no ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER ch. 
shower, we crept closer and closer to him, exercis¬ 
ing every caution in our approach, but some whirl¬ 
ing eddy of air must have betrayed our presence, 
for, all of a sudden, he ceased his ablutions and tore 
headlong through the bush. 
About half-a-mile behind me, my carriers were 
following up with light loads, and one of their 
number. Baramaesi by name, carrying a sack of rice, 
had lagged somewhat behind the others, doubtless 
dreaming of pleasanter things than the presence 
of a wounded tusker. The elephant, however, had 
doubled back in a semicircle, and was about to cut 
across his previous tracks, when he caught sight of 
the luckless Baramaesi. Without standing on any 
ceremony, he charged furiously at my carrier, who, 
quite undesirous of a closer acquaintance with the 
brute, flung down his sack of rice and scuttled 
through the bush for dear life. As I was cautiously 
following up the elephant’s tracks, the terrified 
Baramaesi burst into view, an apparition of flying 
legs and wild eyes, and seeing us, came tearing in 
our direction. Though it was doubtless an agoniz¬ 
ing situation for the poor fellow, he presented a 
most ludicrous spectacle, and even now, when I 
remember the incident, I am obliged to laugh. At 
the time, however, it was no laughing matter. 
‘ What’s the matter ? What’s the matter ? ’ I 
whispered, trying to bring his frightened wits to 
