AN AFRICAN E L E PH AN T- H U N T 



Meanwhile I could hear the mother charging through the long 

 grass to one side of the trail. I leaped to one side in time, but 

 my friend's foot slipped and he fell on his side, causing the 

 smaller rhinoceros to leap over him. When the excitement 

 had subsided the three guides crawled out of the grass with 

 ashen-colored faces, and we dragged our frightened gun-bearers 

 from their respective hiding-places after some search; but it 

 was a few minutes before we discovered the remainder of the 

 party. The only tree growing within several hundred yards 

 was a small thorn- tree, and to this supposed haven of safety 

 the whole expedition had scrambled at the first intimation of 

 danger. They now hung about this like a cluster of black 

 fruit, the first layer of natives clinging to the thorn-covered 

 branches, while less lacerated but more frightened layers hung 

 on to the ones who had first reached the tree. At the top of the 

 swaying tree, and resembling the top ornament of a Christmas- 

 tree, the venerable Mutari and our white-robed askari clasped 

 each other in fond embrace. They had been first to reach this 

 refuge, and therefore attained the highest altitude, a fact of 

 which they seemed more proud than ashamed. When we re- 

 covered from our laughter and persuaded the thorn-lacerated 

 outfit to descend, it was with great difficulty that we finally 

 convinced them that a herd of elephants had not charged through 

 our party. 



This incident shattered the nerves of our guides, and after 

 an hour of aimless wandering about in the same spot we became 

 thoroughly disgusted with them, and climbed a high mountain 

 some distance away, in the hope of discovering the elephants by 

 means of field-glasses. But these beasts were evidently a long 

 distance in advance, as we could see no signs of them, and 

 we barely reached camp before darkness. After w^aiting several 

 days for new reports, we were obliged, as we had limited time 

 and provisions and a long expedition before us, to take re- 

 luctant farewell of this interesting country. We had no sooner 



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