A HUNTER'S CAMP-FIRES 



of a thick sea of yellow grass, with three young warriors, armed 

 with spears and smeared from head to foot with grease and red 

 clay, leading the party along the elephant tracks. As they 

 knew perfectly well that these animals were miles ahead, they 

 were correspondingly courageous, examining the ground care- 

 fully, listening intently, and eagerly scanning the horizon of 







ELEPHANT IVORY 



grass from every available tree top. Behind them in single 

 file tramped myself, Fuguet, the gun-bearers, Mutari, and the 

 mob of natives, and our three porters, with the askari bringing 

 up the rear, armed with an ancient Snider carbine. 



Suddenly I was surprised to see the three valiant guides 

 discard their weapons and plunge headlong into the jungle on 

 either side, followed by a violent commotion in the thick grass 

 ahead. The next moment a young rhinoceros stampeded down 

 the elephant trail and was almost upon me before I saw it. 



146 



