80 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFKICA. 



ing clean away up wind, they had occasionally hulteft 

 to feed. Here I started an oryx. We presently reach- 

 ed the border of a very wide open country, where the 

 spoor took a turn to the east. We proceeded a ievr 

 hundred yards further, when -we had the unexpected 

 satisfaction to behold the mighty squadron drawn up 

 in the open cover, in open order, two hundred yards 

 ahead. Some- of them stood motionless as statues, 

 others moved slowly here and there, and browsed upon 

 the trees. 



The troop consisted of ten bull elephants: eight of 

 them were about three parts grown ; the other two were 

 enormous old elephants, in magnificent condition. We 

 halted and gave the dogs water, and I then rode slow- 

 ly round the elephants to ascertain which was the best. 

 After riding twice along their friont, they all, as if by 

 one accord, turned their faces to me, and advanced leis- 

 urely within forty yards, giving mo an excellent oppor- 

 tunity of making my choice. At length they saw me, 

 and, sounding the alarm, all made off together in great 

 consternation. I galloped alongside of them to make 

 my final choice, and selected the largest elephant. 1 

 had some difficulty in getting him clear of his com- 

 rades, some of which were extremely fierce, and were 

 trumpeting along, with their tails and trunks aloftr 

 At length I got him clear ; all my dogs had gone off to 

 the right and left after other elephants, and Dread- 

 naught came galloping up to me, having thrown my 

 after-rider, who did not succeed in recapturing him. 



My elephant now, hearing the barking and trumpet- 

 ing on every side, halted beside a bushy tree, with his 

 head high, and right to me; but, presently turning his 

 broadside, I gave it him sharp right and left after tho 

 shoulder ; and the dogs, hearing tho shots, came up to 



