S14 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



and would kill rae to a certainty. I then proposed that 

 all the natives should enter the jungle in a line, and 

 try to drive them out; but they said that no power 

 could force the elephants from their strong-hold until 

 night set in. 



The elephants now shifted their grdund a little, forc- 

 ing their way through the jungle to the higher side of 

 the basin. Leaving the horses in charge of a native, I 

 went round to the line of men above. Here I command- 

 ed a fine view of the exasperated elephants, being high 

 above them, and distant about two hundred and fifty 

 yards, and I observed that they displayed considerable 

 ounniiig in their movements. Placing ray rifle on a 

 forked branch, and giving it the proper elevation, I let 

 drive at the nearest cow, and wounded her severely. 

 The shot reverberated through the dale, and the dogs 

 once more ran into the midst of them, when a general 

 charge and trumpeting ensned, which was truly ter- 

 rific. They rushed after the dogSj following them up 

 to a great distance, crashing through and upsetting the 

 high, bushy wait-a-bits and other trees Uke grass. They 

 then turned and formed in two separate detachments, 

 standing thick together ; but two wicked old cows that 

 had calves stood far out from the others, with -liieir 

 heads turned to us, ready to charge whatever might 

 approach. I saw that it was extremely dangerous to 

 atta^ them ; but the sun was now fast sinking behind 

 a shoulder of the mountains, so I resolved to defy all 

 chances and enter the cover. I first, however, fired two 

 shots at the elephants that formed the advanced pick- 

 ets; both cows got it. in the ribs, and, finding them- 

 selves wounded, retreated to the main body, where they 

 stood smashing the trees with rage, and, catching up 

 volumes of the red dust with their tranks, threw it in 



