32 ADVENS'URES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



a northerly direction, and this I resolved to do. Hav- 

 ing advanced a little, I gave him my vnnd, when he 

 was instantly alarmed and backed into the bushes, 

 holding his head high and right to me. Thus he stood 

 ' motionless as a statue, under the impression, probably, 

 that, owing to his Lilliputian dimensions, I had failed 

 to observe him, and fancying that I would pass on with- 

 out detecting him. I rode slowly on, and described a 

 semicircle to obtain a shot at his shoulder, and, halt- 

 ing my horse, fired from the saddle; he got it in the 

 shoulder-blade, and, as slowly and silently I continued 

 my course, he still stood gazing at me in utter astonish- 

 ment. Bill and Flam were now slipped by the natives, 

 and in another moment they were barking around him. 

 I shouted loudly to encourage the dogs and perplex the 

 elephant, who seemed puzzled to know what to think 

 of us, and, shrilly trumpeting, charged headlong after 

 the dogs. Retreating, he backed iuio the thicket, then 

 charged once more, and made clean away, holdiag the 

 course I wanted. When I tried to fire, " Sunday" 

 was very fidgety, and destroyed the correctness of my 

 aim. Approaching the elephant, I presently dismount- 

 ed, and, running in, gave him two fine shots behind 

 the shoulder; then the dogs, which were both indiffer- 

 ent ones, ran barking at him. The consequence was 

 a terrific charge, the dogs at once making for their 

 master, and bringing the elephant right upon me. I 

 had no time to gain my saddle, but ran for my life. 

 The dogs, fortunately, took after " Sunday," who, 

 alarmed by the trumpeting, dashed frantically away, 

 though in the heat of the affray I could not help laugh 

 ing to remark horse, dogs, and elephant all charging 

 along in a direct line. 



The dogs, having missed their master, held away 



