SOUTHERN AFRICA. 173 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



ELEPHANT HUNTING CONTINUED J AND LION SHOOTING 

 FROM THE WAGGONS. 



It was still raining" heavily when the day g-loomily dawned. 

 The mountain torrents having- overflown their banks^ the 

 valley in which we were encamped had become a continuous 

 pool of water; and those of our followers who had not 

 slung" their hammocks beneath the wag"gons, were partially 

 submerged. High roads had been ploughed through the 

 mire by the passage of the elephants^ and whole acres of 

 g'rass^ by which we were surrounded the preceding evening*^ 

 had been completely trampled down. Soon after sunrise 

 it cleared up, and the cattle having" been recovered, we 

 armed a party with hatchets, and proceeded on foot to cut 

 out the teeth of the slain elephants ; but walking* was ex- 

 ceedingly toilsome, and our feet sinking to the ankles in 

 black mud, were extricated with inconceivable difficulty. 

 Taking" advantage of our situation, an irritated rhinoceros 

 sallied from behind an old stone wall; and the damp 

 causing three of the guns to miss fire, he was actually 

 amongst us when my ball fortunately pierced his eye, and 

 he fell dead at our feet. 



Not an elephant was to be seen on the ground that was 

 yesterday teeming" with them ; but on reaching* the glen 

 which had been the scene of our exploits during the early 

 part of the action, a calf about three and a half feet high 

 walked forth from a bush, and saluted us with mournful 

 piping* notes. We had observed the unhappy little wretch 



