84 CHARGE OF THE ELEPHANTS. 



then account. This, as I afterwards knew, was caused 

 by elephants ; but seeing a couple of monkeys jumping 

 about in a distant tree, we thought that it was caused by 

 these little animals, and therefore proceeded. 



About one hundred yards farther the bush became very 

 dense, long creepers growing all over the shrubs, matting 

 and tying the underwood together, so as to render it quite 

 impenetrable, except where the elephants had forced a 

 path. We moved through these passages quickly, and of 

 course caused some noise. I was about two yards behind 



M , and scarcely expected anything could be near, 



when suddenly the bushes on our right and close to us 

 were violently shaken, and a deep sort of growl was 



uttered, that sounded much like a lion's roar. M 



jumped forward, and raised his gun to fire ; I was going to 

 follow him, but on looking a little to our left, I saw a 

 huge elephant, about ten yards distant, striding towards 

 us, with his trunk coiled up and ears erect. At the same 



instant M fired to his right, and springing past me, 



shouted, "Run for your life \" I did not stop for another 

 look, as I then heard, almost over me, the terrific shrill 

 trumpet of the animal which I had seen charging, in 

 addition to the growl of the wounded elephant and the 

 answering shrieks of several others who were round us. 



Our burst for the first hundred yards must have been 

 fine, but we had nothing to spare, as I looked round soon 

 after starting and saw the big elephant coming after us 

 as if he really meant mischief, and but a short distance 

 behind us. 



I lost my hat, but we rushed on, diving under some 



