VIII 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



363 



with a .577. I took careful aim at the outer edge of 

 the huge ear of the beast, and discharged my rifle. 

 As soon as the smoke cleared sufflciently to permit 

 me to get another sight, I fired the second barrel. 

 The sound of the report had scarcely died away, when 

 a dreadful crashing and trumpeting was heard, and 

 straight at me through the bush came — I knew not 

 what. I turned for another rifle, but both gun-bearers 

 had fled, and I was alone with an empty rifle. No, 

 not alone ; for Felix, the fox-terrier, had by some means 

 escaped from the men who held him, and there stood 

 by my side, his ears pricked to attention, and his tail 

 trembling with excitement. All this occurred in a 

 few seconds, and I had scarcely realized my helpless 

 condition, when I saw five elephants rushing at me, 

 and not more than fifteen feet distant. I leaped to 

 one side, and in so doing pierced my arm and shoul- 

 der with some thorns, which gave me such pain that 

 I stopped, and expected that in a second I should be 

 trampled under foot. What was my surprise at this 

 moment to see Felix, fired with ardour for the chase, 

 dash straight at the foremost elephant, and, leaping 

 upon him, bite vigorously at some portion of his body, 

 all the while barking in his most vigorous manner. 

 The brutes at once halted, and with a scream of fright 

 turned sharply to the right, and — I was saved. I 

 had two extra cartridges in my pocket ; but, as I had 

 expected to seize a freshly loaded rifle, I had not at 

 first attempted to place them in my weapon. Now 

 that I had time for thought, I slipped one in, and got 

 a shot at the head of the rear elephant, as it disap- 

 peared in the bush, not six feet from me. I do not 



