OUR BACKYARD CIRCUS 125 



kept lifting them and letting them fall and then grip- 

 ping his fingers. He was saying things in short jerks. 



"Big elephants," he exclaimed. "All together. 

 Very quiet." 



By that we knew the elephants were feeding and 

 not looking for trouble. 



I called to Osa to get her rifle. In five minutes 

 our gim bearers were under way with pieces slung 

 on their shoulders. The camera boys were swinging 

 up their heavy loads. 



In fifteen minutes we were up to the herd. The 

 animals were out in the open. If we had posed 

 them they couldn't have been better placed for a 

 picture. There were three big cows and two bulls. 

 Two younger ones wandered aroimd, btmiping up 

 against the legs of their elders and gnmting funny 

 little high pitched grimts. One of the bulls was a 

 fine tusker. His gleaming ivory showed milk white 

 in the sun. 



This time Osa took the crank while I went forward 

 as "movie director" to start action among the 

 animals. I was afraid for her to go forward. There 

 was no cover in case the beasts charged. 



She cranked away for all she was worth while I 

 walked gingerly toward the herd. The first thing I 

 knew the big bull saw me. He raised his trunk and 

 spread out his ears, shifting his feet about angrily. 

 He snorted. Then with a furious grunt he charged. 



