swamp covered with 

 nipa palms and long grass and rushes. 



" Hist ! " said my gun bearer. " Don't you hear them ? " 



The noise of swishing and cracking was distinctly 

 audible, and we now knew that the elephants were 

 feeding in the swamp, and were not more than 300 

 yards from us at the present moment. 



They had entered the swamp by a sort of well-beaten 

 path which was evidently much used by elephants, and 

 there was a chance of their emerging again by the same 

 path. 



The ground looked very dangerous. There was not 

 a tree in it which could save a man from an angry 

 elephant. They had also gone somewhat down wind, 

 so if we followed them, they would know of our approach 

 and might take to flight before we could get a shot. 

 There was a great deal of mud and water, and if a man 

 were charged he would have a very poor chance unless 

 he killed the elephant stone dead, for to run about would 

 be almost impossible. 



After a consultation, I told one Dyak to remain at 

 this spot and to climb a tree in order to get a better view 

 of the movements of the giant game. If they showed 

 any intention of leaving the swamp by the path by which 

 they had entered it, he was to recall us by giving a 

 peculiar whistle. 



