CHAP. XXIII. 
THE ELEPHANT-HUNT. 
225 
found it was my head that had first struck the ground 
as I was pitched from the top of the cart, and it must 
have been phosphoric light from my eyes that appeared 
to light up the surroundings. Currie, who had also a 
desperate 6 pip ’ from the front seat, soon came to my 
assistance. Luckily the horses did not bolt; so after 
righting the cart and re-packing the mails with the aid 
of a wee bit of wax-candle which my friend had in his 
pocket, we again started. But we first walked back this 
fifty yards to see the small pebble that had overturned us, 
owing to the rapid rate at which we were going; and 
from that spot to where the cart turned over there 
was only the trace of one wheel on the ground. My 
head was, as may be supposed, very sore all the way to 
Cape Town. 
At Humans Dorp the relay horses were ready- 
harnessed, and on we went to the Kroome, or Crooked 
Kiver. After descending to the bed of this river the 
road keeps up it for many miles, having to cross the 
stream itself no less than fourteen times; and many of 
the fords were then so deep that the horses had to 
swim, and the cart was covered with water up to the bags; 
but the lower, or box part, is water-tight. The cart 
was several times nearly swept away by the rapid current. 
Night again overtook us in Long Kloof; but here, 
except for the fords and deep rivers, the road was 
comparatively good. We passed on, and rattled down 
Q 
