308 
THE ELEPHANT. 
to flag, and I felt inclined to give up the pursuits 
when suddenly, about two o’clock in the after¬ 
noon, we espied the rear-guard of the stupendous 
game slowly wending their way across some rising 
ground a short distance a-head. At this sight 
every face brightened, the step became once more 
elastic, and hunger, thirst, and fatigue were all 
forgotten at the exciting prospect before us. 
Leaving my people behind, with the exception of 
one of the native boys, I at once started in pursuit 
of the quarry. The cover, unfortunately, was 
scanty and unfavourable in the extreme; but, in 
the hope of finding better, I followed leisurely and 
cautiously in the immediate track of the elephants, 
keeping a sharp look-out on every side, for fear of 
leaving any behind. Suddenly my henchman pulled 
me by the sleeve, and pointing at the same time to 
a small brake on our left, above which appeared 
the backs of several suspicious-looking objects, 
whispered, “ Bull-elephants.” “ Capital,” I re¬ 
sponded, in the same subdued tone; and, leaving 
the herd we had so long been following, made for 
that my man had just espied. 
In a very short time I found myself within easy 
range of the animals, but, to my dismay, discovered 
they consisted almost wholly of females, with their 
young. Amongst them, however, were two or 
three fine males, one of whom evidently acted as 
Paterfamilias , or, militarily speaking, General of 
Division, to this portion of the emigrants. This 
particular elephant was standing a little apart 
from the rest, but his shoulder, unfortunately, was 
