THE GREAT THICK-SKINNED ANIMALS 
163 
less its particular friend, who was endeavoring to assist it. These 
elephants had probably never before heard the report of a gun, and, 
having neither seen nor smelt me, they were unaware of the presence 
of man, and did not seem inclined to go any further. Presently my 
men hove in sight, bringing the dogs; and when these came up, I 
waited some time before commencing the attack, that the dogs and 
horses might recover their wind. We then rode slowly toward the 
elephants, and had advanced within two hundred yards of them when, 
the ground being open, they observed us and made off in an easterly 
direction; but the wounded one immediately dropped astern, and the 
next moment was surrounded by the dogs, which, barking angrily, 
seemed to engross all her attention. 
“Having placed myself between her and the retreating troop, I 
dismounted to fire, within forty yards of her, in open ground. Coles- 
berg was extremely afraid of the elephants, and gave me much trouble, 
jerking my arm when I tried to fire. At length I let fly; but, on 
endeavoring to regain my saddle, Colesberg declined to allow me to 
mount; and when I tried to lead him, and run for it, he only backed 
toward the wounded elephant. At this moment I heard another ele¬ 
phant close behind; and looking about, I beheld the “friend,” with 
uplifted trunk, charging down upon me at top speed, shrilly trumpet¬ 
ing, and following an old black pointer named Schwart, that was per¬ 
fectly deaf and trotted along before the enraged elephant quite unaware 
of what was behind him. I felt certain that she would have either me 
or my horse. I, however, determined not to relinquish my steed, but 
to hold on by the bridle. My men, who, of course, kept at a safe dis¬ 
tance, stood aghast with their mouths open, and for a few seconds my 
position was certainly not an enviable one. Fortunately, however, 
the dogs took off the attention of the elephants; and just as they were 
upon me, I managed to spring into the saddle, where I was safe. As 
I turned my back to mount, the elephants were so very near that I 
really expected to feel one of their trunks lay hold of me. I rode up 
to Kleinboy for my double-barreled two-grooved rifle: he and Isaac 
were pale and almost speechless with fright. Returning to the charge, 
I was soon once more alongside and, firing from the saddle, I sent 
another brace of bullets into the wounded elephant. Colesberg was 
extremely unsteady, and destroyed the correctness of my aim. 
